Sometimes we all need a kick in the creative pants. Or a creative kick in the pants. Whatever works.
Anyway, two of the most creative beady ladies I know, Christine and Therese, occasionally reach out to pose a design challenge, focused on a particular beadweaving stitch or technique. This time, it was bead embroidery. And boy, was I in need of a kick in the creative pants!
Now, bead embroidery and I are old friends. I love combining it with beadweaving to make pieces like this and this and this, and the first necklace here. I had visions this time of making another ginormous piece. Of spending hours after coming home from work, beading happily away.
And then life said "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!"
The reality is that I needed to do something small, something that I had a prayer of finishing. And since it's been so *@#$ chilly recently, I wanted to do something that reminded me that, yes, it really IS spring.
So I dug out some colorful glass cabochons from the stash, and let their bright colors inspire me. I used some faceted firepolished glass, some lentils, and some magatamas to spice up the mix of sizes and shapes. I'm happy to introduce Pansy and Iris.
Pansy is a sweet little round-faced confection of purples, gold, and shades of green. Like the cheerful flower that inspired her, she's a concentrated little burst of color. And, if you know me at all, you know that anything purple has me from the get-go.
And Pansy's slightly less demure cousin, Iris. Iris is a bit of a show-off, with her extravagant swoops of petals, but her unusual blue color makes her a star in any bunch.
Both will eventually have a woven bail added to them so that they can live on as necklaces, but for now, we'll just say they're in their bud phase, not yet fully blossomed.
Now before I torture any metaphors any further, here's the list of the other participants in the Time To Stitch 7 challenge. Go, enjoy, get inspired. Thanks to Therese and Christine, and thanks for stopping by!
20 comments:
I just love your pendants, Bobbie!! I love pansies and irises so these little beauties are wonderful in my world!! I love the cabs and the colors. The really do look like pansies and irises! Beautiful and spring-like!
You know I was waiting impatiently to see your design! I love those babies! I have to admit I have a bit of a crush on Iris (shhh, don't tell Pansy). You are always an inspiration with your color selections and designs. Now I think I need to go find some 'flowers' in my beady stash!
Bobbie!! You first few lines cracked me up and I can totally relate!! I love that you paid homage to spring (seriously - is summer actually going to be here in a couple weeks?). Beautiful embroidery - brilliant use of those magatamas on the Iris piece!! Both are gorgeous!!!
Hi! These are really pretty. It's annoying when life gets in the way of plans isn't it. Always at the most inconvenient times.....
I really like what you've done :-)
Oh these are just lovely, and do so look like flowers on your bead table! I love how you used dragon scales for the iris focal - I would never have thought of that, and that is awesome! Beautiful beadwork as always Bobbie! and so glad you were able to find a little bit of beady time - that is how it's been for me lately too!!
Beautiful Beaded Buds!!! These are going to look great on their neckstraps too, but boy are they little beauties "as is".
I clicked on all and was excited to see the watch faces again (what flashes in my mind whenever i see your name) and those big discs...those some of my favorite embroideries of yours! Thanks for showing them again!
And thanks for taking the time to be a part of the Hop!
Hi Bobbie,
Both of your spring time flower inspired pendants are beautiful. The colors are bright and cheerful just what one needs for cold and windy Chicago Spring time.
Thank you for participating in ATTS 7 and I hope you will join us again for ATTS 8.
Therese
Bobbie, as always, your posts have a way of making me smile. Your 'buds' are lovely. I am particularly drawn to Iris; the bold colors really draw me.
And I know exactly what you mean about planning for a larger project, then having life throw you a surprise or two or three. Here's wishing you all the best, warmer weather and plenty of time for beading in the near future!
Karen
Your budding pendants are already beautiful, they feel like spring and the beautiful flowers they are inspired from. I love the cool colors!
Your buds are gorgeous and when they blossom they will be stunning, I always love your take on things and how happy you make your pieces, just gorgeous!
These are so wonderful. I love your flower interpretation. Happy pieces!
Your floral theme was a great inspiration because both pieces sing Spring! that's one of my favorite things about bead embroidery too - you can do a smaller piece when you are pressed for time or go crazy on something elaborate. Really pretty!
I love that your inspiration was flowers. Your work is as sweet and lovely as what inspired them.
Beautiful pieces! They really scream spring! And the names fit them perfectly! Excellent job! Thanks for sharing with us!
Oh my goodness...you made perfect little petals out of those beads! These are so bright and cheerful! You have mad skills...MAD!
these are beautiful! I love iris, blue is my favourite colour so that one really stands out to me.
I love Pansie and Iris pendants.
I love the colors and the shapes of your pieces. Lovely!!
What a fun thing to re-visit your gorgeous bead embroidered necklaces of the past. I still ooooo and ahhhhh over them.
Iris and Pansie seem like the perfect sisters. Beautiful and happy. They are princesses of spring. Representations of harmony with just enough sassy sparkle to captivate any and all that dare to gaze into the depths of their cabochons.
Hi Bobbi, Both of your pendants are lovely. You did a great job.
Very creative! I'm looking forward to seeing the end result.
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