Checker Fade Bangle and Earrings

 Well, I created this set for an outfit I was putting together. Bryan and I had plans to go see We Are The Union tries to throw a New Year's Eve Party in Hamtramck.  Unfortunately we ended up getting COVID and the outbreak in Michigan has been so much that they also cancelled the show.  Bryan basically had his entire rude boy outfit together and I had finished this set and was getting ready to make a skirt.  Either way I do like how the set turned out.  I was using the metallic pink as a color to match a pair of custom pink glitter Chucks I had ordered for NYE.  

I wanted to make a large checker bangle that faded from black to metallic pink. I'm not usually big on using pink but the right shade I'm attracted to, usually a deeper darker pink. There is a plum color in the middle for smoother transition.  I originally thought I'd fade back out to black again but I decided to stop at the pink and after leaving it I don't feel the need to keep beading on it. Sometimes you have to stop while you're ahead.

After finishing the bangle it needed earrings. I thought I might make some long flat checkers like I have in the past, but I felt like trying something different. The first pair I made is in the top photo to the right of the bangle.  I didn't get a great photo of that pair; it has 3 stitched loops and is 2 5/8 inches long.  

The above second pair of earring options only has 2 beaded loops and are 2 1/4 inches long. I'm not sure which earring I would have gone with at the end of the day, maybe the next ska show I'll wear this set with my pink glitter Chucks.

Below are the beginnings of the skirt idea.  I have a bunch of sketches and had even put together a basic paper pattern with 5 panels, pockets and zipper. I decided not to keep moving forward on the skirt since I don't think I'll be going to another show for some time and what I want out of a checker skirt could change.  I had drawn these at all different lengths, pleats, slit...the fabric is the slit is a sheer black lace-look rainbow cheetah that kept calling to me. The formal satin checker skirt will be revisited at a later time. 

And of course the shoes that started it all: 

Gypsy Leaf Bracelet in Neon

I'm not even sure what to say about this piece, it just sort of fell out of me. It's how my soul has been feeling, big and bright and I want to wear that on the outside of me.

Purple is one of the colors I use most, along with green, but not usually this...neon.  Lately I'm attracted to everything neon yellow/green and this really bright purple.  I found a V-neck shirt for Bryan at Buckle in a similar purple, I just wanted him to try it on and it happened to look really good, good thing for me purple is also one of his favorite colors. It seems I've been adding more neon to my wardrobe, then I made a rather large bead purchase from both Fire Mountain Gems and Northland Visions with as many neon and metallic Duracoat(R) seed beads as I could stand.

The original Gypsy Leaf Bracelet was positioned like the above photo when it was displayed at the Milwaukee Museum of Art, I love having someone else choose how to display my pieces sometimes. It makes it more supltural and shows how tight the leaves are beaded together.

Maybe this is my neon is my new comfort zone, who knows.

Part of the recent bead purchase was the neon green seed beads in the above triple pod earrings.  I wanted to see what they looked like stitched together and decided they don't have quite enough yellow in them to add that green to the Neon Gypsy Leaf Bracelet.  I think these earrings are fun and really pop.

I happened to find this neon yarn at Threadbender on Friday:

I think it's going to be part of the warp for a piece I've had in draft-form for like a year, I still don't have the imagery down just yet....plus I'm not allowing myself to even start to pull yarn for it until the Large Leaf Me Alone piece is finished.