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I can also be contacted by email!
erin@simonetti.com
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24kt Gold & Opal Cuff
Woven on the thick warps, in ways to allow each style of bead to 'inter lock', creating a mesh of BLING! This is truly "Weaving Along The Warps".
The way each bead fit, into another, by the selections I made, allowed for a wonderful body, to this cuff. Included are 24kt overlay gold glass beads, permanent gold glass beads, Glacier Opal Crystals and highlighted with Pacific Opals.
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The width was able to handle a double clasp attachment, which I applied a Gilt to patina a matching color. The relief, on the clasp surface, also lent itself to match the cuff design.
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A Field of Erin's Poppies!
I think this may actually be my favorite, of all I ever made! A great color of red, off white and turquoise.
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The turquoise border was added, offering a totally different color than what is originally offered, in the cuff.
I love these three colors together.
A wide filigree box clasp, finishes this trio of colors.
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I love Hummingbirds, but they are very hard to catch on film.
Thus is the same, with my loom pattern.
Their wings are in constant movement. This is something I truly wanted to portray, in my pattern. As a photography major, back in the day, the 'shutter speed' was set hoping to stop motion, like the wings of a Hummingbird. I've laughed, with family, that I better double check the settings, in my pattern program.
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The netting was attached 'on top', of the bead woven cuff base. All connecting points are secured so the netting does not lift. I also added a green patina to the finish of the clasp.
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Bead loom woven with 11/0 Delicas and a relief of Silver Scrolling of 11/0 Permanent Silver metallic Japanese beads. You can see the relief, of the mixed size beads, at the curve, towards the back edge, of the cuff. Super Duos create a decorative fringe.
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"Baltimore Steamed Crabs",
woven on a Loom.
Cell Phone, small bead purse, completed on the loom. This bag has a zipper closer, no lining and accented, with photos under a glass cabachon.
I love the feel of the beads, when they are left exposed and not on top of a lining. If you the warps and wefts are taken into consideration, your weaving will be strong enough to carry the beads, with out a lining.
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"Baltimore Raven", Ray Lewis, rounds out the design of my 'Baltiimore Bag'!
On the other side of this cell phone bag, is another Baltimore Icon, Ray Lewis. Ray 'is' the Baltimore Ravens. Him, together with Baltimore Steamed Blue Crab, create a complete circle of what Baltimore is known for best!
This caricature of Ray, was drawn by
Rick Wright.
With his permision, I graphed out his caricature, relating all the colors to Delicas, then loomed this panel, for the cell phone bag.
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Added 'accent' and 'humor'!
I decided to create a 3D effect, with Ray's Tongue! This was hand woven, separately, in a simple Brick Stitch, then added to secure.
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The handle is mostly a spiral net pattern, of 6mm jet obsidian beads and 11/0 permanent metallic silver glass beads. I also included beaded beads and crystals. All findings are sterling silver.
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I decided on a 'closed' bottom, without a fringe. The design behind this bag is 'sports' and 'casual dining'. Therefore, I felt a fringe would have lifted this is a more 'formal' element.
The bead net strap, was continued as the base or bottom of this bag.
Finally, you may notice Rick Wright's initials, on the lower right. These were 'bead scribed' using 22/0 glass beads...or better known in my studio as 'sand with holes'!
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This loomed needle case has a graphed design of a needle. I then accented the needle by adding a gold thread of 15/0 seed beads and 6mm Blue Swarovski Pearls.
The other side has a second loomed layer, with my initials graphed in blue metallic.
This pocket holds the shorter beading needles.
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You can notice the sides are not zipped completely up. This allowed for a fold over flap. Now I can access my needles easier.
In the picture below, you see a piece of bead mat cut to size and secured on one panel, inside the needle case. This will hold single used needles.
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I can also slip my longer looming needle packs, inside, along with the single used needles.
Below is a picture of the Scissor Protector I loomed to match this needle case.
After looming the width and length to wrap perfectly around a rubberized wine bottle cork, I capped it off with an 18mm Rivoli and more Swarovski Blue Pearls.
My warp management techniques allow me to loom continual circles of beads, created to cover the wine bottle cork.
The opposite side of this scissor protector has the rubberized cork exposed
so the scissors can be inserted.
