Wednesday 8 August 2012

Jewels!

The beads I needed to continue with my goblet arrived yesterday morning so I spent some more time on it, around another 7 hours or so, plus another hour this morning so that I'd got enough done to show you.

I was so impatient to start adding some crystals that I figured out where I needed to place them almost as soon as they arrived.  It took a couple of attempts to finally get them so I was happy with how they sat in the beadwork but once I'd figured it out, I added some golden glass pearls in the same way.  This morning I decided it needed some smaller splashes of colour and settled on red seed beads to provide it.  Adding them was actually more of a challenge as I had to work many rows in from the edge and still try to keep the beadwork flat to the base of the glass.  Here is a pic of how it looks now:



If you look closely at this next pic you can see that there are very few increases in the beadwork.  I've mostly been just adding extra beads per stitch as, not only does this make it easier to stitch, it also makes quite an interesting pattern.



You will also notice that where the pearls and crystals have been added, it has caused 'bends' in the straight lines out from the stem.  At first this really bothered me but now I think it maybe adds interest.  What do you think?  As you can see I'm getting really close to the edge of the base now and this is making me slightly apprehensive as I'm not sure if I'll be able to get the beadwork to sit around the edge tightly enough to hold it in place.  I'm debating whether to try and bead the underside too, or maybe just a small bit around the underside edge.  It will have to be trial and error to decide it for me, I think.  Then it'll be on to beading the bowl of the glass which will provide many  more challenges, I'm sure! :o)

11 comments:

  1. Donna that is looking awesome! I can't actually see the bends, I just think it looks fab as it is. I would be tempted to bead to the end and then try and almost decrease and bezel the edge to it so it sits flat to the surface, and embellish it a bit. Can't wait to see what you do!

    C

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  2. It looks awesome! I love the way adding the larger beads has created texture in the base, it's going to be a goblet fit for a (bead) queen by the time you are done! :)

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  3. Oh oh oh, it's fabulous!!!!!!!!!!! You're doing such a gorgeous piece here, Donna!

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  4. Aw, thank you all. I'm hoping to get the base finished today/tonight so I can decide what to do with the top bit. The beads do sit quite neatly right around the top of the stem and I'm almost tempted to leave the rest unbeaded and just embellish the stem.

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  5. Wow wow wow Donna I can't believe how gorgeous this has turned out. I love the added pearls and seed beads as it makes it more interesting to the eye.

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  6. Coooooooooool! You have really risen to the challenge here! I bet we will see more sculptural work from you in the future, you are in your element!

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  7. I think you might be right about that, Catherine. I'm loving it! I've finished the base. Just got the stem to embellish now, then it will be decision time as to what to do with the top.

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  8. Oh my goodness Donna....what a treasure you are making here...fabulous, fabulous!!!!

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  9. Impressive Donna - a technical undertaking, I bet. Looking great.

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