Sunday, February 15, 2015

Bernini Spiral

Yes, I have changed the name of this stitch. At least for me. A few posts back I talked about its origin, and its likeness to the columns that Bernini carved in St. Peter's Basilica. I'm sticking with my story.

I have avoided this stitch. It is one that has had me frustrated and baffled at many points. Never quite knowing which row I'm on and whether I should be switching up the beads. That is, until I realized that all I was really doing was peyote, in a circle, at an angle. Yes that doesn't necessarily sound easy. But it was the key that allowed me to relax and just bead. Peyote was the first stitch I learned. There is comfort in this stitch for me. A rhythm my fingers feel on their own.

Lately I've been wanting to combine beads and leather. I like the look. It feels slightly boho, not as heavy as full on beadwork and wearable everyday. This gorgeous thin, off-white leather was introduced to me from Melinda Orr. I would never, in a million years, have picked this up on my own. I would have looked at it in the store and moved on. But she sent me some, and it challenged me to get outside my box of browns and blacks. And now I can't imagine why I never thought of using leather in this way. Aren't friends amazing?

I think that I'm moving through a blue phase, perhaps an ombre phase. Whatever it is; I'm just letting it flow. There has been a lot of blue beads on the table lately and I've been working the hue. I can't say that blue was ever my 'go to' color. Normally it is green. I love green. 

One of the new tricks I've been embracing is glue. There, I said it. Yes, glue. It isn't sexy, doesn't feel 'handmade' and needs plenty of ventilation. But a tiny bit of it isn't reeeeallly cheating. It turned my Bernini spiral into a beaded bead that stays put. I used a flat disc bead at the end and dabbed just a touch of e6000 around the edges and attached them to the spiral. Now the 'bead' doesn't flop around on that sweet leather cord. Voilà

18 comments:

  1. This is a pretty little pattern and kinda cool that it's associated with St. Peter's :)

    I had never thought of glue as "cheating" Cynthia, but there... now you've stated it :) All the better! (Hey, glue has a long history, 8000 BC. And even surgeons use it nowadays LOL)

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  2. I'm glad you were able to make this stitch work, because it turned out amazing! I love the ombre look too...it just flows so well! And it looks great paired with that off white leather cord!

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  3. Love your necklace! I like Cellini, or Bernini, which ever!! One trick is to add the same bead you're coming out of. The peyote rounds offset the beads. That's how I remember which bead to add.

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  4. I'm so glad you have embraced cellini (I mean Bernini!) I adore this stitch in small increments. I create beaded beads with it. I recently made one and added it to a kumihimo braid. I love yours strung on leather!!

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  5. Ooohhh - I love this one! Always love a spiral! And the fact that you made it a "beaded bead" makes it all the more lovable! So pretty on the leather!

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  6. I think you might just start a trend. Bernini was an amazing artist and when I see his name I'm reminded of his outstanding work. So, I'm sticking with Bernini! You picked the perfect length, just enough twists to enjoy the pattern but not so many the eye gets overwhelmed. As Maryann said, the only way I remember is to pick the same kind of bead as what you are going out of. That doesn't make it easier to start, which is the part that always frustrates me.

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  7. It looks like you have indeed mastered the Bernini Stitch! (love the new name!) I have done this and added it to a silk cord and love the result. This piece is gorgeous! I love that you added the silver caps on the end.

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  8. I'm drooling over this Cynthia, it's superlative. Love, love, LOVE it!

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  9. Amazing! I can't even begin to figure out how you made those spirals :)

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  10. Beautiful necklace!!!
    Have a good week!!! and my g+ for you!!!:)))

    Besos, desde España, Marcela♥

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  11. Hi Cynthia,
    I love your Bernini spiral it is beautiful. Of course you know that this is my favorite peyote stitch to do. Love how you have it strung on the leather and that you used glue to hold it in place. I will need to try that next time.
    Therese

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  12. whatever you call it, you found a way to really make it a lovely focal supported by that leather Melinda sent you. that spiral never seems flexible enough to wear, but you eliminated that problem. blues are soothing to look at :-)

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  13. That turned out so cool! I love the look of it! I'm messy with glue so need to learn to use it better or else it ruins everything I use it on. I'm a mess!

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  14. Absolutely stunning! I love your influence of the St. Peter's Basilica columns. The elegant beading really complements the rustic leather.

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  15. Cellini/Bernini....po TA to/po TAH to...whatever, this is lovely!

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  16. Congratulations on Mastering the stich. Love the color combo you chose here. Necklace is just beautiful.

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