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Using a rubberized cork, as opposed to a traditional cork, is best because the hole from the scissor points will melt back together. This way, you can use different sized scissors over time or change out what pair of scissors you prefer to keep handy.
"Loomed Needle Case"
One side, above, has Liquid Silver Bugle Bead accents.
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The other side, of this same needle case,
has a different graphed pattern
using the same colorway, as side one.
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The sides were zipped up using 11/0 Metallic Silver Delicas. Each turn of the needed, while beading up this sides, I added a 'stop bead', 11/0 Toho Metallic Silver Seed Beads. My design idea included making this case stiff, to secure the needles,
not allowing much bend.
I prefer to use a wine bottle cork to keep the sharp points of my scissors safe. Beading around the cork, would make a beautiful set to keep in your travel beading box!
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Above is a picture of the looming, removed from the loom and finished to include snap closures. This was how the case looked, just prior to
zipping up the sides.
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My next Cell Phone Bag was truly inspired by a photograph I saw on a FB Page, by Jean Upton. She takes some gorgeous photos, as she spends time in the outdoors. This photo caught my eye for two reasons, not to mention the clarity and subject matter, but because the background was a solid black and the butterfly was situated perfectly for me to add my 3D Character!
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Above, you can see how I hand wove a separate butterfly wing, in the same colors as the loomed butterfly. It was attached along one side, allowing for movement to the rest of the wing. I also stabilized the wing by sewing a 6mm Permanent Silver Metallic bead in between the loomed panel and the hand woven wing. This way, the wing would not be able to flop open, while being worn.
I like to make the strap as secure as possible. My method is to hand weave a separate epaulet. A closed sterling jump ring is secured in the center, then all four sides of the epaulet are sewn to the edge of the cell phone bag. This gives the strap so much more to hold, then if I was to just attach a closed jump ring directly to the side.
You may also notice I use a sterling lobster claw clasp, to hold the strap directly to the bag. This is so I can change it up, if I want to adjust the size, or if it happens to come loose, it is easier to change the strap with the clasp then to resew a new one to the bag. This idea also gives the strap much more flexibility and movement then if I were to just sew it to the edge.
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This is what the other side of the Butterfly Cell Phone Bag looks like. I completed this loomed graph using the same colors I did in the first side. However, I switched out the prominent colors. For instance, I used the less used colors, from the Butterfly Picture Side, making those colors the prominent ones for the second side, vice-versa. It offers a perfect match, yet also gives a totally different feel and look.
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Looming a Cell Phone Bag, as I completed here, or a purse, can seem daunting when we think ahead of 'all the warps to eliminate'. This is the first cell phone bag, loomed, which incorporated the techniques I use for all of my 'finishing methods'. I am very excited to know how well it works out and I look forward to creating many more.
This cell phone bag is appx. 4" wide by 5" deep, with a total length of 7" if the fringe is included. This is a perfect size for most cell phones.
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This is the opposite side, of the same cell phone bag above. The subject is a picture of a retired "Tuskegee Airmen"! The picture includes the owner's Dad, two jets and a light copper medal, bead bezeled and attached.
The strap is created using beaded tubes, cut stones, sterling silver findings and a beaded rope section, which is set behind the neck for comfort in wearing.
In both pictures, above, you'll notice I included a pair of matching earrings. The cell phone bag is worn around your neck, in a necklace fashion. Because the presence of such a bag is large, finishing off the look could be difficult, so I included matching earrings. These are created in the same bead tube colors, but finished as the fringe is designed.
I love to think of a way to include 'character'! In this case, I ordered a 'Tuskegee Airmen' medal, made of light copper, to adorn the side of the cell phone bag.
Each side, of this cell phone bag, was loomed using 11/0 Delica Glass Beads. There are 25 different colors for the one side, picturing a black and white image from College Basket Ball days and 44 colors selected to recreate the 'Tuskegee Airmen' montage, for the other side. The fringe is completed using cut stone and sterling silver findings.
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"Multiplicity" - 2006 BEAD DREAMS FINALIST
A Loomed 3-D Cabochon, (11/0 Delica beads and 15/0 glass Japanese beads), adorned with 3-D Beaded Beads, Swarovski Crystal Tendril, (strung to hold the 3-D Beaded Beads facing 'top'), sterling silver caps and findings, with a custom created teal-rose lamp work, as the 'necklace weight'.
