Pattern Play

Every summer the Bead Society of Eastern PA, of which I'm a member, has a summer bead challenge. This year's challenge was to create something beaded inspired by a piece of fabric. All contestants were given a random piece of fabric to inspire their design.

 I received a piece of turquoise fabric with multi-colored polka dots:

Here were my original sketches and ideas for transforming the fabric into a beaded piece of jewelry:

 

My goal was to bring the colorful pattern to life with Swarovski crystals.

I used rivolis to represent the polka dots, and bicones and rondelles to represent the turquoise background. 

An assortment of colorful Swarovski crystal rivolis were bezeled with sterling silver seed beads and connected with turquoise Swarovski crystal bicones. Turquoise rondelles attached the focal point to a sterling silver clasp. 

I utilized the vibrant sparkle from the Swarovski crystals and a vivid juxtaposition of turquoise to create a polka dot paradise. It was quite the pattern play! 

My Polka Dot Paradise necklace came in 1st place for the BSOEPA's 2012 Summer Bead Challenge. I was honored to receive 1st place for the second year in a row for my original jewelry design. You can view last year's winning piece, Olivine's Garden, here.

Let it Bead,

Marla

Tweet

~~

Have you ever created something inspired by a piece of fabric or fashion?

Great Bead Embroidery

Bead embroidery is a magical thing. Well known bead embroiderer Sherry Serafini describes it as "painting with beads," and I have to agree. Anything goes with bead embroidery from the bead selections you make to the design you "paint" on your canvas. While it is a beading technique that can yield extraordinary works of art, it can be a bit intimidating if you're just starting out.

Jennifer Vanbenschoten reveals 5 Secrets for Great Bead Embroidery on her Beading Daily Blog today. Check out her secrets, pick up your beads and give bead embroidery a try!

Bead embroidery by Master Bead Artist Sherry Serafini

Other inspiring and informative resources for bead embroidery include:

Sherry Serafini's Sensational Bead Embroidery: 25 Inspiring Jewelry Projects by Sherry Serafini
The Art of Bead Embroidery by Heidi Kummli and Sherry Serafini 
Dimensional Bead Embroidery: A Reference Guide to Techniques by Jamie Cloud Eakin

Let it bead,

Marla

Tweet

Makin' Waves

Almost a year ago I attended a beading retreat led by my favorite bead artist, Sherry Serafini. One of the beaded projects we worked on during the retreat was her Rockin' Wavy Cuff.

I wasn't able to finish the cuff during the retreat because I was too busy admiring Sherry's stunning bead creations. Plus, I still have to work on my bpm (beading per minute)!

After seeing my unfinished cuff (and 20 lbs of supplies that accompanied it) on my work station for more months then I care to admit, I finally finished it:

Rock on!

~

When beading a project do you like to use a pre-made kit or do you like to use your own supplies?

I love using my own supplies when making a bead project. Mostly because I have so many supplies to begin with, so it's hard to justify buying a kit, but also because I love getting creative ideas from my own secret stash of beads galore!