With the fabulous weather we've been having, I decided that my May bead journal should be painted with the colour of the sun. May is for bountiful blooms, the promise of lazy summer days, sipping cool drinks and basking in golden rays!! It also helps that I still had the yellow beads out from my earlier brooch making projects. Why waste a perfectly good, messy work area?
My five was snatched from an old computer keyboard and then distressed with Baroque Art, Guilders Paste in German Silver (which really looks like an antique gold). I'm sure that there are many suppliers, but I found mine at Bead Fx in Toronto. Like a true technique addict, I spotted the product on their website and decided that I needed some for my stash! Now I have five or six colours and will probably, eventually, end up with the entire line. It's waxy, like shoe polish, easy to apply and a little goes a long way! It's meant for antiquing all sorts of things (including wood), so I'll be playing with it more in the future! I wound sock yarn around the base of the key, to fill in the empty space, as it really wasn't suitable for bezelling with peyote (the wide key was on top of a fairly narrow base). I love the look of the soft yarn against the black key and the hard beaded textures!
Did you spot the dragonfly?
Components in this section include buttons and a bronze buckle from the family button box, an old clasp and metal beads from a deconstructed necklace. The star was a fairly recent purchase, but I thought it added to the effect!
I used a smaller vintage button this time and to my surprise, it seems to be a horseshoe! I'm not exactly sure about the significance, but it has some sparkly bits, other carved sections at the top, down the centre and on both sides. My eyes are not good enough to figure out what they are, but it's an interesting piece. Perhaps it's telling me to buy a lottery ticket before the month is over!!!
The small shell button at the top is a fairly new purchase, but I think that it fits the theme quite well. It reminds me of a wee window, sitting prettily at the top of the house. I wonder who peeks out from behind that window? Any thoughts?
The finished piece in all it's sunny glory!!! The belt buckle reminds me of a garden gate and the dragonfly is flitting here and there, looking for the perfect place to land. Do dragonflies land, or do they just flit about endlessly? Perhaps I should have included some running water, to add to the ambiance!! No, you say? It would be too hard to control, you say? I say, never say never!!! Water coming up in some future piece..... I think.........or should I say I promise?
Odds and sods of beads, attached with back, stacked, wildflower and boucle/bocce stitches. The cool little wildflower stitch can be found in Robin Atkins "Hearts to Hands Bead Embroidery" book.
Now on to June.................
14 comments:
Good thing you got the horseshoe the right way up if you plan to buy a lottery ticket. I bought one yesterday (and because I didn't have a horseshoe bead), I didn't win.
Diane
You do seem to live in your own "little" world, don't you. Did you happen to see the movie "Hugo?" Someone who winds up tiny little clocks looks out that window.
Dragonflies flit and then land briefly on upright grasses or leaves, they do like water tho and would appreciate a little symbolic water piece - such as glass perhaps?
Another lovely work from you, the yellow theme is very Spring like, full of sunshine and joy.
Maybe a tiny horse lives behind that window and keeps an eye on it's slipper, wondering who will try it on.
BTW, the little bit of sock yarn was a touch of brilliance.
Your pieces are always so beautiful and inspiring. Love your work Anne Marie! And just to let you know, dragonflies do land. I often have them kayaking with me because they come and land on my kayak (perhaps to take a bit of a rest) and come along for a bit of a ride before flitting off again! Occasionally they land on me and check me out too. Such fun!
What a lovely piece !!!
(I used beads, a hundred years ago, but there is MUCH to be learned, I see now !)
Diane, Judy, Kaite, Linda and Els -many, many thanks for your comments. I didn't buy a horseshoe.....and didn't see the movie Hugo, but probably should.....thanks to Kaite and Linda for the dragonfly info (I love the thought of it hitching a ride on the kayak) and Judy and Kaite for joining me in my whimsical imaginings. I don't know for sure, who lives behind the little window, but perhaps it's better that way.
Anne Marie, the sock yarn as a bezel is fabulous! and it fits perfectly. I loved Hugo, it is a feast for the eyes, the entire piece is filmed in oranges and blues. I'll have to go back in and look for the wildflower stitch in your piece....as always tons to discover in your work!
Your yellow house is very bright and welcoming.... behind the window is summer waiting for the right time to break out and play!
I always look forward to your posts, and this month's is pure sunshine and magic!
I enjoy experimenting with new products too. I hadn't seen this before. Your beaded project turned out fantastic...again.
As always I am amazed by your creativity and the stories behind your beading!
I'm always enthralled with the detail in your beading pieces - so many elements and oh so perfect together!
Thanks to Rachel, backstorybeads, Connie, Anne-Marie and MA!
Rachel, if you want to know more, you only need to ask....
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