I cut and shaped the wooden core beads for the 3-D Beaded Beads. This was necessary so I could drill a large hole to handle the addition of a winding tendril, which allows the 3-D Beaded Bead to sit upright, being top heavy. It worked 'fantastic'! I also created the core for the cabochon, so I could acquire the proper depth and accommodate the depth as the 3-D beaded beads. The slide show will take you through some of my obstacles in completing this piece.
I added 'realist' touches, such as the 4mm AB Clear Swarovski Crystals sewn on the center beaded bead of the flower and on each leaf, mimicking 'dew drops'.
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"Multiplicity Wrist Corsage"
The matching 'Multiplicity' cuff has a 'beaded bead' focal, with a five-petal flower, on each side of this bead (a 3-D beaded bead). AB Swarovski Crystal tendril, 8mm Swarovski Bicones and Sterling Silver Findings, all wrapped and secured to the cuff. The outter most side edge of the cuff, is also lined with 4mm AB Swarovski Crystals.
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I share my looming thoughts frequently on my Blog,
"A Bead Looming Intervention"
The right 'Intervention' can help,
so commenting, on my blog posts, will help us all learn more about bead looming!
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"Flutterby" - 2005 BEAD DREAMS FINALIST
A picture, of 'snap dragons', loomed using 11/0 Delica glass seed beads. Each of the focal flower's petal, is loomed with metallic 11/0 Delica colors. The petals are all a different pattern, giving the flower an 'overall' shadow for depth. A copper bead is 'beaded' and set inside of loomed stemins, again using 15/0 Delicas and 11/0 Japanese seed beads. The 'Butterfly', below the flower, is beaded in 'triplicate', wire edged, then each layer stacked and 'fanned' to suggest a 'fluttering butterfly'. The fringe is created using copper twisted bugle beads, 4mm AB Swarovski Crystals, 6mm malachite stones and glass dagger drops.
"Matching 'Fluttering Butterfly' Pin."
Beaded in triplicate, as on the necklace, wire edged, then fanned to mimick a 'fluttering butterfly'. I also strung lampwork and spiral stitched 11/0 Delicas to create a necklace so the pin can double as a 'focal'.
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"Violets ART Blue" - 2004 BEAD DREAMS FINALIST
Pictured in the 'Collector's Issue' dated April 2005, published by Bead & Button Magazine, as one of the Finalists of 2004, 'Seed Bead Wearable' entry.
Loomed matte blue Delicas are adorned with flowers, each petal loomed using 11/0 Delica seed beads. The fringe is completed, with Sterling Silver caps and findings, and the necklace is weighted, with turned stones and glass silver lined cube beads. |
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"Fluttering Butterfly Necklace"
Originally, this was a challenging necklace to complete. I attempted and created many new techniques. My object was to make the 'fluttering' butterfly stay in a 3-D position, as well as being durable. I have made this necklace a number of times now, it being my most requested 'Commissioned' Artwork. |
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"Daises All Around"
This has to be one of my favorite necklaces. I use the center flower, on
this necklace, as my logo, for all my business stationary. The photo
doesn't seem to show the piece as it looks in person. The pattern is
loomed with beads that highlight to create a "photographic" look, of a
daisy. Many who have seen this, in person, ask if it is fabric! |
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"Loomed Hummingbird Necklace"
The bird on the right is
hand loomed, from a pattern by 'Dragon', at Unique Beaded Jewelry
using 'petite' beads, size 14. I admire her work and chose this bird
pattern to include in one of my pieces. Thus was my inspiration, for
this particular necklace.
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I followed the pattern
precisely for the body, slightly changed the colors on the wings, from
her pattern, arched the wings outward to show flight, and used extra
small dagger beads for the tail feathers. I have made the bird to the
exact pattern, in the past, but these changes helped to create my
thoughts. You can see that her patterns are very versatile and can not
only be made to wear alone, but can be added to other creations!
The bird on the left is part of the pattern I graphed for this necklace.
The flower is created by separate loomed petals, as well as the leaves.
In the center of the flower, is a 'beaded bead' with additional beads
sewn on top.
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If you have any questions about my beadwork
or art, e-mail Me!!
erin@simonetti.com
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