I just love this hop hosted by Christine and Therese. Each one has been a challenge for me to try something new. To practice a stitch or technique. This installment had us trying our hand at bead embroidery. 
While I have been doing quite a few bead bezeling pieces lately, I wanted to try some stitching into fabric. So that is where I wanted to start this challenge. With a piece of fabric, some beads and a simple design. 
The last time that Christine and I got together for a beady weekend, I decided to get started on a piece for this hop. Christine happened to have a bit of grey cloth that matched a bead bezel focal I had just finished. She gifted me the cloth and I got started. I attached the focal and continued the design on the fabric with the same beads. I was going to fill in more beadwork, but both Christine and I agreed simple was better.But it did just need a bit more, and so I decided to do some bead crochet for an edge. I stitched that in place and then added a suede backing to the fabric. I love the way this one feels on ... that suede backing is so comfortable! And the cuff has that bit of boho elegance that I love. So a win, win for me!
I thought I'd show you all another piece I recently finished. I've been in a bezeling mood lately and I've created a number of pieces with some small polished stones that Melinda Orr gifted me. There is a wide variety and I've had so much fun mixing and matching them. I'll come back and show you more later, but here is one of my favorites. I've discovered a nifty trick. If I glue a jump ring to the back of my focal, and then add the suede, I can stitch the whole piece together with a small loop for me to connect the focal. So instead of a large embroidered piece, I get a few individual pieces that connect and have a bit of swing to them. I have a growing collection to show you all that I'be been working on for months. Yes, I am just a tiny bit obsessed with this style.
Be sure to check out the rest of the hoppers today: our hosts Therese and Christine, Amy, Liz E, Kim, Janet, Bobbie, Maryanne, Karen, Becky, Shirley, Lola, Lori, Karin G, Debbie, Paula, Wendy, Jasvanti, Ginger, Alicia, Sarah, Lizzie, Samantha, Sally, and Niky
I'm glad I don't have to choose between these pieces; brilliant work Cynthia!
ReplyDeleteI love your grey cuff! It's so simple and wearable. And, I LOVE your idea to add a jump ring to cab before you add the backing! Brilliant! I may borrow that idea if you don't mind! All your pieces are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWell, I thought I was ready for your gorgeousness, but I gasped out loud anyway! I wish I could just borrow your brain for a while, cause you always come up with the most creative designs! Love the cuff, but I'm just a bit star struck over those cabs you did from Melinda. Can't wait to see more of that!
ReplyDeleteLove this cuff. I totally agree that the simple lines really make it stand out. Like the way you finished the back as well. Stunning. Love everything about the new line with Melinda's stones. Great concept and gorgeous pieces.
ReplyDeleteWhoa Cynthia!! I love both of these pieces. I really love the way you finished that bracelet on the sides. And I'm drooling over your necklace. What a cook idea to sew in those jump rings!!! Brilliant!! Gorgeous work!
ReplyDeleteThe cuff is so cool. Another beauty that looks comfortable to wear. The necklace is gorgeous. I love the combination of the 2 cabochons.
ReplyDeleteLove the cuff and I bet the second piece is striking to wear too :-)
ReplyDeleteYou do such beautiful work. I admire anyone that creates with seed beads. It's too tedious for me. I used to make comanche weave earrings in the early 90s and after 1, I grew tired of it. I ended up with 1 earring in different colours with no mate.
ReplyDeleteOf course, I love beads on fabric! I like your choice of closure on the cuff! And the necklace has a wonderful earthy feel to it. Great work!
ReplyDeleteYou know I cannot say enough about these pieces. Being there as the grey cuff came to be was exciting ~ how such simplicity takes such deep playing and planning, how the look and the feel, the adding and subtracting all eventually results into a perfect piece. And knowing who is wearing it now ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe necklace is one of many many GORGEOUS necklaces to come. You hit on a great style for your bead senses and a fantastic way to attach a bail with ease.
Thanks for being a part of this journey, thanks for your skill, patience, talent, and bottomless generosity.
