Latest beading...

All photos are clickable for a larger view

I am not sure if it is the cold weather or the gloomier skies here, but I have been drawn towards brighter beads recently, specifically pink and yellow.



I do not consider myself a huge fan of pink... the color - not the singer. I AM a fan of the singer.

I was digging around for stuff to bead and was drawn to these. The first is a real flower set in resin. It was sold as a necklace strung on a cheap black cord. I bought several of these - many of them have real bugs inside - beetles, spiders and scorpions. Some even glow in the dark, really kind of cool.



I thought this one might be nice as a fob. It fits in the palm of my hand and I can see it dangling from a multitude of things. I will not be keeping this one though - it will be given away, stayed tuned for details on that in a couple of weeks.



It seems I never go too long without beading with one of Jen Martin's faces. I enjoy working with her little works of art, they are consistently well crafted and painted to perfection in vibrant colors. I am always inspired by her faces.



This one is no exception - such a happy face! It is polymer clay and screams sunshine and spring to me. I have embellished it with green Swarovski crystals, yellow charlottes and green Czech pressed glass leaves with pink size 15/0 beads whip stitched around the edge.



It is finished off with sunny yellow Ultra suede and a pin back with bail that allows it to be worn as a pendant or brooch.

A few notes on the method I use to finish my pieces. After the beading is complete, I measure and cut out a piece of poster board to help stabilize the piece.



Next, I glue the poster board to the back of the beaded piece and measure out a piece of Ultrasuede for the backing.



If it is going to be a pin, I measure where I need to make small cuts to allow the pin back to come through the Ultrasuede backing. I add glue to the pin back and the poster board that is exposed and then add the Ultrasuede - picture a sandwich and the poster board is the "meat". Next I secure the two pieces together by beading the edge. The face is whip stitched, the fob it is more of a brick stitch with an added picot stitch on top of that.