Click on Picture, below,
to visit my BLOG!
I can also be contacted by email!
erin@simonetti.com
|
|
Flip Flop Zentangle Cuff
This cuff is an interactive pattern, for the students signed up to take my class, June 21st & June 28th, at Bead Soup in Savage Maryland. We will be creating individual designs of the base that together we will decorate Each Flip Flop!
|
This cuff is pure Summer Flavor!
|
Flying High Cuff
An alternate cuff pattern, being offered in the same class as the above, will recreate a "Bead Loom Woven Charm Bracelet". The bead selections offer a 'shiny hot sun', mild cool water and a very abstract open blue sky!
 |
I began my Spring, of 2014, by creating the following floral themed cuffs!
"Daised Cuff"
|
A Velvety Red Cone Flower Cuff, loom woven with matt finish beads against a 'true cut' permanent silver background.
|
A turquoise rendition, of the same Cone Flower Theme.
|
This view shares a pair of matching earrings, hand woven in the same beads as the loom woven cuff.
|
|
"The Glory of Morning Dew Cuff"
This cuff is a pattern published in Issue 9 of BEAD ME MAGAZINE, June 2014. I share a few methods, never seen before!
"A Gerber Daisy for Your Wrist"
This is an example of another of my 'extended pattern' creations. Each petal, of the Gerber Daisy, were hand woven to fall off of the bead loomed edge, of this cuff base.
I added more of an 'abstract' feel, with the outline of a leaf, then the fringe with 'leaf drops'. The clasp is a custom made black gunmetal butterfly.
|
"Forget Me Nots"
This is actually the second time I created a pattern, with the flower "Forget me Nots" as the subject. I love the way they group and the colors are gorgeous. Here again, in blue.
The pattern was graphed to spill over the top of the hand, then added further dimension by hand weaving petals and secured them on top.
|
As with all my cuffs, the clasp is custom made. This time, I commissioned a "Smithy" friend, to carry out a design I sketched. In surching for the supplies, I found a string of flowers. They ended up being the perfect accent.
Put some text here
|
"Holiday Wrapping"
Loomed with 11/0 Delicas then edged with Toho Permanent Silver Matallic 'one cut' 11/0 seed beads. The findings are Sterling Silver, custom made,
for this cuff and include Crystals and 4 mm red glass beads.
|
Double Extended Pattern, "Peacock Butterfly Cuff"
Not only was I playing with an extended edging, as in this double loop fringe with 'Peacock Dagger' beads, but I also extended the pattern to over lap the looming, top and bottom. This is the same beading technique I used to complete the pansy cuff, "Spring Has Sprung", also highlighted further down this page.
|
The layered look can be accomplished on a looming, adding depth and detail to any bead work. Here I selected to use 11/0 Delica Japanese Glass Beads, the color lined series. The color lined beads have a thick clear outer coating, giving the finished looming a sense of 'vibration'. This has to be my favorite line of beads and I try to incorporate these in many pieces I loom.
|
You can see how the layering was added to the top of the cuff, with no threads or beads showing from underneath. I also edged this cuff, using 11/0 Permanent Metallic Silver Toho glass beads. Each loop I created, for this edging, is an 'uneven number and an uneven size of beads'. This allowed each loop to intertwine comfortably.
|
|
I make it a point to use a sterling clasp for each of my cuffs. This clasp was a perfect match, for the pattern I created. My thoughts about clasps are they are usually the most costly portion of any cuff and rightfully so. Usually, you are not using all of the beads in a looming, from those you purchased, but can stretch the same bead order throughout many loomings. This fact will give you the freedom to spend more on a clasp, which always sends your creation into another level of excellence.
In the picture above, I am sharing the base of the 'Turquoise and Dark Coral Layered Cuff', to show how I used two intensities of Turquoise, almost creating a 'striped' effect. This will add to the 'vibration' I like to create and also give me a good guideline for where to 'layer stitch' the Dark Coral beads on top.
|
|
|
Playing Up the Edging
Some bead finishes lend itself to a particular look or style. In this case, I brought out the 'silver' and 'golds' to create a more Modernistic Style Cuff. The edging was 'over worked' or embellished more then usual, carrying on the Modern Feel. There are endless possibilities for edging, but when a design is 'free form', as opposed to a photograph, the edging can take 'front & center'.
The Looming is completed using various bead finishes from the Miyuki Delica Line of 11/0 Glass Seed Beads. All of the edging is finished using various bead sizes of Toho Permanent Metallics.
|
|
|
"A TRIBUTE!"
With over 30 shades of grays, blacks (also including dark blues) and whites (which offer the reflective white of silver beads), I loomed this cuff 32 beads wide. The color selection is to keep the somber feel
of such an electric Artist, Michael Jackson.
One of MJ's most recognizeable traits would have been the curls hanging in his face. To complete this feel, I strung 4mm Jet Black Swarovski Crytals, along with more 11/0 Black Delica Beads, to recreate the curls across his face.
