I'm excited about this challenge because Therese and Christine left us so much room for creativity and play. The only rule? Create a piece using peyote and/or herring bone stitch.
Here's the first piece I created, which I started during my at-home creative retreat last month.
It's freeform peyote, using all sizes and colors of seed beads and a few faceted Czech glass beads. I also included some beaded buttons, which I used to join the two woven strips together. They give the eyes a nice break from all the craziness!
Now, if you know me, you know I'm about color, color, and more color! But I really enjoyed adding the little hints of black and white, and I plan to do more of this in future pieces. I may even do... an entirely black and white piece. *Gasp!*
And now, on to the second piece.
When I finished the first one, I realized I didn't stick to just peyote stitch -- there was some netting, fringe, and bead embroidery going on. Was this cheating? I wondered. Well, I'd better create a second one, just in case.
Here's another freeform peyote necklace, this time in blues, greens, and purples. I also used some Czech glass beads and freshwater pearls to give the piece an oceany feel. I love how this one turned out!
In fact... I wore this to the Bead and Button Show on Friday. I just had to. It got a lot of compliments from the nice ladies I met in the checkout line at the Beyond Beadery booth, which made me a happy girl.
I continue to love, love, love freeform beadweaving. I have some new pieces in the works, but that's another story for another time! Now it's time to visit the other participants and see what awesome things they've created.
Participants:
Thanks for stopping by, and have a sequintastic day! <3
So beautiful! Gorgeous pieces!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mandy! :)
DeleteWow! I love your colors and your style! These pieces are so neat - the beaded buttons are so coooooooooool!
ReplyDeleteAww, thanks, Amy! The beaded buttons were pretty easy to do. One of these days I'll have to do a tutorial. :)
DeleteGreat necklaces! I love the first one! It's so cheerful and the black and white just make the other colors pop. Since I love watery colors, I love the second necklace. Perfect for summer.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maryanne! I like these pieces for those reasons, too. :)
DeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThank you for participating in mine and Christine's challenge.
I love your freeform peyoty necklaces. I have not tried freeform yet but it is on my to do list. The first necklace is beautiful it reminds me of Joseph's coat of many colors so bright and cheerful! I really like the second one the color combo is fantastic! Great job!
Therese
Thank you for hosting this challenge! Out of three I've done so far, this one was the most fun.
DeleteI hope you do another one!
Love your necklaces!! Looks like a class you could teach to me!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shirlee!
DeleteOh, I would love to teach this to you. We'd have so much fun! :)
I love the big bold first necklace! What a great design! And the cool blue is pretty wonderful, too. Your work is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary! Your comment makes me happy. :)
DeleteSarah, these are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI love the vibrancy in the first piece and how you make it all work. And you didn't cheat at all...we keep it loose around here ;-)
The second necklace is so soothing and relaxing...like swimming under water in the beauty and silence. Beautiful!
I got Karen William's freeform peyote book for Christmas will be working on my first piece this summer. I can only hope to someday achieve some of the goodness you have going on here.
Thanks so much for joining the hop!
Thanks, Christine! For your compliments and for hosting the hop! It was such a blast. :)
DeleteOhhh, you got her book! Awesome. I'm sure you'll make some awesome things.
Well, I loved the first one and the second sets a romantic evening mood, like a night in a smoky cabaret with music and dancing. xox
ReplyDeleteThanks, Corrine! <3
DeleteI love BOTH of them. I keep thinking you can"t possibly get more talented, then you bust these out! :)
ReplyDeleteBest. Compliment. Ever. <3
DeleteBoth pieces are fresh, exciting, and stimulating! I love the bezeled buttons and all the color in the first one, and I am amazed at how different the second one looks with just peyote. You always deliver stunning pieces, it is such a joy to see your work!
ReplyDeleteShirley, thanks so much! I'm so glad you enjoy my work -- that makes me very happy. :)
DeleteThe first necklace has to be the happiest necklace I've ever seen, while the second one makes me want to give freeform peyote a whirl. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteYay, happiest necklace you've ever seen! Awesome compliment.
