Snippets from a bead artist.

7.14.2011

New Work



Galaxy

I've been absent for quite awhile this time, no blogging for over a month. Time to get on here and say something!


It's amazing to me what happens when you start something with zero expectations. I began this whole necklace as a play time... no thought of where it might go, just sitting and playing with beads. I started with Linda Roberts' gorgeous dichroic cab, and decided I would double bezel it, and see how it went and what I could add to the peyote. It ended up very dimensional, and I loved it. (To double bezel, I peyote around my cab as I normally would, and then start another line of peyote directly next to the cab, and bezel around the bezel, where I can then decide if I'd like to bring it in and snug it up to the first one, or bring it out with a flair, which is what I decided to do here.) I'm really enjoying doing the double bezels, as there are so many effects you can come up with when you have that extra dimensional piece.



The whole process started to be about layers. Almost every cab has parts beaded into it that stand out and up from the work, very spiky and organic. The fringe (which I don't really think of as fringe, it's more like tiny spikes) is made up of size 6 beads, bali silver discs, and copper beads. There is a ton of metal in this piece, even though it doesn't show up in your face; most of the sterling and copper are hidden here and there throughout. I've layered pearls and metals over backstitched beading, and put something on top of something else to see what happened.



After finishing Linda's cab, I just started adding things where ever they seemed to fit. It just grew and grew. The silver 'cab' that is the main focal was a pendant, and I clipped the ring off of the top and bezeled around it after mounting it on ultra suede. There are amethyst cabs, beads and carved leaves and onyx beads and cabs as well. I used some Swarovski chatons in the front as well, and spiked them out. Every bezel and bit of beadwork is different than every other one on the piece, mainly because I was playing, and then because I really liked how it looked.


I'm still not sure if I'm happy with the back, where the netting finishes the ends and leads to the clasp. (That copper toggle was fabricated by Hodgepodgerie on Etsy, in case any of you are looking for some lovely handmade clasps. She's wonderful to work with and very quick with your order.) I like the netting, I'm just not so sure it fit with everything else, despite the spiky fringe on it. After a whole day's worth of fiddling, I did decide to let it lay and leave it be.


On a more personal note, I didn't intend to name this 'galaxy' at all. During the work process, I had a very bad bout with my depression, and I fully intended to name it after how I was feeling at the time; Inner Darkness. I felt like I was trying to portray how I felt despite the play with the beads, but it just sounded so damn pretentious. And then, when I posted a teaser photo on FB, one of my friends commented that it was like looking into the universe. That made me grab onto Galaxy, and I felt much better sending it out without the depression attached to it.

I haven't put it up for sale as of now, as I am having a very hard time with pricing it. It's hard, I think, to price things that were cathartic to you, and that feel personal on such a level. On the other hand, it's very unlikely that I would wear it myself, so.... I also have two more new pieces that will be photographed very soon, and I'm looking forward to sharing. One of them is my latest ColorPlay necklace - this time in Golden Olive. Yum!!

In other news, the Mavens have come back from our vacation/hiatus, but we are sad that Christina of Good Quill Hunting has decided to concentrate on her solo business and has left the group. I do the website and so on, and I am going to be taking down her incredible gallery of work, which is personally sad to me. I hope you will all continue to follow her on her journey; make sure to keep checking her website, her Facebook page, and her blog! We wish her the very best of luck.

We're working away on something fun for all of our followers, and I've just finished my own Meld... heh, heh - we're not telling yet what a Meld might be, but I think you'll like them!! I think it will be fun for EVERYbody, but I also think it will be extremely helpful to beginning designers out in the beading world. Stay tuned for more. (I hope to be able to post a picture of my Meld soon.)

We have also been toying with a new idea for the blog, and I am hoping we can start this next Tuesday, so make sure to check that out, too.

22 comments:

  1. WOW!!!!! Wonderful!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!

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  2. No words to express how beautiful it is!
    Congratulations!

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  3. A beautiful piece of work. I love the way the shape is symmetrical, yet the pieces used are not. It has a beautiful balance and gorgeous use of colour :)

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  4. This is such a remarkable necklace, Nancy - beautiful beyond words. You are truly a gifted artist!

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  5. Fabulous colors, shapes and design...
    -Eva Maria

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  6. The piece is beautiful.

    As for your netted back- I like it too.

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  7. Out of darkness came incredible light! It's beautiful.

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  8. F A N T A S T I C !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  9. Fantastic what a pics great work

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  10. Beautiful! I love the layering. I'ts really spectacular.
    Maryanne

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  11. That is just beautiful (and amazing!)

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  12. That is lovely. You know what...the name Inner Darkness just really hit me. It made me look and see the pain & struggle you've been going through. Beautiful

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  13. I am trying not to leave a very personal note but I need to tell you I know where those bouts take us and I am here. Your amazing necklace is not only beautifully beaded but also I can see the darkness within and it may sound strange but I think you made it sparkle a bit. We need that in the dark times. I treasure your beadwork but most of all you!

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  14. Beautiful work lovely colors!The choice of colors is very nice! Congrats!

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  15. Beautiful beadwork and lovely colors!!
    Congratulations!
    Ciao
    Susy

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  16. Just stunning! I want to be like you when I grow up! lol
    Analisa

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  17. Amazing piece and thank you for insight into how this piece came about.

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  18. Insanely beautiful, I love it!

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Thanks so much for leaving me a comment, it means a lot to me! Please don't be upset if I don't have time to respond personally to each comment - but be sure that I read each and every one of them! :)