Another project finally completed

It never ceases to amaze me how long it takes to finish some pieces. I don't know why, considering I have some embroidery projects sitting around that are more than a decade old that will probably never be finished.

So I'm always slightly surprised when I do actually finish a project! I have blogged about this one before, when I was stuck for inspiration back in May. As I mentioned then, I had been stuck on this design because I was trying to combine the wrong pieces. Once I finally decided to abandon the original concept and go for something else, the project has moved along quite smoothly, although it was heavily delayed by my adventures in Milwaukee etc.

This photo shows the piece halfway through beading. I decided to try a twist on a multi-strand necklace and actually do a plait of beads on each side of the pendant. I worked out by trail and error that a four strand plait would look better than a three strand plait. I have to say, it took ages to make all those herringbone strands and it was very tedious! It took quite a bit of fiddling around to get the plaits right and attached to the clasp correctly, but I'm very happy with the result.

There's quite a bit of movement in the plaits but the necklace sits very nicely and is very comfortable. The plaits are only joined at the pendant and the clasp.

I learnt a lot about working with multiple strands here and I'm going to try some more variations of that in future work. I really like the effect of the plaited beadwork, but I'd like to try cascading strands and other ideas.

 This picture shows the nearly completed necklace - I was just starting the fringing here.

I had a lot of trouble with the clasp and if I was to have a do-over I would make it quite differently I think. However, I do like the effect of using the 'button' made with the watch face and the way it links to the watch face on the front of the pendant.

I doubt if anyone would call this full-on Steampunk, but I wanted to evoke that style anyway.

Here's the finished item - rotten photo I know, but if waited until I had time to set things up for a perfect photo then I'd never do any blog posts!

I found with the fringing that I had two major difficulties:
1. Fringe length: there should be some perfect formula for calculating fringe length but there isn't. I started off with quite a long length but kept on shortening and shortening - I think it's now the same length as the actual pendant. I would suggest that the fringe should always be kept to some sort of ratio of the pendant height, which is what architects do. I might do some more experimentation in that area.

2. Knowing when to stop! I could have kept on fringing all the way up to the herringbone strands I suppose, but I think that would have looked too OTT, and in any case it wouldn't have sat well. I kept on going to the end of the bead embroider underneath the cabochon, and I think that looks good. It actually looks like the fringe is just a continuation of the bead embroidery, and I really like the effect.

I started off using Swarovski bicones in the fringe but ran out before I had gotten to where I wanted to go. I dithered about waiting to finish until I could get some more beads. Going through my stash, I found some delicas that are a similar colour to the bicones, so in the end I used those. It actually means that the fringe narrows as it goes up the sides, which I think is a better effect. Carrying the crystals all the way up the sides may well have looked too bling.

I wore this for the first time yesterday and found it to be very comfortable, although the fringe was a little distracting! Overall, I'm happy with what I have achieved with this cabochon.

Bead and Button Show Review

I can't believe how long it's been since I did a blog post. I've been so busy with work and other stuff the past few months that it never seems to get to the top of the to-do list.

I went to the Bead and Button Show in June and had a wonderful time. I did a three day Masterclass with Sherry Serafini which was a fabulous experience. Over three days you really have an opportunity to get to know other students and talk in depth with the teacher, which I really like. I haven't done much on my necklace that I started in class since I got back, but I will be getting on to it shortly.

Since I got back I have really focused on completing my class projects and doing some of the kits I purchased at the Show. This was because after going in 2008, I ended up with a few kits that I never completed - they are still hanging around in fact - and I didn't want the same thing to happen this time.

Here's a photo of three completed projects: a loomwork project done in a class with Judy Walker (green/black), a  bracelet kit from Jill Wiseman (silver) and a kumihimo bracelet (gold/brown) - my first ever! I have completed a few other things but they are currently with the Bead Society of Victoria, as they were on display at the recent Melbourne Bead Expo [http://www.melbournebeadexpo.com.au/]. I will post photos of those later.

The Show was very enjoyable and also very damaging to my bank account :) I was inspired by all of the classes that I took while at the Show, and really enjoyed the opportunity to learn. The trading hall was like a treasure trove. It was funny to see all of the Show attendees on Thursday night, lined up waiting to get into the preview sale. I worked out which stall I wanted first (Gary Wilson's cabs) and made a bee-line for it as soon as the doors opened. I wasn't the only one, either, there was people stacked three deep around the stall at one point, sorting through hundreds of trays of stones to choose their favourites. I was very happy to have had the chance to buy some earlier in Sherry's classes, and I think Gary gave her some of the best ones to sell early. I'm going to have lots of beading fun with those cabs over the next couple of years. I was more focused than last time I think, and really hunted for things that I knew I could not purchase in Australia. Even then I seemed to end up with an awful lot of seed beads! I will definitely aim to go again.

I should get a chance to get back to my necklace I started in Sherry's class soon. It has some wonderful cabochons that I purchased from Stone Femme [http://www.etsy.com/shop/StoneFemme] and I'm quite certain it will look stunning when it's finished.