DeleteYou should totally try freeform, Lola! I think you'll love it. One thing I love about it is that there's no "right" or "wrong" way to go about it. :)
Just wow!!! Your first necklace is so striking with its profusion of colors and shapes, and the second one draws the eye with its delicate rainbow of colors. And then I clicked through your archives and felt like a kid in a candy store. Your blog is a rare treat!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! You comment is one of my absolute favorites for this post, and I love that you enjoy the blog so much! <3
DeleteHOLY COW! It was fun to see the first necklace in its early stages, but the final product is a knockout! And the second necklace is just gorgeous -- I'd have been staring at your chest (in that friendly beader way) at Bead and Button, too! I'd say your leap into freeform has been a spectacular success, and I can't wait to see the next projects...
ReplyDeleteBobbie, thank you so much! I'm pretty darn happy with how both turned out. :)
DeleteI have another project idea in mind. Now that I've finished some projects on my to-do list, I can start working on it!
Wow if this doesn't prove that freeform peyote is FUN I don't know what will. I love the colors in the first one with bezeled buttons - now who would think of that? The second one rocks too - just gorgeous. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get lots and lots of freeform converts, Katherine! :)
DeleteThanks so much for your compliment! I started bezeling buttons when I realized I was running out of stones and couldn't afford to buy more. But I quickly fell in love with the idea!
I hope someday to be able to free form...these are such fun pieces! I wish you would have been in line with me I would have gotten to see it in person!! Love both of the necklaces....I cheated too....just a little!!!
ReplyDeleteKim, all you need is a very (very!) basic knowledge of regular even count peyote stitch to be able to do freeform -- that, and a sense of play! When I started freeform, I felt hopeless at bead weaving, and freeform is an awesome way to gain confidence. :)
DeleteBoth of those are just stunning. I love all the colors in the first one. It looks like such a fun piece to make and to wear. I adore the second one. The freeform is spectacular and the color palette is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow, your freeform peyote in both pieces is GORGEOUS! I have got to tell you that the first necklace with the pops of color against the black and white is so fun and fabulous! Beautifully done!
ReplyDeleteboth are amazing, and the beadwork is spectacular! gorgeous pieces!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love both necklaces, you are a very talented person! I love the colors in both! All I can say is WOW!!
ReplyDeleteYeah, freeform peyote! You really rocked the medium with both pieces!
ReplyDeleteThe first necklace reminds me of a Gee's Bend quilt in both color and design. Love how you combine freeform stitching with your geometric patterning.
And then you went the complete opposite, totally organic, with your second necklace.
Nice! Really, really nice!
Love, love, love the button freeform as well as the multi-strand freeform. What a cool idea to bezel the buttons and use them as focal. Really creative and well executed.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jelly! I wish that I was able to freeform bead like you :( They both look great, but I think the multistrand one is my favourite
ReplyDeleteEmma
xXx
Ooooh they look great!
ReplyDeleteLovely colorful pieces!
ReplyDeleteThat first necklace is a kaleidoscope of color and will certainly make heads turn. The second one is just so cool and breezy, perfect for a night out.
ReplyDeleteOnly you can make buttons look this good. Love the colors and ease of it. The second one I can see why you got compliments on it. I hope you stopped my Carol and Lisa's booth at BnB.
ReplyDeleteNicole/Beadwright
Wonderful colors, love the button free-form necklace too :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
-Eva Maria
Love your necklaces. It is truly amazing what a person can create with free form peyote. I love the fact that you added buttons to your project and the colors are out of this world.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous!! I especially love the second one, I would definitely pick that out if I saw if in a store!
ReplyDeleteLinda
Http://lasteve1.blogspot.com
Love all those bright colours and woven patterns!
ReplyDeleteVisiting through Artists in Blogland your jewelry is lovely.
ReplyDeletewow, these are amazing pieces! im going to vist your other posts and find out more about your work. i think it's wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful, creative work!
ReplyDeleteAmazing work! I love the flow of colors in the second one and the riot of color in the first one - both SO different. You're obviously a talented beader - just stunning! visiting from AIB
ReplyDeleteWow! I love the first necklace! You are so great at freeform peyote. The colors in this necklace are so fun and the buttons add even more whimsy.
ReplyDelete