First up, the additions. There are multi-colored glass cabs from the 1940's; tear drop vintage clear green glass cabs; vintage sequins in 2 different colors; 4mm Swarovski sew on stones in 3 colors - Olivine, Erinite and Light Sapphire. My added bead is size 8 sparkly green lined transparent aqua, which was only used in the handle/strap.
I was inspired by one of the projects found in "Beaded Embellishment" by Amy C. Clarke & Robin Atkins, the original project found in that book is for an amulet bag. I made mine quite a bit larger. It measures just about 5 inches at it's widest points from top to bottom and side to side not counting the fringe. The strap/handle is about 17 inches measuring from one side to the other. The dichoric cab added to the front flap was made (and gifted to me) by Noel.
There are a couple of firsts here for me... first time I made a bag, that was fun learning experience. I copied the pattern from Beaded Embellishment, but enlarged it quite a few times
And it was my first attempt at a Spiral Rope as found in "Beautiful Bracelets" by Jill Oxton
I was beading away on the front of the bag when an unintentional angel seemed to appear (to me anyway). This is also where I added the Swarovski sew-on stones as well as the wonderful Olive colored Rose Montees which were included in the kit.
All cabs were attached with a little bit of glue before adding the bezel. I beaded the back and front flap as one continuous piece. The front part of the bag was a separate piece. I basted paper to each piece as a stabilizer, so on the front piece where there are no beads - there is a bit of a crinkle sound from the paper underneath. I imagine as it is handled the paper will soften up and the crinkle sound will dissipate.
After each side was completed beaded, I added a lining of aqua Ultrasuede before I sewed the two pieces together.
My original intention was to add the lampwork bead to the bottom of the bag and have the fringe spread out from there. It didn't look right to me. Next I tried adding it into the strap/handle and again it didn't look right, so it found it's home dangling from the side of the bag.
Now, to give it a name...
As always - all photos are 'clickable' for a larger view
34 comments:
Drop dead gorgeous, Grace!!!!! What a beautiful piece of useable art. I only hope mine turns out half that good. (no, I'm not making a purse).
As always, you have set a high bar for us to work toward.
Arline
DROP DEAD GORGEOUS is RIGHT!!! It is STUNNING, Grace!!! What fun to try something new. I have admired Robin's amulet bag in Beaded Embellishment also. What a great idea to enlarge the pattern. The bag is beautiful, your beading exquisite, and it just sparkles like sunshine on water! I do see the angel on the front...you know they say an angel's art is her heart! ;-)
Wow!! The bag is really beautiful. Lovely palette, too.
I am without the words to describe just how fantastic this piece is! Brava! Brava! Brava! ::standing ovation:: Wow.
OMG!!! Gorgeous beyond words...and I have to wait an entire year to bid on this???? Thanks for sharing your project, it is so beautiful.
Susan
This is fabulous, Grace!!!
Kathy V in NM
The bag is wonderful! What a wonderful idea!
........I'm Speechless..........
Really, can't even begin to express how much I LOVE this bag!
I am standing next to Carol - Applauding this beautiful piece. I love the color -- the shape, everything!
Grace,
It is a beautiful, gorgeous bag. When I look at this work of art than I think you must a person with a wealth of patience.
Holy Cow! That is a great bag! You do such beautiful work. I hope my BFAC project looks that good!
Wow Grace, your beading amazes me. Couldn't prove it by the pictures that this was your first beaded bag...it's stunning!
I'm honored that you used one of my glass cabs on it too!
Hugs,
Noel
Oh my Gosh Grace!!!!!! This is one of the prettiest beaded pieces I've ever seen (along with Lisa's heart that she made Monica!) I just can't believe it is possible to make something so delicate and so lovely. What a truly amazing talent you have been blessed with - correction - talent"s" - an artistic eye for beauty - beading skill - design skill - and the patience to execute it all. Absolutely magical Grace.
Oh! I really love it! Amazing!
Grace, this is totally awesome! Oh the money this going to bring in... Just jaw dropping awesome!
Veleta
oh... I must make something like this... that is just beautiful, Grace!
wow! you've outdone yourself on this bag, Grace!It's beyond gorgeous.
LOVE the colors and shape; you have a wonderful talent for beading....thanks for sharing your art pieces with us!
Totally delicious Grace - I'm sure this will bring lots of $$ for the auction next year - what a delightful accessory this will be to any outfit!
OMG, this is wonderful, congratulations Grace !!!!
Your bag is beautiful! I really shouldn't be lookiing at other people's work, since it is giving me even more ideas than I already had! But I can't help it!
Cathy
That is one beautiful bag! If I'd made it, I think I'd have a very difficult time parting with it...
Beautiful work. Wonderful cause too! Thanks, i dig your blog.
This is absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous. And I can't believe you're already done. Apart from that - I'm speechless!
congratulations for your nice bag! Beautiful!!greeting from Hungary)))
Oh Grace it is by far the most amazing creation! The colors are so vibrant, the beading... PERFECT! You constantly impress upon me the importance of giving back with art!
Just gorgeous!
xo, monica :)
Goodmorning Grace...
This bag took my breath away!
It is absolutely fabulous.... How long did this one take? I do the knitted beaded bags but they are certainly plain compared to this....Thanks for sharing..
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie
STUNNING !!!!
Oh yes, I agree with everyone else here!
Grace, this is one of the most beautiful beaded bags I've ever seen! Drop dead gorgeous allright!
I LOVE IT!
Cheers,
Saby
Hi Grace
This is stunning! And what a beautiful way to use the beads.
As always your beadwork is stunning (I salivated when I saw the color beads you used.
I am sure it will raise lot's of needed funds.
The kitties and I wave hello from Australia to you.
Dot xx
There are not enough impassioned adjectives to do justice to this piece Grace! Your other admirers have already used the words I would have chosen! Truly an amazing piece!
One of the things that is so inspiring about you is that you always try something new and see what you can learn. I want to try to do your edging on my current beaded project.
It's all been said already but WOW!! Gorgeous work!
My goodness... I sit here quite humbled - so many wonderful comments by people I admire so much.
It will be hard to send this one off, but it will feel good at the same time.
Maggie - you asked how long this one took and while I always have good intentions to track time when I bead, it never happens. I have a tendency to sit and bead a bit, eat dinner, bead some more, get up watch TV some, bead some more... you get the drift. I'm guessing it took more than 30 hours, but am really not sure.
I will share something the design process. I first added the colorful vintage cabs to the back and began to bead around them, it was not until I added the black/blue beads as an outline that I stood back and cracked up - staring back at me... Mickey Mouse ears. Okay, so maybe I spent too much time at Disneyland in my youth, but I could not get it out of my head. I quickly added the pear shaped cabs and all was right again in my head :-)
Thanks again to everyone for the kind words. I appreciate it very much!
Hey Grace You bead like I do,,,,, a bit of something and then bead...
That way you don't feel you are ignoring your home duties!! haha
xoxo
((((hugs))))
Maggie
Knock me over with a feather!!! That is so gorgeous I can't believe it is real! Wow girl!
Hugs,Pat
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