Sunday, July 01, 2007

Garden Party



This piece grew itself into something like a formal garden: leaves, vines, buds. I kept thinking this is not serious jewelry, but then gave up on "serious" and just had fun. It's done in right angle weave, one of my favorite stitches. RAW stitch gives you so many inviting spaces to embellish - and heaven knows, I can't leave anything well enough alone without embellishing it half to death.
The base is 4 mm cobalt fire polished beads with size 11 seed beads. The embellishment and ends are primarily done in square stitch - which is stronger than any other stitch I know of...
You can, as usual, click to enlarge.
I'm getting so cuff and bracelet crazy that I'm thinking of doing a book proposal just for those!

13 comments:

The Lone Beader® said...

This is elegantly fun! :D

beadbabe49 said...

great ideas...both the bracelet and the book proposal!

s said...

Oh I agree with BB, what a great idea.
As for the bracelet it makes me want to say..OOOOO LA la.
It is fun and beautiful.
Sunni

LJ said...

Thanks D. It drapes very nicely on and I really had a ball making it.
BB - I've been thinking about that idea for some time and it's part of why my focus stays on bracelets. (Besides the fact that I wear bracelets and earrings more than necklaces). I figure I need about 12-15 good designs (with lots of variations for each)and I'm working towards that. Be nice to see a book where you start with a basic stitch and can make a simple bracelet - and then be given several others, in stages, getting more complex but using the same base.
Sunni - OOOO La la is a great comment! Thanks.

Lois2037 said...

If you write such a book, I will certainly buy it!

LJ said...

Lois, I'm holding you to it!

Judi D said...

Count me in on a book too, this one is so fun and whimsy.

LJ said...

Geez. Thanks Judi! And this one is easy. Time-consuming, yes (but all my stuff is time-consuming) but easy!

Jodie said...

Did you say a book?? I love books!! I'll be ready with my money just as soon as it's ready!!

LJ said...

Thanks Jodie!

Unknown said...

Okay, I want one too! A bracelet AND a book! LOL!
Oh, alright, I'll just take a book... I think that's a fantastic idea, your designs are all so beautiful.

Hey, I'll volunteer myself as a 'tester'! How 'bout that?

Rosanne said...

Such a beautiful bracelet! I love the colors...I am not a fan of right angle weave, it just confuses the heck out of me. I think I might be missing something by not trying it again. Actually it is a pleasure looking at your work, especially the bead embroidery!
Rosanne

LJ said...

Jewels - maybe we should co-author!
FabFibers (Rosanne)- Thanks so much. RAW stitch is just a matter of seeing in units - and getting used to the idea that you go different directions on alternate stitches. I find a base unit of 8 beads easiest to work with - and it leaves lots of embellishment possibilities.