Beadlust

Mountains & Streams
Framed Bead Embroidery

Quick post late tonight to get you through tomorrow, as my husband and I are going to "leave the rock" (the island where we live), and head for "the mainland" (via a 1 hr 20 minute ferry ride). I'm posting a picture of a framed piece of bead embroidery that I did for a commission. It was the best possible kind of commission, because she told me I could do anything. In return, I told her that if I work improvisationally, by the time it's finished I'll like it. If she didn't want to buy it, no problem. As it turns out, she was most eager to have it. This is the picture I sent, so she'd know what she was getting.

Saturday or Sunday, I'll post this piece in progress and talk about how it can look like mountains and streams, yet still be improvisational.

The thing with pictures, at least of my bead embroidery, is that two dimensions doesn't cut it. My work is very textural with a lot of surface fringes and other raised techniques. Most of that is lost in pictures.

What's challenging about commissions, is that I get attached to a piece as it takes shape... it begins to have personal meanings, many of which are deep and important. I hung onto this piece for several months after finishing it before I could part with it, and had to get very stern with myself before I could actually mail it. Fortunately, my customer was quite wonderful and understanding.

One day soon I'll put this picture on my website, with a link to a full sized version... until then hope you like "Mountains and Streams" of the Pacific Northwest.