Tags
bead embroidery, beads, jewellery, jewelry, sea shells, seahorse
These pieces are inspired by the colours I had at hand, which were ocean blues and greens, as well as pearly type beads. They are free form designs, based on simple spirals and curves that look like nautiluses or shells.
Again, the idea was to draw out the outline shape and make up the beadwork patterns as I went along with only the circular peyote stitched glass stone in the centre to get me started. This was a fun experiment. At times the design would seem to devolve into chaos and a big mess, but relaxing and letting the negative space have it’s say in fixed that. I really like how they turned out in the end.
Marine Shape #1
- Marine Shape #2
- Marine Shape #3
The big pearly beads that started the circular peyote stitch here caused me a bit of trouble. They were very different sizes, so the step down to the smaller blue beads that close over the stone was a bit wonky at times.
I like how it turned out, though. I don’t mind a bit of natural chaos and want my pieces to have a less mechanical, perfect look and more of a organic feel to them.
The top part is a loop of beads with a flat peyote stitched closed strip for the chain to go through.
This piece is a bit more dense than the first and has a bit more geometry to the patterning. It wasn’t what I intended, but it morphed into something I liked just as much.
When I was done I realized that the coppery-gold accent beads were not showing up enough to have any impact. Once I added the fringe at the bottom and the peyote stitched closed strip at the top, everything came together.
The little bit the gold loop goes through is actually an extension of the embroidery – two little horns that are joined by a few beads. This gives it extra strength and adds another bit of interest.
The last Marine Shape was a totally free form unplanned shape. I love its asymmetry and curves. It reminds me of a sea horse. This was pure fun to create.
I used the coppery gold beads a little more to make sure they showed properly. When I was finished, and put the peyote strip loop at the top I realized the whole thing was looking too horizontal for me. I added the pendant blue stone to the bottom which totally makes the piece in IMNSHO!
