Monday, April 12, 2010

Beads and some skin.

One of my chores over the weekend was to rearrange my beading drawers as I had more beads then drawers.  While moving things around to make more room, I came across pieces I had made in the middle 1990s.  I was living in Flagstaff, Arizona and had taught myself to bead using the brick and the peyote stitch.  Beaded necklaces were all the rage and and I always had a small amount of beads left from a project that weren't enough to produce another necklace so I found another use for them by creating tiny beaded baskets.  These were fun to make because they made up quickly and was a great way to utilize left over beads. (all pictures enlarge when you click on them)

Three baskets about the size of a half dollar.

A didn't have a half dollar handy so I placed a quarter next to them to show scale.

My first three beaded bag necklaces.  I made these around 1997 when I was first learning how to work the peyote stitch.

My first beaded bag necklace.  I fell in love with these matt and iridescent muted purple beads and thought they would be a nice way to learn peyote stitch.  I then married them up with brass accents and bugles for the fringe.  I made the stitches so tight that the bag is as stiff as matt board and the size is big enough to hold only a condom.  LOL  I have to admit, I am enjoying this trip down early beading memory lane. I see the early mistakes of a new beader and how I learned to eventually stitch the beads with a softer touch and let them work their magic as each one would fall gently into place.

My second bag was made while I was visiting my grandmother in Florida.  I was given a tube of these brilliant orange beads and didn't know how I was going to use them.  A news item came on the television about a discovery made on a construction site in Miami that was an ancient medicine circle dedicated to the sun.  After watching the news story about this historical find, a pattern began to form in my head and the above was the end product.

I called this bag, Fire and Ice, and it was my third piece.  I began to exhaust the beading technique by working a triangular shape at the base of the bag.  I utilized pearlescent matt and opalescent seeds along with a gold washed seed bead.  Added pearls and long matt bugles and this was the end result.

This was a bag that I had made for myself after learning how to do the brick stitch.  I utilized a double brick technique and used the colors of the sea. 

I liked the seaweed technique I used in the double layer of fringe.  The bag is no more than 2 inches by 2 1/2 inches.   The perfect beaded bag for a sea witch which make this a nice segue into my new skin.  My laptop has a flat, matt finish that shows every little fingerprint and scratch. I decided to put a skin on it (those removable decals) that protect your laptop and other electronics.  Lots of great sites out there but not one had the right skin for me.  I found a company that will let you upload your own picture so I took John Waterhouse's painting, The Mermaid, and then cloned some of the background to expand the width to fit my laptop.  I am crazy about how this turned out.


If you want to create your own skin to protect your laptop, you can visit "Schtickers" at this link  http://www.schtickers.com/.  Go ahead, you can say it...this skin is so perfect for a Sea Witch.

16 comments:

Kathy-Catnip Studio said...

Wow, Dari, you do marvelous beadwork! I really enjoyed this post, and the laptop skin is just perfect for a seawitch :-)

Doris Sturm said...

What lovely beaded items you have made. Very beautiful indeed. Don't you just love walking down memory lane? Whenever I decide to reorganized, I come across something from the past and then I stop and remember.

Have a great week,
Doris :-)

Pam @ Frippery said...

Wow! I absolutely love the baskets! Gorgeous. They look like a mermaid found them and kept her treasures there. I also especially like the seaweed purse, and of course your laptop skin suits you to perfection.
Funny, you mentioned in your comment being an old city girl, after our weekend we are heading to Chicago today for a little more city living.Love it!

Jacque said...

Hey Witch!

I've been in AR visiting with my children and grandchildren--not Italy, but the same end results--spoiling those babies!!

Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse house to read my Alphabe-Thurs post. I am slowly learning about country living and farm life.

You must have the patience of Job to do all that bead work!! A condom?? The things that you come up with are hilarious!!

Have a great week!

Pam @ Frippery said...

BTW You should join in our journal swap. It's a summer theme, 5 pages plus covers, in any medium, any way you want to do it. One on one and you have until Memorial day to finish. I am pairing up partners on Friday. Think about it. Perfect for a Sea Witch.

Sandy and Joe/rhubarb reign said...

Glad you liked the leopard hat! xo

Queen Bee's Musings said...

so beautiful... love them and enjoyed your wonderful bead work amazing...

Tristan Robin said...

the little baskets are utterly charming - but, oh!, those exquiste pouch necklaces - stunning!

When you get a chance, stop by and enter the new blog giveaway!

Bettyann said...

Dari, such beautiful pieces..fine detail and lovely capture of light..love the mermaid skin..take care..

The Tin Rabbit said...

Oh my, these are beautiful!

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Oh wow! How gorgeous are all of those! I have never done beading, but have always been intrigued.
That skin for your computer is the coolest too!

annie said...

Gorgeous bead work. Just so lovely.
The idea for the skin on your laptop is wonderful.

shirley said...

What wonderful beading. Love the baskets, but then I saw the necklaces..cant decided which is my favourite they are all beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! I used to bead peyote stitch amulet bags just like that. I remember holding my work and marveling at how each bead just settled into place. I also used peyote stitch bead rocks, and pieces of driftwood. The driftwood I'd like to do again...I'm not sure if my eyes could tolerate it anymore, though!

Javajune said...

Oh how I love thoses beads, the baskets are to die for!
xo-jj

cindy said...

lovely beads and lace posts...the mermaid is beautiful!