Thursday, January 21, 2010

Bead Embroidery and a Few Short Subjects

Beaded Moth ~ Pin (Brooch)

beaded moth, brooch by Robin Atkins
Thought you might like to see this beaded moth pin I made for one of my special quilting/beading friends this Christmas. It's mostly size 15 or smaller beads. The wingspan is slightly under 1.5 inches.

Beaded Button Earrings

beaded button earrings by Robin Atkins
My other best quilting/beading friend got these for Christmas. I made them using Dritz half-ball cover buttons, size 24. The button form is 5/8 inches in diameter, but after beading the fabric and covering the form, they are slightly larger. I removed the button shank from the form before covering and then stitched a circle of Ultrasuede on the back side using the picot edge stitch. You might want to check out my tutorial on making beaded buttons here and here.

World Beads ~ Book Giveaway ~ The Winner Is....

World Beads, book cover
Ta-daaa, drum roll..... Ane Severine!

In my previous post I reviewed Beading with World Beads edited by Ray Hemachandra. Sixty some readers commented! Thank you so much for telling me about your own world beads. I really enjoyed reading about them!!! I wish I had 60 copies of this book to give, as everyone had such good reasons for wanting it.

As Peggy commented, "In a sense, I have thousands - maybe even a million - "world beads" - Czech seed beads! And Tohos - Japanese seed beads." She's right! In that sense, all of us own world beads.

Using a random number generator, the winner is #26, a comment by Ann Severine, who said, "The world beads I love most are 10 small milleflori cylinder beads in blue and red. I never thought about making a necklace from them. But now I'm looking forward to seeing this book for inspiration, whether I win or purchase it. How nice for you to inspire us to look at our old stuff we haven't paid much attention to for a long time." Congratulations, Ann!!!

I'll be reviewing and giving away Marcia DeCoster's new book, Beaded Opulence, in a week or so. Watch for it!!

Bead Journal Project ~ January Progress Report

No pictures yet. And I have to admit, I'm a little behind, a little afraid, a little unsure.... For this, my third year participating in the BJP, I decided to practice collage. I admire my sister-in-law, Julie's, collages and the work of so many other artists. Yet, I've never felt I had a grasp of how to mix it all together.

This is my year to play with it, practice, try it on for size... beads, fabrics, papers, paint, fibers, ephemera, rubber stamping, lettering... bring it on... all of it. Yes, but how? Do I hear some of my former students saying, "Just do it!" Yes, that is the way. And I must remember my mantra, "It does not have to be perfect!"

Well, I've worked on it some, but am far from finished.... It's my first of 12... Hope they'll get better and easier. I'll take and post some pictures soon.

16 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:31 AM

    I love your beaded moth. Very pretty.



    Ann Flowers
    flowerscrazyq@gmail.com

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  2. Gosh Robin, you sound like every other BJP participant, using feelings like unsure of...what? Not your talent, not your skill...how your project will be received? Very reassuring for me. I will look for your guidance in this mixed media approach. I had decided to add a little fiber, paint, charms, etc to my own projects and don't really know where to start. After reading your post, I feel energized. I'll be scouring my stash for some black lace. Thanks Robin, you inspire even with your own hesitation.

    xx, Carol

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  3. Anonymous5:21 AM

    The moth pin is lovely! Think I recall you writing recently you might be returning to more jewelry-making -- so nice to see that here!
    I'm heartened you are not finished with January's BJP piece -- neither am I, but it's on it's way. It will be so much fun to see everyone's as they come in!

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  4. congratulations to ane! robin, when i think of a moth i think of a drab brown pesky insect, and you turned it into something beautiful! i love your interpretation and it is truly something to look at.

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  5. Thanks for reminding us that's it's ok to be uncertain about what we're doing.

    I. too, love beaded buttons. But I don't have anything to do with them. Right now I'm thinking that it would be cool to make a linen or wool jacket or vest that buttoned along the shoulder with the beaded buttons.

    Marty S
    Crackpot Beader

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  6. Ann S.8:45 AM

    I'm excited about receiving the book "World Beads". I have a nice small stash of old beads that I can put together, so I really will appreciation this source of inspiration.

    As others have said, it is very reassuring when you express doubts. It's great to see you push yourself beyond your comfort level. This being my first year, my goals are a little less challenging. One is that I want to leave fabric showing. And I want to push myself color wise.

    I'm going to try photo transfer onto cloth, making fabric designs with Paint Stix, and using some regular embroidery stitches. My piece is 2/3 done and I'm very uneasy about it. We'll see what happens.

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  7. I really, really like that moth. I'm trying to think what about it is so attractive to me - the shape, the pattern of aqua colored beads. Whatever, I really, really like it.

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  8. Beautiful moth and earrings!

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  9. These designs are really beautiful, I can say that these designs are really attractive one.

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  10. It looks like you are in for an exciting BJP year! I know that the things I approach with trepidation and uncertainty are the things I learn the most from doing. Yay, you! I can't wait to see how they come out.

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  11. Robin I'm in awe with your moth. I'd love to make one or more myself. Do you have any instructions to share? I love your idea for this year's bjp. I checked out your sil's blog and she does gorgeous work. no wonder you get inspired by her. looking forword to see how you turn it into something of your own.

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  12. Its hard to find the perfect jewelry of your choice. You have shared some awesome jewelry.

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  13. I love these jewels, especially the moth !

    Can't wait to see what you do with collages... sounds very exciting.

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Thanks you for joining the discussion on this post today!