Art Bead Scene January Challenge

The Art Bead Scene blog features a monthly challenge based on a painting.  I was intrigued by the one from this month, so I started creating.  Whoa, Nellie.  What a mess!

Here are the components I am working with.  It was actually a long trip to get to this point! The "eyes" were beaded. The focal piece was created in mixed-media layers.  The polymer coins were textured, pearlized and drilled.

This Tim Holtz scrapbooking facet was transformed into a jewelry focal with a technique taught by Deryn Mentock in her Alchemy of Objects class.

Good intentions can go very wrong.  I'd say there are two main problems. One: In an attempt to integrate gray (from the inspiration painting,) I forced these Toho Black Diamond seed beads into my design.  Two: Too many stitches in the beadweaving!  Peyote, daisy chain, slopping netting.  Yuk!

Fear not!  I have a back-up plan.  Off to work on it!

Red Licorice Twist

Watermelon Swirl

(spiral stitch with tubular peyote ruffle toggle)

Purple Whirlwind

(fibers by Adornments)

It's a Wrap

(green ceramic beads, gold paisley Fimo, and Swarovski donuts strung on silver leather)

Crisscross Chocolate Sauce

Enola Cuff

(stretch cuff in my favorite color combo!)

Fairy Garden Rings

My daughter chose the colors for her ring and picked a combination of pressed glass blossoms and Fimo blossoms that I made by hand and tinted with pastel chalks.




This is a monochromatic design that was built around the fabulous aluminum roses that I found at The Bead Monkey in Edina, MN. (I'm going back for more colors!)