Knowing that Michael Jackson felt proud to support the 'Arts', I feel this was nothing more then a 'Tribute' to him!
|
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!
|
"A Picture This Cuff"
If any subject matter cries for the perfect 'added accents', this one is first! The cuff is loomed 30 beads wide, close up of Capt. Jack Sparrow. The finger he holds up to his mouth is adorned with additional selected beads to create the right 'perspective' of a ring he wears. Included is a Russian Spiral Stitched Dreadlock, with lampwork beads and a silver coin to finish. When this cuff is wrapped around your wrist, it looks like a mix of mediums with an 'artsy' feel.
|
|
 |
"Picture This" Neil Diamond!
Neil Diamond singing with a microphone. Painted using 37 different 11/0 Delica Bead colors, loomed 30 beads wide and offered as another completed
"Picture This Cuff"!
Using many colors, can create a portait more clear then with less colors, but making the colors accessable for looming, can be the challenge. My storage of bead colors, since I own quite a few, was assembled to also make them convenient for use when looming.
|
"Spring Has Sprung"
Winner: "Best in Competition" & "First Place Bracelet Catagory"
in 'Bead Arts 2009'
The Pansy is a part of my series, 'Seasoned Beads', and is representing 'Spring'.
'Winter' and 'Fall', already complete, are pictured below.
This particular beadwork has brought me challenges, which ended up teaching me, yet another technique. For the first time, I was able to create three dimenstional beadwork, still attached to my loom, in a two dimensional picture.
My beadwork is created, without patterns, free hand, from journel notes kept over the years or 'on a moment's inspiration'. So I am not able to offer any kits or patterns, of my designs.
|
|
"Loomed Cuff with Peyote petals and Pansy Bud"
This Pansy was graphed using 85 11/0 Delica colors. I wanted to include the fact that the Pansy is a delicate flower, with translusent petals. To create this look, I used many transparent color beads, with an AB finish, just dusting each petal with an opaque bead color.
|
"Pansy Bud attached to Stem"
Since I extended the Pansy petals, on one side of the looming, I wanted to create a balance, on the other. Adding a Pansy Bud, and dangling it from a Herringbone Rope Stem, not only balanced the cuff, but also hid the clasp and added a unique 'drop' or 'interest' to this cuff.
|
 |
"Seasoned Beads: WINTER"
65 different colors,
40 Delica beads wide, size 11/0 glass seed beads, loomed from a graphed design.
The picture I created, 'A Snow Covered Valley', includes snow covered tree limbs at dusk,
with a reflection of the sky in a distant pond.
'Permanent Metalic Silver' glass, 11/0 beads, were peyote stitched, to create the 'snow shelf',
on the upper side of the cuff.
The bottom side is trimmed with 3mm, Sterling Silver Seamless beads.
Swarovski Pearls were wire wrapped, with Sterling Silver, as 'Snow Balls'
and some 'Snow Globe' Lampwork, each are attached to adorn the sterling bar clasp.
|
|
|
"Picture This"
Custom Graphed,
Loomed Cuffs!
The copper was a natural addition to this cuff, bringing out the fall colors and rustic feel of the leaves and the cobblestone street. |
"Seasoned Beads: FALL"
My 'FALL' presentation includes copper seamless beads,
edging the loomed cuff of 74 colors. The 11/0 Delica Glass Seed Beads
offer an array of finishes which allows my looming to become more dimensional.
I graphed a picture of fallen leaves on a cobble stone street.
The clasp is constructed of more Delicas woven to create another Fall Leaf,
in shades of gold and copper,
adorning Vintage Copper Findings, and a coiled, wrapped copper wire tendril.
|
I enjoy working on Cuffs, which I call "Picture This", when they are graphed with a photographic image. Now I am adding additional Three Dimensional parts, beaded in various stitches, to my loomed beading.
|
|
"Happy Holly-Daze"
A Loomed cuff for the Holiday Season. Enjoying to work with photographic detail, I am now working towards creating the three dimensional parts 'photographic' as well, such as with the holly leaves and berries. This "Picture This" cuff was loomed using 45 different Delica 11/0 bead colors. Each leaf was then peyote or brick hand woven, with six of the same colors in the cuff.
|
|
 |
"Picture This"
These are some of my 'Picture This' cuffs, which are loomed with 11/0 Delica beads. Each design determins the number of bead colors I decide to use, which regulates the details of each cuff. Above, the least colors used in one "Picture This" cuff is '6', where the others have '24 to 35' colors graphed.
