The fabulous ladies from Therese's Treasures and One Kiss Creations challenged a group of us with the task of making a beaded purse. A big challenge, for sure. And they gave us several months to prepare our projects.
Many thoughts came to mind. A peyote amulet bag? A leather pouch with embroidery? Embroidering on an existing purse? So many, many options!
Here's a sneak peek I gave last week - did you guess what it was going to lead to?
At my job, I have to use a key card to get into most of the offices and secure spaces. And because it's a performing arts organizations, I often have to work at concerts. Toting around a very official looking key card on a lanyard when you're wearing a fancy dress isn't always the best look. So I decided to see if I could combine the need to camouflage the very functional realities of my workday with this creative beading challenge. Thus, the beaded key card purse!
I started with a basic plastic card holder, to which I affixed snaps on the back.
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| Pretty, ain't it? |
Then I embroidered a couple of interchangeable decorative panels with snaps on their backs, to switch out as needed. The first one was an easy choice - I had done some bead embroidery around a violin bridge several years ago for another challenge, inspired by music.
At the time, I thought I'd make it into a necklace, but that never happened. So it became the first front panel of my beaded key card case.
Then, because I am apparently from the school of "why just "do" when you can overdo?", I decided to make another cover. Sadly, this one didn't get its edging completed, but here it is anyway.
And here it is, with its beaded fob (aha! the sneak peek!)
I can't wait to use these at work. If I don't have a waistband for the fob to attach to, I can carry these in my hand, almost like a small clutch purse.
Here they are, all together.
And in case you're interested in seeing the mechanics of it all, here's the backside.
I'm pretty sure I've taken an unorthodox approach to the beaded purse challenge. Want to see what everyone else has created? Go check it out through the links below, and thanks to Therese and Christine for organizing this challenge to get me off my beady butt and doing something new!
23 comments:
Hi! That's great that you've beadified something you will use in your day to day life. What a good idea :-) What are those lovely cabs you've used on the blue piece? Are they sodalite? So pretty :-)
Love where you took this challenge, Bobbie. So very clever! And, no, when I saw your teaser, I never envisioned it would lead to such an artful solution to a workplace dilemma.
There you go again ~ being all fabulous and whatnot :-D
What a fantastic idea!!! You know people at work are going to ask you to make them their own cover, right?!
It was a joy seeing that bridge again and knowing what it has become. These unfinished projects take time, because they have a mind of their own and it takes us a while to listen. This is just the coolest project, Bobbie, right down to the fab fob.
Hi Bobbie,
Awesome job and practical way to make your boring card key holder into two beautiful wearable works of art. That music piece was just waiting to be used for something that you would use on more of a daily basis. I really like the other one too. What are the stones you used?
Thank you for joining in again in the ATTS challenges, I'm always looking forward to what you create for these challenges. I hope that you will join us again in the next one.
Therese
Bonnie, you are very creative and have such a good taste. Including the violin bridge gives the case a special meaning. I loved seeing both pieces.
Ana
wow! you never cease to amaze me with your ingenuity! this is a fantastic idea to make something so institutional such a statement ... that is so like you. I love that violin bridge - what a cool way to use it. I can see you having a whole collection on your dresser to choose from in the morning before heading out the door to work. Really awesome idea Bobbie!
That's such a splendid idea - I love when items are born from the need to camouflage something :) The design of interchangeable panels is brilliant: you can make panels to match your dress; you found such a wonderful way to combine the useful with the beautiful. Excellent!
Hi Bobbie, Interchangeable panels for your case is a marvelous idea. That way it can match your outfit. How clever of you. I like the blue one best. Your stitching is lovely.
What a great idea to bead embroider your key card holder!!!! You did two beautiful designs. Well done!
Brilliant idea Bobbie, and so beautiful. I think I may steal your idea as I have to wear one of those things too. I love both panels, so unique and very different. The blue one is going to be stunning!You are just so smart!
Yowza!! What a perfect way to participate in this challenge and create this perfect vessel for your keycard!!! I love them both.
Bobbie, what a great idea! Especially since you work for a performing arts organization. It sure beats my Steelers lanyard and card key holder! t's even better since you can change it up to suit your mood or outfit. I sense a new business opportunity for you in this brainstorm! Great job!
Wow, your idea is so unique and amazing. Both the panels are lovely . and that beaded fob is so cute !
What an amazingly creative idea! I love it!! I suspect there may well be some additional pieces added to this over time, and I think you'll love wearing it and creating for it.
Ooh the snaps! The versatility! Brilliant. And so much fun to addd a bit of creativity and sparkle to work!
Very cool! Seeing the idea with the snaps I'm thinking there's probably all kinds of ideas for interchangeables. You may even get other co-workers wanting their own. :-)
What an inspired idea. Surely you will be asked time and again "where did you get that?" Wonderful work.
What a fantastic idea! Your bead embroidery is beautiful and you've created something so practical but so beautiful!
My goodness - your creativity astounds me! These are fabulous...functional art!! This idea could springboard to any type of Lanyard-style ID card! Your bead work, as always, is so lovely!
What a great idea, I have to wear something similar, and I love your idea!!
What a really neat take on this! You not only created something stunning, but beautifully practical (in that it's something you needed). I bet it's going to look stunning on your next fancy evening!
That is genius! And they're so pretty
In my book it doesn't get any better than functional and gorgeous!!! Wonderful idea with exquisite execution. I bet you will get tons of positive comments when you wear them, and also maybe some custom order requests :-)
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