Saturday, December 28, 2013

Back to Beading!

December actually saw me in the studio many times (stringing beads, making earrings, repairing jewelry, making micro-macrame bracelet/earrings), and finally got to what should have been on the top of the list - bead embroidery! I just finished this:

"Friends" - ATC by Robin Atkins

It's an ATC (artist trading card), originally planned as one of my Bead Journal Project pieces for 2012. Even though I'm thinking of it as a BJP piece, I'm still going to send it to Karen L. Cohen, who sent me one of her ATCs many moons ago, and who is patiently waiting for me to send one in return. I hope she likes it.

"Friends" is 2.5 x 3.5 inches. The hands are cut, one each, out of sterling silver and brass, and the "crown" on the heart is 22 gauge gold-filled wire. The beading, done on cotton fabric, is laced over a stiff water-color paper card, and lined on the back with Ultrasuede light, which is sewn to the fabric around the edges using a simple, single-bead, edge stitch. Let's see, what else... the heart is crocheted, and is a little lighter/softer color peach than it appears on my monitor. Some of the sequins are vintage. Most of the beads are size 15s, which is the only way to get this kind of detail on such a small piece.

ATC by Karen L. Cohen
Here's a picture of Karen's ATC, the one she made to trade with me. She is an enamel artist, and has included one of her enamels in the top left of the piece. I'm very pleased to have a piece of her work! If you have an interest in learning enameling, Karen is the author of a very lovely book on the subject (here).

I'm of mixed feelings about ATCs. I love the idea of them, the initial idea that artists could paint/draw/make a small version of their work to trade with another artist. But these beaded ATCs (mine anyway) take many hours to create (I'm guessing about 9 hours on this one, maybe a bit more). I probably won't be making very many of them to trade.

11 comments:

  1. Beading the entire surface does take a lot of time, but as far as I'm concerned it's well worth the effort. What a lovely piece. The colors and textures mmmmm yummy. I love the way the hands both have little bracelets and rings on. That might have been necessary to hold them in place but it sure adds a whimsical super cute touch. Those hands span time and space reaching out in gestures of love. How very perfect!

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    1. Yes, the jewelry on the hands hides the crossing threads that hold the hands in place. Glad you like the piece, and thanks for noticing the meaning of it!

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  2. I don't work with beads but I do like them and I'm impressed by the work above. Stunning!!

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    1. Thanks, Simona.... maybe you could give beading a try???

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  3. These little ATC's are so delicate and lovely! It's amazing how much detail and meaning you can get into such a tiny space. They are small, yet take as much (and sometimes more) time than a larger piece. Beautiful.

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    1. Thank you Loretta! Whatever would I do without those beautiful, petite, size 15 seed beads????

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  4. Robin, I can't seem to find the site for the
    BJP 2014. It keeps saying that it has been removed. Any help would be great. Love you December piece. Gave my Sister your book for Christmas and she loves it.

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    1. Char, please know I am devastated by the removal of our BJP 2013 blog. I did not do it, and do not know who did, or how it happened. I am working with Blogger to try to get it fixed, but so far, no luck. Please keep your fingers crossed... and check back here for further information.

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  5. I suppose Char means BJP 2013, and I just experienced the same. Alright, we have got that FB group now, but I feel the blog has been removed too early. A pity!

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    1. Sabine... a pity indeed... and certainly NOT one of my design. It should never be removed. I am working on a solution, and will report here as the drama unfolds.

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    2. Thank you, Robin. I simply could not imagine that this was your doing, but I had thought that some organisational detail in the blogger contract had come into action. What a mess! I am sorry for you that you now have to deal with this complication, and I do hope you will be able to settle the matter. It does feel a little like home sweet home having disappeared into thin air. Sigh!

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Thanks you for joining the discussion on this post today!