Bead Embroidery Project, Part 2
In the first installment of my bead embroidery project, I talked about the cab I had gotten that had some slight issues, and what I could do with it for a bead embroidery project.
Well, here I am again, with more trials, tribulations….and photos! 🙂
Bead Embroidery, Freeform-Style
Here's right before the freeform portion started.
If you follow my work at all, you know my first love is freeform projects. And this one started out…interestingly.
So, you can see in the photo to the right that I have begun making my bezel asymmetrically — I’ve added size 15 pink beads to the left side, but not to the right.
When beading freeform, you don’t always know where your beading will take you. And the first place it took me was….ummmm….interesting. I don’t mean to scare you, but here is how I started, before I ripped part of it out.
This started out a little scary!
 That topknot was getting out of hand, so I took it out, but I kept the work I had done on the left side of the cab.
Decisions and Balance
Freeform bead embroidery isn’t just willy-nilly putting beads on and calling it good. Why? Because it can get out of hand (like the topknot) and become unbalanced.
And even though your project won’t be symetrical, it does need to have a flow of sorts.
With that in mind, I continued on with the project, and it got to be fun again.
Bead Embroidery and Color (or Lack Thereof)
Really, this looks much better in person (I am no photographer).
I still stand by my wish to keep the eye drawn to the cab, so I am using black beads of different sizes, shapes and finishes. But I realized that I needed to throw back in a little bit of color, as it was getting a little too funeral-ish.
So, I decided to add in some iris-colored beads, which unfortunately don’t show up very well in this photo. In case you’re not familiar with iris coloring, it’s an almost metallic look with shimmers of pink, gold, purple, etc.
What shimmers/shine you do see in the photo to the right are the iris beads, but not all of them are showing up.
Yep, I know this still looks a wee bit messy/unbalanced, but I am not done yet! Part of the process is getting the base done, then strategically placing other beads where they are needed.
Whew!
Planning Ahead
I don’t know if you do this too, but while I am working on one project, I am busily scoping out ideas for the next. Last post, I said I was going to do a little ebay shopping, and I did. I have quite a few cabs winging their way to me!
Naturally, I’ll share photos with you when they get delivered to me. 🙂
Meanwhile, here are some more interesting cabs to get your ideas humming while I am working on my next installment of this bead embroidery project.
Another Look at Bead Embroidery
I started talking about bead embroidery in the last post, and I thought I would lead you through my latest bead embroidery work in progress.
(I should have taken a photo when I didn’t have anything on the cab, but oh well.)
Se here we go, a stunning pink agate cabochon. Well, almost stunning; when I received it, I notices quite a few pock marks and pits on the cab — that will teach me to order something blindly! (But in the seller’s defense, I had bought plenty other items that weren’t pocked/pitted.)
Here’s a closeup photo of what I am up against.
My original thought of doing a more minimalistic project was kind of dashed, because I needed to hide these marks somehow. Fortunately, the absolute worst was along the edge, so would easily be covered by the bead bezel.
But what to do about the rest? I do have some thoughts and ideas; I’ll just have to see how they pan out in practice.
Color Choices
When I got this cab (and it really is prettier in person; I haven’t been able to capture the gorgeous coloration), I wondered what colors I should use for the beading. I went through all the stash and found some pinks and purple that were about right.
Then I decided that instead of competing with the cab, I should be setting it off. So I chose black.
But, my plans are to use several kinds of black beads. I have both matte and opaque, in seed beads, bugles and matagamas. I may throw in some hematite colored beads; not sure on that yet.
So stay with me over the next week or so, and you’ll see this cab bead embroidery project evolve.
Getting Another Cab
I am enjoying bead embroidery, so I am always on the lookout for cabochons to use.Â
My favorite haunts are gem and jewelry shows, but alas, there won’t be any here for a few months.Â
I decided to take a look at ebay. Although I haven’t bought any there in the past couple of years, I decided to peruse their offerings yesterday and found all kinds of goodies! And best yet — in the vast majority of cases, it’s what you see is what you get — no ordering where you get something “similar” to the photo. (Although there are a few of those, they are usually very clearly marked.)
My own personal preference is sizes 25mm x 18mm up to around 45mm x 35mm. But I have been known to go higher and lower for a gorgeous cab. The pink one I am working on is something like 51mm x 38mm.
Anyway, I’m taking a coffee break and seeing what else tickles my fancy for an upcoming project (in other words — time to go shopping). Then it’s back to work for my next installment on the above bead embroidery project.
Bead Embroidery
Bead embroidery — what exactly is it? The short answer is that it’s exactly what it sounds like – embroidering with beads. The long answer is that it’s an art form all its own!
A Short Course in Bead Embroidery
If you’ve perused beading magazines, you’ve probably come across Sherri Serafini’s work at some point or another. Although she wasn’t the first person to embroider with beads, I think it’s safe to say that she’s the one who took it from “wow” to “WOW!”
Yes, bead embroidery can get very elaborate, but it can also be fairly simple. You can make s small pendant or a ultra-fancy collar. Or anything in between! In all honesty, the only limitation is your imagination.
And bead embroidery is not only for jewelry, but also for things like handbags, shoes and the like. I’ve seen one awesome beaded hat — I can’t imagine the time it took for that piece! (Nor how heavy it muct have been by the time all the beads were on.)
How is Bead Embroidery Done?
The most common way (these days) is by gluing a cabochon of some type to a backing. Then the cab is surrounded in beads in all manner of colors and patterns. The stitching is done down through the backing, so you are embroidering the top side.
Sometimes, bead embroidery is done to that the cab isn’t glued to the backing, but rather the embroidery is built up so that it bezels the cab, thus holding it to the backing without any type of adhesive. This is generally done when a cab is valuable, or when adhesive might damage it. One example is when using rivolis; glue might damage the metal backing to the rivoli.
What Kind of Backing?
I use a product called “Lacy’s Stiff Stuff”, which is firm, but your beading needle can easily sew through it. You can find it online, and beading stores generally carry it as well. I’ve also seen it a time or two at some of the craft stores, like Jo-Ann or Michael’s.
Some people perfer to use suede or a microfiber fabric to the backing. Both of these are “floppier” than the Stiff Stuff, but it’s really a matter of what you are used to and like. A thick interfacing works well too (which is basically what the Stiff Stuff is, only not as stiff).
I’ll be making some more bead embroidery soon (you ought to see all the cabs I have glued to backing I have waiting) and will share it them. Meanwhile, you might want to check out my “Can-Can Cabochon” necklace tutorial for instructions for starting out in bead embroidery.
P.S. – The photo above is one of the variations I include in the Can-Can tutorial.
Yep, the sky is the limit when it comes to bead embroidery. Simple to sensational, it’s all up to you.