Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Fabric Beads 1, 2, 3, and 4

Real job and real life seem to keep encroaching on real studio time, and often by night time when all the must do's are done, I just want to sit on the couch with a heating pad behind me and a blanket over me. Happily though I am able to stay creative while relaxing by stitching up some of my fabric beads. 

I've been focusing on four styles...


Style #1 are these assorted Hand Quilted Fabric Beads made from various Japanese Chirimen fabrics, shown above and below.


One of the keys to a successful fabric bead, (at least in regards to the type that I make) is to take one's time to carefully build up the edges with layer upon layer of stitching. Doing so creates a solidly sculpted shape. 


Here you can see the stitched edges of the beads as well as a peek at their inner fabric core lining. 

Style #2 are these Frayed Fabric Beads...


Unlike Styles 1, 3, and 4, which basically follows the construction method outlined in my 
Quilted Fabric Beads PDF Tutorial Pattern, this style of bead uses a different method that I am just starting to play around with.


However they still utilize the same sculpting method of building up the edges with lots of slow stitched layers.

Style #3 focuses on beads inspired by the rough patching and stitching of Japanese Boro...


Made from bits of shot cotton, the beads feature lots of rough hand stitching while wrapped bands of heavily stitched strips act as my boro inspired patches.


The bands of stitched fabric strips give each bead it's own unique "figure" and shape.


I like to think of each one of these beads as little sculpted works of textile art.


While doing these boro inspired style beads, I started morphing them into my 4th style.


This bead above and the one below show a bit of the morphing where I am beginning to incorporate more "pretty" embroidery stitching into these previously rougher stitched boro inspired ones.


And then finally, in Style #4, I have started embellishing the beads with just the "pretty" embroidery stitches as shown below...


I've just begun making beads in this 4th style, and need to play around with different stitches to see what I can come up with, but I really enjoyed doing these simple little flowing vines and always love making french knots.


I generally make the beads in two sizes as reflected below...


And that's the fun of having various styles... one of these styles always seems to fit my mood! If you'd like to see which beads are currently for sale you can go here. Note that some of the beads shown have already sold, and that as time allows I will hopefully be listing more beads. And who knows, maybe more styles and variations will emerge.

Oh, and while I like to just wear 1 or 3 on a ball chain or a cord, here's a more decorative necklace that I made using some of my Japanese Chirimen beads as well as little colored glass beads and vintage buttons...


(I would love to have enough to make a bohemian beaded door curtain, but I don't think that is going to happen any time soon... or ever. That's would take a whole lot of beads!)




8 comments:

The Inside Stori said...

Thank you for the great close up look and explanation of your fabulous fabric beads!

Debbie said...

Such a pretty necklace, love all the bead styles.

em's scrapbag said...

These are fabulous!

Annie said...

I love these beads and wish you posted international

Victoria said...

Thanks to each of you and in response to Annie's comment... I contacted Annie directly, but will share here my apologies for at this time no longer offering international shipping of goods that I make, (my PDF patterns can still be bought internationally).

For many years I happily shipped all over the world and had wonderful customers and felt like many were friends. But between the increased rates and ever changing rules and regulation changes concerning international shipping, as well as my now 50+ something brain that doesn't seem to be able to keep up with everything the way it used too, (blame it on hormones because I want to believe the sharpness and clarity of thinking will one day return) I just got plain tired of trying to keep it all straight and deeply craved more simplicity... thus international shipping of handmade goods got the ax. I hope one day to return to offering international shipping of goods, but for now unfortunately I don't, and that is indeed with regrets.

Diane J. Evans said...

I am so excited -- I just picked up the set of embroidered beads from your Etsy shop. All your new beads are beautiful -- these, however, really spoke to me, and I love them. So glad you've had the good health and energy to keep creating these gems -- what talent you have, Victoria.

Diane

Lynda Shoup said...

These are all stunning! The color combinations and texture are simply fabulous. I love the way you strung them to make a necklace. I am inspired!

Stuart Broad said...

Ohh!! these are absolutely fantastic..
Color theme was phenomenal..
digitizing for embroidery