A Collaboration...the 'Total Package'!

Sometimes I want total control over the creative process, of looming my cuffs. I fall short when it comes to create a perfect sterling silver clasp. While contemplating the finish, of this "Forget-Me-Not" Cuff, I saw a post by my 'forum friend' Cat. This was my ah-ha moment! I know of her talent. She emerged from weaving seed beads, directly through to wire wrapping and now more involved with being a 'smithy'. Her jewelry is striking, with flawless talent. I wrote Catherine Pruit a note asking if she would be interested in creating a clasp I had in mind. What she developed was more then what I had originally imagined! It truly made this cuff a 'total package'!

Thank you so much, Cat! I hope we can find the time to work together more. I have some other ideas ;-)

Please consider your fellow artists and think how they can bring your finished piece to a new level.

"Textural Looming"

I have been playing with 'textures' in looming, and still offering a feeling of the 2D aspect, which bead looming is based upon. Maybe some will feel this similar look is able to be accomplished 'off-loom' but I tend to dream ideas of how I can complete my new design idea, 'on the loom'. These are just a few of the textural patterns I am including in my book. The mix of small and large beads can lend such a wonderful dimension. Add a thicker warp or two, and you will spring board to a new bead looming dimension all together!

"Forget-Me-Not" Cuff!

I haven't posted much, here in my Blog, because I am spending every minute creating new and unique looming techniques, for my book. The book is due to the publisher very soon, so I am doing/redoing/writing/rewriting continually, to make sure I am not missing something that may offer inspiration. My hopes, with my first book, is to introduce looming in a new light! For now, let me offer this cuff. I had been finalizing this loooming and realized how perfect to share, since I have not been on my Blog in a while, "Forget-Me-Not" Blue Flower Cuff! Soon,we can talk about all the new and wonderful ways to loom and manage warps, along with designing ideas and how to manage the 'bead pattern programs' offered.

Revisiting An Imporatant Tip

Working on my book, to meet the deadline, has kept me away from blogging as often as I hoped. I think it is a good time to revist some of my most important posts.

This is one post that should be revisted more often. A white weft thread truly makes a huge difference in the bead colors:
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The Weft Is The 'Bead Color Boss'!

This is going to be a cuff of 'Forget Me Nots', a small blue flower, which will lend itself to a 3-D build idea. When I start a new project, I always take the time to consider many facts. Because I loom so often, it is 'second nature' to me, just to grab the beads I want and the threads to begin. Today, it struck me how important this first thought should be, for any looming. Let me share how I begin.

This won't be the first time I have written the importance of 'planning your looming' before you proceed, 'Stay three steps ahead'. Take a look at the picture below, the first 30 or so rows of the cuff I just started. Look close at the 'warp' and 'weft' threads. Notice the difference in colors I am using. A decision for 'warp' or 'weft' thread color, begins after I select the beads, for any looming project, i.e. Subject of the bead work first, bead color selection second, then warp color and finally weft color. You may see that the 'warps' are strung using 'Green' and the 'weft' is 'Blue'!
I made bead color choices, for this picture, to include many bead finishes. There are Metallic colors, Silver Lined colors, Opaque colors, Ceylon colors and Transparent colors. The Transparent color helps me to decide what color weft to use, but I am also keeping the Ceylons in mind too!

Below is a picture of how the 'weft color' can change the entire color choice, for your looming!

I labeled each one of the bead types, along the top. The warps are Green, because my looming will have more green or dark colors, then any other, in the backgroud. On the right, in the picture above, you'll notice the different color 'wefts', sampling a row of the same bead types. Notice how the choice of 'weft color' can change your bead color. Such selections can determine your looming to be 'bright' or 'drab'.

Using the warp color, best matching your majority color in the looming, is correct, because it is the only portion of 'any thread used to loom' that will be noticed later on. As the looming bends or moves, the warps are seen in between the beads. The warp color needs to be a perfect match to the majority of bead colors selected.

