[Nfb-krafters-korner] Bead Weaving - Picture

[River Woman]

I tried something new, for me, and thought you might like to see it.  It started with an old black and white photo mirror my mother gave me. The photo is of me as a young child, about 8 sitting on a bench in our back yard. I have a dress on, with a wide white collar. The colors of the photo are very soft since it was taken probably in the late 1940-early 1950s.  It is round, and about 3 inches around.  I decided to create a beaded embroidery piece using this is my starting point.  
I went to www.fabrics.com and found two prints from the 1950s, one in black and white, one in lipstick red and white.  
I used the black and white print for my "canvas" to begin my picture.  Since the print had some butterflies on it, I decided to use the theme of butterflies and flowers.  I looked in my bead stash and found that I had some beautiful carved coral red roses, in two sizes. Perfect! I also had a nice translucent white shell with a butterfly painted on it in black ink. I arranged the two largest things on the fabric first - the photo mirror, and butterfly shell. 
After I had captured them with beadwork, and they were securely in place, I began applying the roses.  I did all the stitching with red, crystal, and diamond black Japanese seed beads.  I added accents of larger faceted czech crystals in clear and soft charcoal, and some little accents with very pale lavender Swarovski crystal pearls.

After the entire piece was done, I placed it on the lipstick red printed fabric - same size as the top piece that is beaded.  Then, I turned up the edges from the back to the front. This made a picture "frame" from the red fabric all around the beaded picture that is on the black and white fabric. 

Finally, I worked a beaded loop stitch all around the turned up edges, to make a beaded frame.  Today, I will finish the piece by making beaded loops on the top, and will hang the piece on a nice old tree branch that I found in the woods yesterday. I soaked the branch and scrubbed it to be sure it is clean.  I will do the beaded loops this morning and my piece will be finished.  It is AMAZING.

I will attach a photo of it that I took yesterday - for those who can see it with the zoomtext. If you cannot see it, I hope I gave a good enough verbal description so you can see it with your mind.

The piece is named:  _Girl on a Bench Sees Visions of Butterflies and Red Roses_
and it is a self portrait.

Beaded embroider is so much fun to do and the results are so spectacular and sparkling. I like sparkles and glitz. How about  you?

Lynda Lambert
104 River Road
Ellwood City, PA 16117

724 758 4979

My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com



 
 
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