Your grey cuff has a fun, slightly steampunk look to me. It 'looks' like it would be comfortable to wear. I also really like the way you found to connect beaded cabochons together, rather than all on a single backing. Gives a lot of flexibility in design.
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteOh my both of your pieces are so you. The cuff is Boho meets biker love it! Christine was right on with the gray fabric. Oh how I wish I lived closer to y'all so I could join in on a few of those beading weekends. What a blast we could have. Great idea about the jump rings I will have to try that one. I like that you used just one color to bezel around the stones in the pendant the color you chose brings out the beauty of the stones. The leather neck strap is the perfect finishing touch to your design. Thank you for participating in ATTS 7 and I hope you will join us for ATTS 8.
Therese
As always, I see your pieces and think, "of course, that's just exactly how it should have been done!" I really love the use of the fabric on the bracelet, and the finishing on it, which balances elegance and rock & roll. And that's a great hint for the jump rings - Aimee Sweet McNamara taught the same type of thing in the soutache class I took with her, and I love it. After all, a girl needs to know how to add a little subtle swing and movement to things!
ReplyDeleteBoth your pieces are wonderful, I couldn't choose a favorite, I love what you did with the fabric, that is a great idea, and your beaded cabs are just perfect, with leather and metal, everything I love.
ReplyDeleteBoth pieces have their own vibe. Urban glamour and cowgirl chic. . At least to me. I love both of them. I'd wear the cuff to a concert with my hubby and the necklace I'd show off to my girlfriends. I'm loving your series of necklaces.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pieces, I am in love with the necklace so southwest. Beautiful work!
ReplyDeleteJust love your work. Both pieces have such an organic feel. I agree about using fabric too. In fact, the fabric story is the second scariest place for me to be after the bead store (when it comes to spending $$). Now that second piece is really something special. The cabs are magnificent and you showed them off to perfection, especially using leather in the necklace to give it a contemporary feel. Sometimes bead embroidery feels a little fussy to me but not in your hands. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI really love the flow of your design on the cuff! That necklace is a stunner! The simple leather chain really brings out the beauty of your beading and the beautiful cabs!
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of the cuff and am thrilled to learn the trick of adding jump rings between the layers. There is something stunning about your pieces. I can't figure out how to describe it, but there is a timeless beauty to them.
ReplyDeleteI love your pieces! The cuff is so elegantly simple! Great job! And the second piece using the jump ring is a great idea. I too have been toying with that idea, but you have to get them just right...Thanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, Cynthia! I like the simple design of the cuff and the edging - it's got a contemporary feel. I really enjoy bead embroidery and Ultra Suede is my favorite support.
ReplyDeleteClever way to add a jump ring on the second piece! Having components to mix and match is a great idea, too. You must never sleep...you get so much done:)
Happy creating!
They look absolutely gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteFabulous. Gray never looked so good! I'm intrigued by your new scaled down embroidery approach. Sometimes stones get overwhelmed, but with your technique that can't happen. I also love pieces that allow movement - swing is great, it makes a piece come alive. Can't wait to see more!
ReplyDeleteYou always inspire me. Your attention to details and color....love love your creating!!! Oh how I wish I could have a bead day with you and Christine....I love your jump ring idea!!
ReplyDeleteI love that cuff! It's a different take to bead embroidery, one that I hadn't considered. Thanks for the inspiration
ReplyDeleteLovely work!!! great pieces!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!!! and my g+ for you!!!:)))
Besos, desde España, Marcela♥
You're always coming up with such fun new designs! Love the cuff! Great work :)
ReplyDeleteBoth your pieces are awesome. I like your idea of gluing the jump rings to the back of your cabs. I would wear both of them.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Cynthia! Thank you for the tip, I'll definitely be using that! I love the idea of doing multiple smaller pieces and then joining them....hmmm....thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteHi Cynth, I like your fabric bracelet. The simplicity and wearability are great. My favorite though is the necklace. You have a design style that seems to pair things perfectly. I too have been attaching jump rings to my bead embroidery lately. However I have been adding them to the top to attach straps. I like the idea of adding them to the bottom to attach other elements.
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