One more for the face swap and a couple of questions...

Let me introduce Rose, this is my fourth and final entry for the 2008 Beaded Face Swap hosted by Sassy Art Goddess.

She is just under 2 1/2 inches tall and wide if you don't count the dangles. This is another wonderfully crafted polymer clay face by Jen Martin.

This time I used a stacked stitch method for the bezel as described in Heart to Hands Bead Embroidery by Robin Atkins - her latest book and a wonderful addition to my library. The finishing edge stitch is found in Beading with Cabochons by Jamie Cloud Eakin.

Now my questions to all of you that use face cabs in your creations...if you could make or order the perfect face for your art...

What size would it be?
Would the eyes be open or closed?
Would the cab have holes for attachment or do you prefer it without?
Would it be a bit concave on the back or flat?
Do you prefer them in a range of colors or closer to skin tones?
Do you prefer hand sculpted or one of a kind faces?
And if so, would you pay more for those? Or are faces from mass produced molds just fine for your projects?
Would you like the option of matching hands and feet?

Here are my thoughts -

For dolls, I consistently reach for faces that are about 1 inch or sometimes even 1/2 inch if I'm using a really tiny doll form. For flat work, the faces can be bigger, but I have found that I don't tend to seek out faces that are any bigger than 1 1/2 inches. I have several faces by Diane Briegleb, and they are stunning, but I have yet to use one because they are fairly large

The eyes - hmmmm, a touchy subject for me - I'm not sure why, but most faces give me the creeps. I don't care for masks, and I was never a big fan of dolls as a kid. I have seem to overcome a lot of this feeling as I began beading dolls, but it does linger. More often than not, I prefer the eyes closed.

I prefer my faces without holes - I glue faces to my work or hold them in place with a beaded bezel.

I think the back just a bit concave works best with dolls and when it comes to the thickness - the thinner and more consistent size all the way around, the better! That seems to be an art in itself.

Color - Skin tones, bright colors or crackled, I like them all! When I think about all the faces I have worked with in the past there is one that always pops into the forefront. It's a raku face I used on my October Bead Journal page last year. That in conjunction with the leaves is probably my all time favorite. I was fortunate to come by that face and the matching leaves through someone that was clearing out their stash. I have not been able to find a face like it since. The colors are nothing short of amazing. If you don't remember or haven't seen it, here's a link to check it out. If you do, make sure you click on the photos for a larger view. Aren't the colors jaw dropping?

I love hand sculpted faces, but good artists are in short supply. Actually I can only think of two, Diane Briegleb mentioned above - the creator of 'The Face' and Dottie Hoeschen of Stonebrash Creative Arts. It wasn't that long ago I discovered her wonderful faces on Etsy and have since been back to buy several more. Check them out when you get a chance. She was also kind enough to add a tutorial to her website on how to shape a face cabochon. I spent one Saturday playing with clay and my poor face ended up looking like a circus side show. Made me appreciate the work of those that hand sculpt faces all the more!

Hands and feet - I like them, a lot. I did find some GREAT feet and matching hands at Anima Designs. I love the ease of use with the holes in these too! I made a birthday doll for/of me a couple of years ago and used these feet - I thought they were adorable!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on faces you have used and your preferences and by all means if you have links you'd like to share, please do!

Home early, work space and another face...

Well... that didn't last long - the trip I mean! It was a tough trip out, I'm not a morning person and my flight was at 6:00. I tried my best to sleep on the planes (I had a layover in Atlanta), but it's never terribly comfortable trying to cram into a space meant for an average 12 year old with your back straight up and down. I don't have one of the neck pillow things - I hate the feeling of waking up - mouth hanging agape, facing the aisle and some poor unsuspecting traveler! Anyway, I made it to West Palm Beach and was well into my work and focused on meeting a deadline when I got a call... the job has been postponed - really? I had just unpacked my 10 days worth of clothes and was now being told to start checking for flights out the next morning. After a break for a well deserved margarita and dinner, I started packing back up to leave the next morning and am happy to be home now.

So one of the first blogs I visited is that of Denise of Bits of Beads and Fibers where she posted a giveaway for beads - she asked folks to post photos of their bead desk. So that is mine at the top of this post - a closer up shot of my little creative space. And just above from a bit of a distance. I use an old custom made work station that was originally built for the Mister's tattoo shop. It is black with a red, white and black tile top. I have a piece of vellux on top of a piece of foam - it's about 9 x 12 and works perfectly for me! When I travel, I roll it up and take it with me - perfect!

I love my little corner in the living room. I have several cats so it is a necessity that I keep my projects put away. I use cigar boxes for each project, so I can have more than one going at once and keep them out of harms way. When I sit to bead, I spread everything out and go from there.

Before I left, I completed another face (actually 2, but the last one will be another post). So here I introduce Twilight. Isn't she sweet? This is another face by Jen Martin. I have quite a stash of her faces and found myself reaching for one yet again. This one is about 1 1/2 inches around and unlike the others is held down with peyote stitch. I really like these colors.

Out of town until September 20

I'm headed out of town again for work... this time to West Palm Beach, FL. I'm not thrilled to be traveling back into Florida during hurricane season, but since we've been given the all clear to proceed for this trip - I don't have much of a choice. At this point I'm just hoping for a smooth flight in and out with few/no delays!


The photo here is my second pin for the face swap - I named her Lemon Drop. This is another face crafted by Jen Martin at Graphix Outpost. Isn't she a ray of sunshine? Yellow is not the first color I reach for when I'm beading, but I am usually pleased with the results when I have used it. This time is no exception.

The face cab is glued down to stiffened felt. I added the yellow glass disk beads - securing them with a drop bead. It is backed with mustard colored ultrasuede and closed with a raw edge stitch using size 8/0 yellow lined beads and a variation of a pointed edge stitch using size 11/0 transparent yellow and size 15/0 blue/violet beads.

The vast majority of the edge stitches I use on cabs (or any piece where I attach a front and back piece) can be found in "Beading with Cabochons" by Jamie Cloud Eakin. That book has been a tremendous help for me, it has clear instructions and lots of photos.



Have a great week... I'll see you when I get back!

A little face time!

It's that time of year! Sassy Art Goddess' annual beaded face swap is happening this month. If you have not participated before, I suggest you do your darnedest to get involved. Every year there are more and more amazing participants and faces!

I beaded up this one last night for the swap and hope to get 2 more done before the deadline. You can do it too! They are small (no bigger than 2 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches) so they bead up pretty quickly. The polymer clay face was created by Jen Martin at GraphixOutpost

Check out Carol's blog for all the details and please join me if at all possible!