However, using a correct color weft, will allow your bead colors to 'pop'. This thread will not be seen, when you are complete. So try to remember, "The Weft Thread is the Color Boss"!

"Sesen"

From time to time, we create something, with our beads, we feel is better than anything we have done prior. Since I am writing a book, deeply engulfed in looming, photo taking and writing, (which keeps me from writing in my Blog as often), I thought it would be a good topic of conversation.

This picture, of my Split Loomed Necklace "Sesen", is something I feel was one of my designing best, but has been shunned by some of the busiest beading contests. My post truly is not a pity party, but is actually a way to generate some thoughts, for you to consider, about your own talents. How often do you re-visit your stash of completed bead work?

From time to time, I look over what I have loomed and closely investigate what I have completed and how, maybe digging up the same inner thoughts I considered when originally loomed. There are some 'ah-ha' moments and there are other moments when I decide to put a piece further down the cabinet to keep for postarity's sake, only.

"Sesen", the SLN pictured above, is one I have scratched my head over. I think the looming techniques I incorporated were very new and different, but the additions of handwoven petals, all in the same stitch, is what makes this a 'simple', unmotivated design. Maybe I could have beaded each petal using various sized beads, various hand weaving stitches or not splashed the color through each petal to the point the pattern looks generated on a 'bead pattern program'.

That brings me to another point. My most revered pieces are those not patterned from a program, but those I have graphed or loomed free hand.

The 'subjective' aspect, of contests, is an argument for the ages. But right now, I am not concerned over the 'contest relevance' of my looming, but what can I see from my own past thoughts, intricacies of design and aspects of the techniques I once thought were so special they would make the piece my 'best design idea ever', yet now fall below the importance of my new creation. [probably should have been a sentence break in there :)]

I know it is not a creative streak to re-hatch what you already know, but sometimes we are not aware of how much an idea or design can be perfect, when pared with a new challenge. Consider 'this' a new challenge and try to incorporate into your daily beading travels.

BEAD Magazine and Bead Looming

I am very proud to announce my bead looming will be included in the Feb/Mar 2012, Issue #36 of 'BEAD Magazine', published out of England. Notice that one of my cuffs made the cover!

This Issue is has an Asian Theme and chock full of projects from paper beads to bead looming! I am so excited to see bead looming get a bit more exposure than it seems to get. I also love working along with the Editor and people of BEAD.

Be sure to consider buying a copy of this Issue, or future Issues. I am sharing patterns for the first time, in a public venue. Other issues will also include some bead looming patterns and techniques, I do not share anywhere else.

My bead looming will be exclusive to this Magazine. So if you feel you want to learn more, than consider BEAD! We are also discussing some other fun projects, you may have seen on my Blog or Website!
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NOTE: Since this post about BEAD, I have been asked of its availability. Here is some info I know:

BEAD WRITES: We have a US office too if you have any inquiries - Ashdown.Inc or www.hobbyworld.tv

DORRIE WROTE: I get the i-mag subscription. I have gotten it for 3 years now and love it! It would be nice to have the printed, but I read through it online and then I print off what I want to make. I highly recommend this Bead mag. I think you can get printed to the US, but not sure.

BEAD WRITES: You can - it should be available in some larger Barnes and Noble, some bead stores, but you can also subscribe to it and get it delivered, but it will arrive quite a bit later than it does for UK subscribers.

Gerber Daisy Between the Lines

This cuff is complete. The name "Gerber Daisy Between the Lines" refers to the Tex 400 cords, (lines of color), I included.

When I last posted, I was starting to consider the fringe idea. Here is a picture of how I attached the fringe.


Keeping each strand wide apart from another, allowed the Tex 400 Warp Cords to show through.



The glass leaves are green greasy and include a gun metal bead. I made the clasp, with a butterfly accent.

With so much else going on, in this cuff, I only used the decorative clasp on one side, as opposed to adding two.


These green spiral beads are custom made lampwork. All of the findings are gunmetal.