Seriously, it's more like the abstract flower garden of a few days ago, but I wouldn't have thought of it without the hearts. I think though, for the next one, I'm going to try building from a right angle weave for the body, and then switch to the triangle weave (flowers) for the wings.
This is why I don't sleep =}
And super strong. Honestly I've never bothered with brick stich till now because I thought it was weak; that structurally, it wasn't as sound as, say, flat peyote stitch, because each bead is sewn onto the thread that binds the beads beside or beneath it. But it's actually stronger because it sews each bead to the one beside it, and the two beneath (or beside). I'm so excited by all the possibilities.
Usually I'm all over winter, from the cold to the snow, and warm cups of coffee, tea, or cocoa…just between you and me, I usually have at least one of each throughout the day…but this year I'm looking forward to the warm-up. Maybe it's the thyroid medicine, or maybe I'm just getting old, all I know, my body is protesting any drop in temp below 45°F . I started to go out for a walk today, and abandoned it before I got a block from the house. I miss my walks, I miss my flowers, I miss spring.
So I finished this instead.
The basic technique the snowflakes and hearts are based on is a flower motif. I wanted to see what it would look like if I built on just the flower motif in an abstract fashion.
Not perfection, but I like it anyway.
I've taken a few liberties with her pattern, but these are essentially Deborah Roberti's beaded heart pendants.
http://www.aroundthebeadingtable.com/Tutorials/Heart.html
I made the first set, and several others, last week. But I'm going to redo them to reflect my changes, and so that I can add the handmade wire wrapped stirling silver bails I just made (entirely my own, no stolen ideas in those :)
I wish I could show just how blingy these really are, though; especially that last one. Those are micro faceted, crystallized, fire polished, clear glass rondelles, and they do not photograph well.
Particularly since I can't sell them, unless I get permission. So I might have to make suncatchers out of the one's I'm not using for birthday gifts.
Up next: hearts :)
I've been known to download those free teaser patterns book publishers put out, and websites draw you in with, but this os the first time I've ever actually used one that wasn't just a new technique. It was just too gorgeous not to try it though. Honestly, it was the sparkle that caught me, but i'd been playing around with, and failing miserably at, my own snowflakes using seed beads. I had thought I could do the pattern (http://www.larkcrafts.com/jewelry-beading/diane-fitzgerald-project/) as instructed, but as I read it I realized I just couldn't afford to use the same materials.
I used size 10 and size 6 white ceylon glass seed beads. And I have to say, even though it doesn't have that icy crystalline uniformity of Diane Fitzgerald's pattern, I absolutely love these. Guess I'll have to add her book to my "when I win the lottery, this will be in my library" list. (Think I have a new pinterest pin board :)
