Malia's Virtual Sketchbook: September 2011

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Freeform Peyote Tutorial

An Introduction to Freeform Peyote and Technique

http://www.beadkat.com/SculpturalPeyotePouch.html

Sculptural Peyote Pouch

Wearable Art

Kat's Beadwork

A Freeform Bracelet

by Karen Park

Notice how beads are combined, and multiple techniques: Circular, Flat, Even, and Odd Peyote all come together in harmony

http://artandtea.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/free-form-peyote-bracelet/

A Freeform Spiral

Shelley K. Bossert

http://www.ursaminorminiatures.com/jewelry.html

http://beadangel.com/Free.html

Example of Necklace Design incorporating Fringe and a Focal Piece

Freeform Peyote Tutorial

http://www.whimbeads.com/cart.asp?pg=classroom-freeform_peyote

Freeform peyote is, overall, peyote, however to make these kinds of pieces you can incorporate any other stitch in your toolbox.

Up until now I've been limiting myself with patterns, designs, and magazine projects. Soon I want to take the plunge and start creating designs of my own, and learn to speak with beads combining many sizes, shapes, and colors.

If you want to do this, Freeform Peyote Stitch/Technique is a good place to start.

Regal Purple Netting in Purple and Silver

Design: Barbara Klann, Bead and Button Magazine supplement

This 2 drop peyote band stitched up real fast and easy, the netting took a little longer but was intuitive, and can certainly be adapted to any free form design and whatever little goodies and beads from "bead soup" you may want to put in the design. It came out wonderfully and any number of closure techniques would look good. At the Dongdaemun bazaar I found these beautiful white buttons and chose to use them. Buttons are not the most secure method to close a bracelet, but I think this one stands well as an art piece and the buttons will be more long lasting than snaps, which often can have their threads cut through by wear too quickly.

Some other applications:

-Use this design to bead a quick strap (shorter than a band), glue to a firm base, and attach as a hair pin

-Create a head band

Those are some things I would like to use this design for in the future.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Moonstone Bangle

Moonstone Bangle from Mixed Angles and in Mixed Light

This one is a design all my own. Unfortunately, it involves only simple bead stringing.

I have discovered Moonstone and fallen in love. I found some great quality grey moonstone and am incorporating the rounds into bracelets and maybe a necklace. I can make many bracelets but probably only one necklace with what I have left.

Cairo Collar

Design: Susan B. Swanson

Published in February/March 2011 Beadwork Magazine

"Cairo Collar"

This one in blue.

It took quite some time to complete. I feel that it could be easily embellished and personalized beyond what you see I completed. But this was a first run and I learned some new techniques. Enjoy.

It was a great design to use up a great mass of seed beads I have in my collection.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Gang Gang, Cockatiel, Asian Flycatcher

All are pencil base with watercolor pencil foreground and watercolor background. I'm sad today was the last day with my little friend. I will miss the spontaneity and motivation our sessions gave me. Children are really great, they don't worry about the end results but just having fun with it. Which I think art is supposed to be. Of course there is a lot of technique out there to learn, but nothing can replace being prolific and just developing one's own style. Which I'm still working on.