Therese and Christine have done it again! This time, a challenge to take a basic bracelet pattern and switch it up for three variations, changing base color, bead size, etc.
I took my jumping off point from one of the pieces I made for the latest Bead Soup Challenge, specifically the lower section of the neck strand of this necklace:
Essentially, it's a herringbone with twin beads, embellished on the side with Czech bricks and triangle beads. Although I doubt I invented it, it was a stitch I developed during the BSBP process, and I was really happy to have an excuse to explore it some more.
Thing is, I didn't have any more bricks (kind of a tila chopped in half) in my stash. (Note to self #1, put bricks on the beady shopping list). So I chose to use tilas, thinking the translation would be easy.
Not so. The size was just off enough to make it weird. Some things I tried were way of in proportion and just flopped around like a beached fish. Others were just ugly. So, in the spirit of challenge, I punted (friends, this is the closest I will ever, EVER get to performing a football-related action, aside from those associated with being a rabid spectator).
Here's variation number one: herringbone center with twin beads, edged with tilas and daggers. I love it.
Variation number two, this time with the tilas turned 90 degrees from the first bracelet, and with drops added, mainly because I didn't have enough of those fabulous red polka dot daggers to do the whole length. (Note to self #2: add sexy red polka dot daggers to beady shopping list, too). I love this one, too, although it's a little more cha-cha flashy than the first. It would be perfect to wear to an Alabama football game...
Variation #3 is the most buttoned down, but it's still blingy with the silver twins -- this time a herringbone with twins, tilas, and narrow daggers. While I fabricated the clasps on all three, this is the only one that I made a beaded toggle clasp for. I wore this one at an art show today, and I can testify that it feels slinky and grand.
All three together, progressing in order of creation from bottom to top:
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Participants
Bobbie (you are here)
15 comments:
First off - I always love to read your blog - before I even click on it, I know I am going to be smiling - such a way with words! :)
Now, those bracelets are gorgeous! Though I felt like a fish out of water with the names of some of those beads (yep...I don't work with seeds but I love to look at them!)I so looking at those stunning creations!
That last bracelet is my all time, all time favorite - love it!
What great bracelets! I love all of them. Your colors are fantastic. It's fun working with all the new shapes.
ok first, cha-cha flashy just might be an official football term - LOL! I love these designs - they are too much FUN! I think I do like that last one ... colors are so yummy and I bet it does feel silky on!
Gorgeous! and I love your description of "floppy fish" when the beads wouldn't behave...makes fee a little better since I am new to seed beading. Great job!
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Good grief girl, did you hear me squealing? And then the thump when I fell off the chair? Oh my heavens, I just love these!!! They are all dramatic, and gorgeous, and, and...awesome! (Note to self: get a new adjective dictionary!)
Ok, now I'm stomping off to my bead stash to find out why it's not inspiring me like yours did!!!
I love the width and depth the daggers add to your bracelet design! I have some daggers that I LOVE but have yet to find a fun way to use them ... until today! Thanks for the inspiration!
I too chose the last bracelet as my favorite. I love dagger beads...worked with them some not a whole lot. Your bracelets are gorgeous!
such cool bracelets! I had no idea you could get Tilas or daggers with polka dots on them!
Just got back from a trip out West, and you've captured the beauty of an Arizona sunset in that first design. And then you followed up with cha-cha flashy and slinky and grand! Nowhere else will you find all that in one post! Oh, and a trio of killer designs, too. Especially love the piece you wore today.
Hi Bobbie,
Your humorous commentary always cracks me up. I love that you went with a herringbone stitch variation that you created. The three gorgeous bracelets demonstrate just what this challenge was all about. My favorite of the three is the last one, it is more in my comfort zone of style.
Thank you for participating in this round of ATTS. I always enjoy seeing what you have created with your talented hands. I hope that you will join in on ATTS 6 it is going to be kick up a notch.
Therese
I love your extraordinary variations, you used and combined unusual beads and sizes for three amazing pieces.
You said it best, slinky and grand. I completely agree. Great stuff!
So freakin' cool, edgy, and genius! These are spectacular. I do lust after fringe so there is a lot of drooling going on over here. I love how your mind works when it comes to the ins and outs and substitutes. Thanks for taking on this challenge, Bobbie. What gorgeous results!
Wonderful fun bracelets! Love your bead choices! My fav is the last one too!!
Oh wonderful pieces! Especially the necklace with the face cab. And your Color choices are fab.
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