One Bead At a Time

I'm still working on my beaded collar. Here are some current photos I took while the sun was shining today.

Beaded Brooch

Right now I'm working on a beaded brooch. Yesterday I finished adding the beads. Now I need to figure out how to put the back on it. And I don't know what to do around the edges to make it look nice. If it ever stops raining I'll get better photos. This is the fourth day of rain. We need it though. CA has been in a drought. I've added a lot more beads since I took this photo.

Bead Weaving

Sunday at the archery range I started putting together a new freeform organic necklace. It's mostly pink and green with some peyote stitch. A bit tricky but fun like a jigsaw puzzle.

Beaded Collar

I've been focusing on a collar done on green faux suede. I took photos of it last night to share. It seems like everything I make lately is green. I think that's to make up for years of ignoring that color. But it also has some blue areas, and some areas with a color I like to call 'rootbeer', and it has a black and white section. I'm using some of my favorite hoarded beads in this one. It brings back memories as I think of the people that gave me some of them, or of the stores I bought them at. It's like a little walk down memory lane every time I make something. It's good to use up the stash.

I found I had to glue down a few of the bigger focal beads to make them lay flat and not worked their way into some lopsided position.

The collar is not cut out yet. I find it easier to do beading on a larger piece. I basted the shape of the collar and I'm beading within the lines. Later, after all the beadwork is done, I'll add a lining and a back piece to protect the knots.

One of the hardest things about beadwork is how do I price it? The beads alone probably cost $100. but it's all the time invested that it's hard to recoup.

Beaded Embroidery

I just sewed some beads and sequins onto an olive green t-shirt. It's a fruit/garden theme with lemons, vines, leaves and lace. I'll probably put it in my spankytease shop on Etsy. If I ever finish it. Embroidery is so time consuming.

Kokopeli Quiver Bead Patch

When I was working on my gourd rain stick I found this other kokopeli in my bead case. It's for a quiver I'm making. It's not quite done. My projects kind of got out of order there.

Upper Arm Band

I was making a leather band for my gourd rain stick. I used a copper colored concho. But today when I went to glue it on the gourd, I found the flat concho would not work well with the curve of the gourd. So I had to start all over again and bead another band in the right curvature. Not to worry though. I'll finish up the original piece as an upper arm band.