Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Bead-embroidered Fairy Cuff

(Click on the link for fairy music; then scroll down for my post!)

Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones


I can't believe it's been so long since I last posted! I've been so busy. We are traveling to visit family quite a bit this summer, and between trips I'm fighting the horrible drought that is threatening to kill our yard. Seems I'm constantly dragging a water hose around, trying to rehydrate plants. Please please please let it rain soon!

During the hottest hours of the day, I've been staying indoors learning a new beading technique -- bead embroidery -- and I'm addicted! A new book by Sherry Serafina started me down this beading path. This book is gorgeous and worth checking out, even if you don't bead. Sherry Serafina's work is incredible eye candy! I love the freedom of bead embroidery. You can plan your project in advance or just go with the flow and see where your design takes you. Basically, you stitch individual beads onto a foundation (very heavy Pellon interfacing for this project). My first project was a bit too free-wheeling and I wasn't crazy about the end result. I'm vain and so won't post photos of that "less-than-success". But I learned a lot which I applied to this second project, a cuff bracelet for my daughter:
My daughter loves fairy images and all things Celtic. The focal piece is a fairy art print under a glass cabochon that I bought from an artist on etsy.com -- Glass Art Cabochons.
The band is a Celtic knot pattern, found free online, which I worked in glass Japanese seed beads.
The closure is a brass button that I bought at my daughter's favorite knitting shop -- Knitche in Downer's Grove, Illinois. I think the brass color is just right with the colors in this bracelet: After completing the beading, following instructions in Sherry Serafina's book, I trimmed the foundation, leaving a narrow border, and then stitched it onto a backing. The backing I chose here is brown ultrasuede, so the bracelet feels really good on the wrist.

If you click to enlarge the pictures, you will see my biggest mistake -- I failed to color the Pellon foundation before stitching on the beads. Enlarged as these photos are, you can see the white foundation, but it's really not noticeable on the bracelet itself. Still, next time I'll remember that additional step.

I hope my lovely daughter likes her bracelet. But if it's just not her style, she knows she can give it back to me without offense -- Anything beaded is definitely my style!

5 comments:

  1. You have an amazing eye for detail and an amazing talent! The bracelet is just lovely - the button closure - wow!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi! I found your blog through a comment you left on the Rena Klingenburg Home Business Success Tips newsletter that I subscibe to also. Thought I would give you a new follower. I see that we both follow the Art Bead Scene blog, I love that one! I've not been able to make much jewelry this summer as I have hurt my back and cannot sit for much length of time. It's certainly not been a fun way to spend a summer! I looked through your blog and will have to try some of your sewing tips one day when I can sit again. Your beaded jewelry is beautiful, too. Don't know if I would have that much patience. I'll visit again soon. Have a great week and upcoming weekend. Oh, and I'm from the South, too, Mississippi and it's been hot here also. Southern Summers, gotta love em!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi, Lisa! so glad to have another follower! I hurt my back last spring (2010) and had surgery in June 2010, so I am feeling your pain right now. Be well, and thanks for reading my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda-
    I wanted to let you know I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award. You inspire me with your creativity, and really, since I'm a chicken at trying out sewing, your bravery to try new sewing projects is astounding to me lol. Anyway, here's the post where I nominated you:

    http://urbanmousecountryhouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/versatile-blogger-award-kicking-and.html

    ReplyDelete