Today is my birthday, and also the anniversary of reciving my first bead loom...20 years ago. I started to work on a project on the loom, but as a 4th or 5th grader had a hard time understanding just how to take the piece off and make it into a finished bracelet. So there it sat, and next to it sat a pie-crust-tin-full of seed beads. That tin of seed beads inspired me to start stringing beads, which I must admit, has never been my favorite thing. My mother bought me the best bead book ever: "Native American Beadweaving" and in it had the pattern for a little beaded indian doll. These tiny dolls were where I began teaching myself the peyote stitch. Weaving each bead together one at a time seemed to grab me much quicker than lining them up on a string. Those little Indian dolls are 11 beads around. My bangle bracelets that I now make are about 160 beads around, with nicer beads. :)
I still dabble on the bead loom, and only in the past year have I began to take an interest in stitches other than the peyote stitch. I love the Russian Leaf stitch, and I have grown quite passionate about the St. Petersburg Russian Chain stitch with tiny little 15/0 beads.
Tomorrow I am taking my first bead workshop ever. I have always been persistent on training myself with my beads, but I'm taking a leap and hope that I can learn from another long time beader and fashion artist,
Huib Petersen. I have to admit, I haven't been that inspired by Herringbone Stitch since I have taught myself this month, but I figure this will open new doors.
2010, look out for great new bead designs to come! (Including beaded blob accents that are in the works!)
2 comments:
Happy birthday! Hope it's a fun day!
Happy birthday, Jenny! You look great!
Post a Comment