Saturday 6 June 2015

A Time to Stitch 7



It is time for another "A Time to Stitch" hosted by Therese Frank and Christine Altmiller, this round is number seven and I am so happy to be participating because it is my favorite form of beading…. Bead Embroidery.

I fell in love with Bead Embroidery a long time ago, and have always held a soft spot in my heart for it.  To me it is like painting on a blank canvas but with beads. The creative juices just flow and I find that once I start a piece it is almost impossible for me to put it down until it’s completed. 

I love working with seed beads and special stones, stones that have deep meaning to me and then adding different elements and pieces that make each piece a statement of their own and a work of art. 

As most of you know I was recently blessed with the most precious gift ever, a beautiful granddaughter.  

Zoe Amelia
I wanted to make something very special for her to come home from the hospital in and as I am a knitter as well as a beader, I wanted to incorporate both into something spectacular. I made her the most precious one of a kind pair of slippers; fit for a princess (for that’s what she is to me). I knitted a pair of tiny “Mary Jane” type slippers in the softest pink wool, felted them and then went crazy covering them in beautiful pearls, crystals, seed beads, and small tiny silver beads. I showed my good friend who had just become an auntie to an adorable little niece and she asked that I make her a pair as well. Both pairs are very unique and I am sure will become heirlooms. To go with each pair of slippers I made a tiny seed pearl bracelet for each precious child.



Princess Zoe Amelia Slippers

Princess Everly Slippers



I was having so much fun making these that I made the little mice slippers as well, and even though there are not as many beads on these one’s they are just as cute – let’s call them everyday slippers with beady little eyes.
Little Mice for tiny feet
I have made many bead embroidery pieces, large and small, bracelets and necklaces – they still intrigue me, see here and here. My tastes have shifted slightly and I now wear simpler designs, see here. That being said bead embroidery can be used to make some pretty awesome pendants.  The first pendant was made to showcase the beautiful mauve iridescent crystal I had in my stash. I may be wearing simpler designs but they are still sparkly. The crystal is such a pretty color and luckily I had some perfectly matching and complimentary drops, a glass cab and seed beads to go with it. I loved how the pendant turned out but was undecided on the rope. I tried many different rope designs and was actually getting quite frustrated. Then when visiting my LBS I saw the prettiest mauve wire and knew that a Viking knit rope was the answer - perfect combination in my mind.

Ishtar
 
The second piece I made features a large ruby drop pendant. I loved the stone as soon as I saw it and as my husband and I were on vacation I thought I would get it to celebrate our time away. The price seemed exceptionally reasonable for such a large ruby so I eagerly took it to the counter to purchase. I was a bit shocked to find out the price was per gram not for the whole pendant and it was substantially more than I originally thought. That is a little secret we just won’t mention to my husband. Considering the price of the stone I wanted to do something special with it but couldn’t think what, it sat for a long time. Then ATTS7 came along and it begged to be used.  I love East Indian clothing and jewelry and this being a ruby fit so well. I used pearls, seed bead, crystals, garnets and of course the ruby. Again I had trouble deciding on the rope but settled upon an embellished RAW rope. I love how this turned out – I just need to find some ruby drop earrings to go with it.

India
 
Thank you Therese and Christine for hosting this awesome event, here's to many more.

List of participants:

11 comments:

  1. I don't even know where to begin here ~ those "click here here here" shibori pieces are gorgeous and lush and rich in color and textures, Ishtar is such a soft summer beauty, India is elegant and fit for a queen, but those PRINCESS SLIPPERS!!!!! Those are IT for me today (bunnies too ;-) ) They are adorable, beautiful, and totally not what I was expecting today, which is why I love hops...to see where everyone's minds and hands take them. Thank you thank you thank you for signing up for the ATTS challenges! Your work is gorgeous!

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  2. Oh, my word, those slippers!!!! I squealed! You, my dear, win the prize for bead embroidery awesomeness and for nailing being a super grandma...Your work always goes in new and unexpected, but perfectly wonderful, ways, and all of these pieces are no different. I love your new simpler direction, and that ruby pendant would be completely at home in a Bollywood movie.

    But when I have grandchildren, I'm commissioning you to make some of those slippers. Delightful!

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  3. holy moly what a post of beady goodness! oh those sweet, sweet princess slippers! I'm in love with those and how gorgeous they are on those tiny feet! heirlooms for sure! and the bunnies! that gets a definite squeal from my girls! The necklaces are stunningly elegant and I can see why you wanted a special piece with that ruby - yowza that is beautiful!

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  4. Princess Slippers - so much love and care in each tiny slipper! They are so beautiful; anyone who sees your grand daughter wearing them will know just how much she is loved. And the little mice are so CUTE! Your necklaces are lovely, but I know that it's the slippers I'll remember best. Such a wonderful, wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing, and many felicitations.

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  5. The Princess slippers are just so unusual, beautiful and original, what a wonderful gift! And your embroidery work is just amazing!

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  6. You've been a busy beader making all of that! Love the mauve necklace. Great stuff.

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  7. Your work, including your princess, is exquisite! The slippers are just so sweet. They will be treasured by her as she grows up

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  8. Oh my gosh - those slippers are just magnificent - perfect for little Zoe. How lucky she is do have a granny as talented as you are. You make me want to run to the store and buy some knitting supplies. And your bead embroidery pieces are lovely. I enjoyed hearing about the inspiration for each and your search for the right materials. Sometimes, that is the most challenging part of a design, just deciding on the components and colors. And you sure decided perfectly!

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  9. Oh my goodness Kepi! Your talent continues to stun me! Where to begin!?!? You certainly made good on your promise to yourself to do something special with that ruby!! That piece belongs on a red carpet! The purple piece is just as gorgeous. And the slippers. Oh my gosh the slippers! That is such a precious, thoughtful, dazzling, beautiful treasure. You can really see how much love went into them. All the pairs are simply amazing!!

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  10. Hi Debbie,
    Woman your talent is astounding! Those little Princess slippers for your Granddaughter and your friend's Niece are so pretty, heck I want a pair! The little mice are adorable. I agree with Christine I clicked here and here and here and with each click I was stunned with the beauty that I saw. Ishtar is beautiful and the viking knit rope was a good choice. India is gorgeous! I'm with you on the ruby, you could not let that one go, great find. Thank you for participating in ATTS 7 and I hope you will join us again in ATTS 8.
    Therese

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  11. Your work is amazing! Those princess slippers are so gorgeous and definitely fit for a princess! And, your necklaces are fabulous!

    Your new little granddaughter is so beautiful and precious.

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