Welcome once again! Climb into our time machine as we celebrate the 3rd episode of our Beading Back in Time blog hop challenge. A little something my buddy Sherri of Knot Just Macrame and I came up with last year, I'm so happy that we're still going strong. I have to admit that I was looking forward to this episode's theme - Early Civilization. Any human civilization or culture from 3500BC to 500AD was fair game for inspiration. This meant that I could finally have a reason, motivation, muse to finish a piece that's been half done for a long time...
This was the first progress picture that I snapped, maybe 2 years ago or so? I've always wanted to do a big Egyptian style necklace, but never really gotten around to it. A friend and I were chatting about doing a necklace swap, and she was really interested in something Egyptian, so I figured I'd give it a go! I didn't want to go with a super typical color palette, so I ended up using this white plaster scarab as the centerpiece. I got this bead back in highschool on a fieldtrip to the Portland Art Museum. They were hosting a traveling Egyptian exhibit, and I had my fingers crossed for weeks in advance that they would have some sort of bead-like-object in the gift shop. I bought a typical turquoise colored one as well, but this white one just spoke to me.
Second progress pic - filled in around the wings, and trying to figure out placement of some sodalite drops plus a big donut. After I stitched the edging, attached the donut and drops, I was planning an intricate netted neck strap...and then the piece slithered off the table onto a concrete floor. So much for the center drop...and my motivation. I was still a bit sick over breaking that drop when I picked up this piece for the challenge. But I put on my bead goggles and went to work anyway...
I ended up going for a less fiddly netted neckstrap, with lots of graphic shaped beads. Instead of replacing the center sodalite drop with another of the same material, I went with a large blue and white striped triangle wedding bead. The beads in the strap include vintage lucite, rough cut recycled glass, vintage and new 2 holed beads, arrowhead shaped vintage drops, and a large variety of seed beads.
I just love how the strap turned out. The scarab was so blindingly white by itself in the embroidery section, that the addition of the arrowhead drops was really necessary.
And the beauty shot? Here you go!
Oh, just so you know, I just got my
Etsy shop reopened after moving. I hope to list lots more (or at least get some pictures taken so I can list at my leisure) soon. Until I do, you should check out these little baubles:
Don't you love how those first two pairs could work perfectly with this necklace? I guess my color scheme wasn't so atypical afterall...
Please hop along and check out what everyone else made this month! We really appreciate your views and comments!
Lindsay Starr
Sherri Stokey
Susan Kennedy
Jean Wells
Michelle McCarthy
Niky Sayers
Jenny Davies-Reazor
Stephanie Sanner Haussler
Wow, just wow! I came here to get the link list and then got totally distracted. That is an amazing piece. So bold and dramatic! Just like you would have expected to see some richey rich adorned with in the early Egyptian days. I love it!
ReplyDeletePerfect piece once again, Linsday. (Guess that's why I'm such a fan of your work, huh?) The necklace is perfection from the bead embroidery (love the texture in the "wings") to the strap (the intricate repeating pattern is gorgeous). And the piece as a whole is amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing. Really interesting design, color choices, and very wearable.
ReplyDeleteTHATS a simple strung necklace?! I love the two strands - alternating the blue glass beads with the daggers. Great texture in there too. The daggers actually remind me a little of fly beads( http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/aes/n/necklace_with_fly_amulets.aspx)
ReplyDeleteFertility or valor? Interesting contrast...
Of course I think the pendant is fab - your work amazes me always. Yummy and classically Egyptian palette. And you finished a UFO. Wow.