Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Dragonflies...



I love them! Recently I received a wonderful package from Art Beads that included some of the most beautiful beads I've seen. They are called "hybrid Toho" - the colors are amazing.

I ordered Gold - Lustered Light Amethyst AB in size 11/0;


Duel - Lustered Gold/Pink in size 11/0 and 8/0


and Opalescent Green Picasso (my absolute favorite!) in size 11/0, 8/0 and 6/0.

Now something in which to add these beautiful beads to make it a project?

They had the perfect bead - Mother of Pearl dragonfly -hand painted in Russia.


I added size 11/0 green(ish) triangle beads, size 15/0 beads in pink and size 15/0 beads in Violet Gold Luster.


I started by sewing the dragonfly bead to stiffened green felt, since the main bead is sewn on, I did not need to capture it with peyote stitch and that allowed me to leave the entire surface of that beautiful bead viewable.


After the beading was complete on the front, I added a small piece of poster board to the back, the pin/bail, and a piece of dark green Ultrasuede.


I stitched the two sides together using a basic edge stitch and finished it with a pointed edge stitch as found in "Beading With Cabochons" by Jamie Cloud Eakin.


I actually finished this up over a week ago, but have have not been too good at making much time for my blog lately.

The finished piece is 2 1/4 inches tall and 2 inches wide.


One last shot of these yummy green beads... and for those of you that like to crawl up in the beads as much as I - all photos are clickable for an enlarged view.


And if you haven't already thrown your name in the virtual hat for the face cab and beads, the deadline is April 10 - that post is just below this one.

If you happen to have an affinity for live dragonflies - take a peek at these beautiful shots taken by a friend of mine.

25 comments:

Lynn said...

Perfection! The colors are exquisite and your expert beading is, as always, extraordinary. I have some of those hybrid beauties on their way to me - I can't wait to get them.

Dot said...

Oh my goodness Grace - these beads are gorgeous! Am about to enlarge the photo's so I can take a good look.

Think I will be ordering some of these hybrid beads very soon.....mmm...

Those Green Picasso beads made me drool over the keyboard...

And the brooch is stunning!

I know what you mean about finding time to blog. Life get's busy sometimes and when you need to take time out it is important you do that.

Sending much love to you.

Dot xx

Carol Dean Sharpe said...

Oh wow. Please stop showing these temptations! My bead budget can't handle the strain :D

Absolutely gorgeous beads with absolutely gorgeous results! Brava!

Katie B said...

I LOVE those green beads!
must get some.
Must buy NOW

AJ said...

It's beautiful, and your photographs are great!

I neeeeed those green beads! Wow! Love the new hybrids.

Murphy said...

Hi Grace,
What a gorgeous brooch! Perfect setting for that beautiful painted bead! Those colors are soooo yummy!
What a temptress you are! :-)
Hugs,
Saby

abeadlady said...

Love the brooch, Grace. I have one of the Russian style beads I'm going to use in a project. I'm crazy about some of the things ArtBeads has. My favorite hybrid so far is the Apollo series in coppers.

Arline

Sue said...

What a beautiful, beautiful piece! Oh, Grace, words fail me - I just love this one. (I love ArtBeads, too - but lately I just seem to gather, not use!)

Tumbleweed Trails said...

Wow, wow, wow! What a beautiful brooch and marvelous beads! Did I ever mention how much I love dragonfly's and all things bead? This is great.

JD

visionquest2020@msn.com

KV said...

Oh, I ordered some of those Toho hybrids from Artbeads, too, Grace. Different colors but joyful nonetheless. This dragonfly pin is awesome!!!


Kathy V in NM

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

Hi
I am adding my Kudos to everyone elses. Now I must hurry over to Artbeads. I have never bought from them and I can't be left out of all this excitement!!!
Absolutely stunning piece and perfect beading.

*~tabby~* crooked heart art said...

ahhhh grace
you leave me breathless yet again :)
tis a beauty
thanks for sharing
enjoy your day
tammy :)

Ellen said...

Simply stunning Grace, not to mention totally yummy ;)

Doris said...

Gorgeous, Grace!

Timaree said...

Beautiful brooch. You picked wonderful colors to go with the cab.

Anonymous said...

O.M.G.

This is a stunning pin. My Mother would absolutely LUV this piece. Where do you get the bail that you use?

Thanks for the eye-candy.

LOL
Candys in Oklahoma
www.picturetrail.com/weewanona
weewanona @ sbcglobal DOT net

girlgonethreadwild said...

Wow Grace, those hold incredible detail! Topped with your beady expertise they are truly ONE OF A KIND pieces!

Quilter Kathy said...

Another beautiful project Grace!
How did you know that I like to "crawl up in the beads"?!?
I click on your photos and make them as large as I can on my screen. These beads are good enough to eat...although it's probably not a good idea!!

GraceBeading said...

SO glad everyone seems to like this one. It sure was fun to bead since and since these tend to go relatively quick - these pins/brooches can be a quick 'fix' between larger projects.

For those of you with Hybrid orders on the way - I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with your beads. Arline - I checked out the Apollo series a bit closer and man they are gorgeous!

For Candys in OK - I bought my last dozen of pin backs (with bails) from a seller on Ebay. You can find her store HERE.

Kathy - I'm not that good at photoshop or you would see a shot of me springing up out of the hole of one of those beads, the DH is pretty handy with it though and I may just have to play around with that idea.

Thanks again all!

Jennifer Baker said...

What a lovely peice. I happen to work for czechbeads.com (th company that manufactures them) and have to look at the Hybrids every day. The appolos are some of my favorite. I love the coppers too. Every time I have to pull an order for them I drool. Hold on to your hats ladies more colors are a commin'. It will be a few months down the road but they are in production.

GraceBeading said...

Oh Jennifer... you poor thing, you have to look at them every day? :-)

I would certainly lose what's left of my mind if I worked in a place like that. I'd never want to go home. I can only imagine what is coming and can hardly wait!

Thanks so much for commenting, glad you like the piece.

Pursuing Art... said...

Oh, Grace...simply stunning pin! Love the colors and the beads!!! Art Beads is one of my favorite shops too! Will have to check these out...they are gorgeous!

Love Jennifer's comment and your comment too...*smiling*! I couldn't imagine working in a bead shop...drooling all day long and not coming home with much of a paycheck!!!

Having to catch up below...*life* has been in the way lately! Happy Easter to you and yours! XO ~Lisa

Joseph Pulikotil said...

Hi :)

Beautiful, enchanting, fascinating creations.

Best wishes :)
Joseph

Elizabeth said...

Grace you are one very talented lady. Just have to stop by more often because each time there are more and more super gorgeous items. And Lisa has challenged me to start beading so I better start paying more attention to your art.

Betzie said...

Gorgeous Grace!!! Love the colors and what you did!

Leaves of Grass

This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to every one that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body - Walt Whitman