Beads and Bread: freeform

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Freeform Peyote Challenge

Two very awesome ladies, Karen Williams and Mandi Ainsworth, decided it would be fun to host a Freeform Peyote Challenge! I was so very excited to sign up, and today's the reveal day! I have to say, this has been a whirlwind of a project. I started out with something totally different, and it quickly grew out of all proportionate size. It would have been a 3 inch wide cuff if I had kept going. Now, there's nothing wrong with that, but not what I normally wear...so, back to the drawing board. Karen started a great facebook group for Freeform Peyote, and I got such inspiration from seeing all the different interpretations. One in particular stood out for me. It was simply made in two colors. Like a lightbulb, I realized that I could also do that. And my two colors immediately jumped out for me....silver and hot pink!
Now, most freeform pieces go through an....ugly duckling stage. Where you look at it and wonder if it will ever grow up to be beautiful. Not so for this piece. From the moment I started it, I love each and every stage of it. This has been such a wonderful piece for me, and will be a treasure in my collection for many years to come.
I did a few things differently on this one than what I've done in the past. I wanted a bit of structure, so I ladder stitched silver 11's for one end, then strung several types of silver beads until I reached the length I wanted, then did another ladder stitched row for the other end. So I started with a rectangle of silver, which I then filled in with lacy strands of beads.

I think the hardest thing to photograph is a freeform piece. There is so much to look at, so I tried to break it down for you.

The clasp end, silver lined triangle beads, accented with fuschia 15's.

The loop end is a pink and clear dichroic bead, with loops of the seed beads used throughout the bracelet encircling the bead.

It definitely took on it's own shape..I was thrilled when I saw what was happening.

A lovely bridge of silver twisted bugles flows down to a silver pond.

Hard to see, but there is a pink cube bead, an AB clear crystal, and a frosted pink bead in this shot.

Another view of the bridge.

I love the pink and silver mix here, reminds me of cherry blossoms.

Thanks so much Karen and Mandi, for this challenge. It gave me better understanding of myself as a beader, and what I'm capable of creating. And a lovely addition to my jewelry box!

Here's the list of the participants-have fun hopping! Blessings, Shirley