Woven beads

Bead and button making using wrapping or weaving techniques have been around since at least the 17th century, it's a traditional craft that's lost it's popularity since mass production arrived but I've always been fascinated by the various techniques. I've only wrapped a few so far but I plan to make enough to create a series of woven jewellery.

Felt beads

I don't usually felt, its not my favourite use for wool ( though I do admire the felt creations of other practitioners/ artists) I prefer to spin with it. But I had some old felted samples and scraps of yarn cluttering up the studio so in the spirit of recycling I decided to make some felted beads...

Posts of the future

A little peak at some of the things going on in my new studio

This brings back memories

I Found these little key rings when having a bit of a tidy-up, they're made using lots of plastic (beads, leaves, sequins) and wire. They have to be at least 5 years old, created in a phase of experimentation and I consider them to be a kind of prototype ( made cheaply to try out shapes and combinations) as I originally intended to make more in higher quality materials once I felt comfortable with a design. Now they're more  of a nostalgia than anything else but I figured I'd show them anyway.

Fimo First

Last night I gave polymer clay a try (I used fimo), it's been on my to dabble list for quite some time and I finally got round to using it.  I plan to do quite a few experiments and try out different techniques, but at the moment I'm really fascinated with the mark making/texture possibilities.  For the ones that I've made so far I have various plans to improve them, including finishing off the embossed pieces with ink/paint and varnishing with fimo varnishing liquid.  In all probability these beads will end up assembled into a mixture of things, not just jewellery but other accessories too.

Pendant Experiment... continued

These are three of the pendant type beads I made from air dry clay on Thursday, I've painted this distressed finish using acrylics and once the others are painted in a similar fashion (though some will be painted in a different style and there will definitely be colour variation) I'll add some coats of varnish.

Because they're made of air dry clay they're not strong enough to be worn as jewellery ( if I wasn't sure of that before I am now) but I plan to put them to less strenuous use - incorporated into wallhangings or some crafty style creation, dangling harmlessly on a wall they should be pretty safe (especially after varnishing) ; plus pretty effective in appearance if any of the ideas floating through my head pan out - I'm feeling a textile collage moment approaching.

Pendant Experiment

I've been having a little play with air dry clay (rhyming that wasn't intentional, but its happened so its staying), making pendants and beads from it, they're now pretty much dry so next I intend to paint/varnish etc. though of course all my efforts might be in vain since air dry clay is not particularly strong (the batch I have is on the powdery/ crumbly side) and may not survive or just simply not respond well to the processes I have planned for it. Either way I'll post the results ...