beaded beads

At last, I got round to tidying up and threading the beaded beads I made at this weekend. Each of the beads is made using peyote stitch and then most have been embellished with more beads. I have put them on a choker and added some filler beads, and now I can wear them instead of staring balefully at them in their unfinished state.

 

One of the problems with taking photos at this time of year is the ever-decreasing amount of light in the afternoons; I often miss the best moments simply because I forget how quickly the light fades. But when I took these yesterday afternoon by the light of the setting sun, I was struck by the long, beautiful shadows and the way the beads reflected and refracted the rays.

I was completely fascinated by Zitta's beads (Zitta was our tutor) and tried to work out what they reminded me of. I thought it may be sweets, and I like my plain orange bead (middle photo) because it looks like a twist of barley sugar. But then I saw that the shapes of the beads you can create with this method are more organic, more natural. Finally, this morning, I realised that they made me think of sea anemones and corals as illustrated by naturalists such as Philip Gosse (1810-1888, father of Edmund Gosse who wrote an excellent account of his relationship with his father in Father and Son).

These kinds of highly coloured and detailed illustrations were immensely popular in the nineteenth century, as was the whole aquarium craze. The eye for detail and colour is incredible and is also the one that is needed to make really amazing beaded beads.

   

I wouldn't claim mine are that, but I'm pleased I've at least made some. I'm hoping that Vanessa, brilliant beader and new blogger, will show some of her fantastic (and I mean, fantastic) beaded creations which seem to have a life of their own.

This is the finished necklace. I may find myself having to feel my neck every so often to make sure none of the beads are crawling or waving or creeping of their own accord.

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Yesterday's post was only ever intended as a 'for one night only' screening. I need to do what I always try to do when times get tough, and move on. Plus, I need to consider Simon's sanity. Thank you to everyone who left a comment.

                                ***

I'll be at I Knit London tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to it and it should be great, especially if this lovely, autumnal sun is still shining.

Comments

[Missy]

Wow! That is gorgeous!
missy

[Gemma]

Lovely. I think anemones is spot on. Terribly Finding Nemo.

Glad it was a one night only post. At least you got it out of your system! :-)

[Melanie]

Coral is precisely what crossed my mind as I saw the very first photograph. Such beautiful beads.

I don't believe I've left you a comment before, but I have been a long time reader, and I just wanted to echo so many of your readers and say that your blog is beautiful and inspirational, and I too am sad that you were placed in a position where you felt the need to 'explain yourself'. I do hope you are able to move on and leave the critics far behind :)

[martha Bilski]

Beautiful Beads! They DO look like seas creatures. Lovely coral colored creatures.

[Lisa]

Love it! Love it! Sea creatures that look good enough to eat!

[Ewa]

These are scrummy! I've never really been a bead person, preferring things chunkier and less precise, but I may have to revisit my beading books and see if anything grabs me the way your beautiful necklace does! That's what I love about your blog: inspiration - thank you :-)

[Dulce]

You have an amazingly magnificent way of making things beautiful, and are highly inspirational. I love your blog, your quiet, yet flamboyant perspectives of life, your discreet irony, and your joy of the words. Apart from the wonderful things you knit, and sew, and bake, and can photograph,you make use of words in a very particular way, and also that is fascinating to me. The wit in it, the straight forwardness, the feeling that it couldn't have been said in any better way, all make your colourful warm writing very special.
I read your post last night.
I understand your need to write it.
For one thing that article was good - it made your book and your blog known to many people who otherwise might not have known them, and I'm sure many people are happy that they have met you. I am. Thank you for sharing your real life fairy moments.

[Merruli]

What a beautiful piece of jewellery!
I love the composition of colours and forms in it.

[IamSusie]

My friend taught us how to make these types of beads at our crafty MeetUp group. It was really funny, because several people were absolutely not able to figure it out. It was like a foreign language, but us stitchery needlework types got the hang if it quickly.

Everything you make is so beautiful!

[Becca]

after years of so much fashionable black, the bright color is so inviting.

[Allison]

Those beads are gorgeous! What great colours...

[Sharon M.]

Beautiful beaded beads--yummy colors--lovely necklace!! :)

[Gwen]

Beatiful necklace - the colors are so nice moving into the grey skies time (for me).

(Who on earth puts Everything, All their messy life, up on their blog or in their book? Yours is obviously not a confessional blog. And that's part of the fun of a blog - putting up only what you want to share. Grumble, mumble, grr.)

[Kathleen]

Yes, focus on Simon and Co., and just continue with what you do best. Have fun at the "I Knit London" on Sat, well deserved, oh to be in England to knit! Focus on home which is most important.

[JL]

Jane:
Your beading is beautiful---I love the design and color. Look forward to seeing more jewelry designs from you, my dear. Also appreciated the beautiful 19th century illustrations that inspire you.
Take care,
JL

[Sherry]

You're right; they do look like sea anemones. And I never would have noticed that if you hadn't mentioned it.

Thinking that makes them lovelier, for some reason.

[Jill]

It is coral they remind me of...I am glad you have pulled that post, and feel very sad that you felt the need to do it in the first place.

I might see you tomorrow at IknitLondon.....

[Diniyoyo]

I'm glad I got to read your one-nighter. I admit I am shamelessly curious about other people and how they have come to where they are in their lives. I think it is human nature to try and piece together bits and pieces to make a whole picture. I'm not so curious about every blogger I read, but you drop such tantalizing hints here and there. On one hand, I think it is rather flattering to have people so curious about you. But on the other, I guess it is also annoying to have such off the mark assessments. As a high school English teacher in the inner city, surrounded by concrete, grime and bleak landscapes (not to mention raging adolescent hormones), I enjoy coming home and reading your thoughtful entries and looking at your peaceful, carefully orchestrated photos. It cheers me up and lowers my blood pressure. I was amused by all the hoopla. I think your critics should find something a little more threatening to get their panties in a twist. Perhaps they would provide a more worthy service if they focused their attention on urban education, teen pregnancy, world hunger or such.

[Terri]

Be sure to take some pictures for us. Have fun. I will have to put this shop on the list for my next visit.

[Dorothy]

So many pretty colours going on in your life right now. The Butterfly cakes, though, mmmmm.

[Jane B in Minnesota]

Jane - I just got your book in the mail today. I'm looking forward to reading it. Jane B.

[Maria]

Wow! How lovely, beautiful colors. I am not much for writing but Dulce puts it right to the point that I could not have said it better myself. I agree with everything she says about you and your blog. Everyday I look forward to reading it and inspires me so much I might take another craft.

[Steph]

Looks intricate! I more of a reader rather than a poster on here, but I've tagged you in my blog. :)

[Kathy]

Dulce's comments are spot-on and echo my thoughts about your blog and yesterday's post. The beading is luscious; you're right about the light in the photos. In fact, of all the things you wrote in your one-day-only post yesterday, the thing that really tickled me was that you revealed the secret to your always-splendid photos: a deep, window sill, painted white, with good outside light. Keep writing -- your blog is an island of beauty and balance.

[Kay]

I would kill for that windowsill.