The Delica Line of bead colors, seem 'never ending', but each has a place, when beaded together with any given color. Details can be acquired with not 'only' the number of beads wide, loomed, but with the finish, color, transparency, opaqueness, or matte of a bead when paired, with another bead finish. These 'Picture This' cuffs are as wide as 35 beads, or as less as 24 beads.
|
 |
A "Picture This" Cuff designed around a 'Music Video'
KT Tunstall as seen in her video of 'Black Horse & Cherry Tree'. 41 Delica bead colors, 31 beads wide. I created the graphed picture after watching a 'music video' of a popular song. I wanted to include some 'movement' of the guitar being strum, as well as the starkness of the 'red lips' on the singer.
|
|
"Montage of the Yellow Submarine!"
I searched photos, of the Blue Meanies, and found some wonderful pieces of art. I wanted to include so much, in the size of a cuff, so I worked out 'over lapping' pictures to create a 'montage' within the width comfortable, for a cuff. I used 11 colors, 11/0 Delica Glas Beads.
|
To continue the 'whimsy', I edged the cuff with 'black & white' glass cubes. This design was also inspired by the part in the movie with 'The Sea Of Holes'.
|
|
"Picture This" Musician...David Bowie!"
Skin tone bead colors are the toughest, for me to select, having to realize that many purples or greens can be the perfect choice for 'facial shadows'. Such a graphed picture, can prove to be exhausting. Bead selection, for each skin tone, is nothing but 'swatch testing' of colors. Looming such a combination, can be confusing. Up close, the picture looks like 'jumbled' bead colors. From a distance, a picture can imerge.
This "Picture This" cuff is completed using 41 different Delica bead colors, size 11/0, 30 beads wide.
Each cuff is a personal statement. Wearing one, of my "Picture This" cuffs, shows a montage of bead colors, fringed with more glass beads. Only when the cuff is taken off the wrist, does the 'Picture This' come to life.
|
|
"Happy Cow"
|
A Loomed 'Picture This' cuff, 33 beads wide. I selected 54 Delica colors, to give this 'pasture' a three dimensional look. The 11/0 Delica beads are in various 'finishes' which offers the design a 'depth of field', or 'more of a realistic value'. Notice the 'red' in the green pasture. Red and Green, two primary colors, tend to cancel out each, and create a 'new' brown. This is a good example of how different bead colors and finishes work together. The'Happy Cow Picture This' cuff is edged, with green, dyed, 6mm fresh water pearls.
|
 |
|
|
|
"Cloisonne Wrist Corsage"
My original idea was to create an ornately decorated cuff, using the 'cloisonne' style, as my guide.The process of creating a cloisonne' bead includes soldering a brass cell into shapes on a brass ball, in the shapes of flowers and leaves, then filling in the cells with paint and enamel before firing in a kiln. I followed these techniques, similarly, using Delica 11/0 beads, Japanese glass seed beads, again size 11/0, and 4mm Gold Swarovski Crystal Bicones. |
The cuff is a loomed band of 'crayon' red Delicas with a simple gold motif. Each petal was loomed, varigating blues, differently, on each petal. The leaves were loomed, in the lime greens of Delicas. All parts, petals and leaves, were then trimed with 14kt gold metalic Delicas to replicate the 'brass' on a cloisnne bead, and each were also wire framed to stabilize the 3-D display. The center if the flower is a vermeil bead topped with a crystal. Each detail, around the center vermeil bead, was loomed as well. |
|
"Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly"
The 'Yellow Swallowtail Butterfly' is such a wonderful muted shade of yellow, but very difficult to recreate with 'glass bead colors'. This is hand woven with 15/0 glass beads, wired to hold it's shape then secured on top of a loomed cuff. The cuff design is an 'arbor of roses', loomed with 11/0 Delicas and detailed by outlining each portion with colored wire. the fringe is 'cut' 4mm turquoise color Swarovski Crystals and 6mm frosted glass beads.
|
|
"Iris Wrist Corsage"
|
This flower seemed to be impossible for a wrist corsage, as it cannot be
displayed with any other view but a side view. This perspective was challenging
and very rewarding, at the same time!
|
|
|
|
"Purple Spotted Swallowtail"
|
This butterfly is better known as 'The Purple Spotted Swallowtail', but it's scientific name is 'Graphium Weiskei'. In researching butterflies, this particular one, caught my eye. These colors are vibrant and some of my favorite. The cuff is loomed, 18 beads wide, with a 'wired' design, for detail. The fringe is finished using glass AB Green Daggers.
|
|
|
|
"Daisey Wrist Corsage"
|
A 'daisey' was the first subject I beaded to perfect my idea, of creating '3-D Loomed Wearable Art'. Each petal is loomed separately, framed with wire, then attached, individually, building the flower you see on this loomed cuff. Antique glass, size 11/0, beads were used. I loomed the cuff with 'ginger' colored antique glass beads, and graphed a simple design to pull all the colors together. Natural jade daggers trim the edge, which I feel continue the 'linear lines' of the daisey petals.
|
|
|
|
"'Blue Morpho Butterfly' Wrist Corsage"
|
"Blue Morpho Butterfly Wrist Corsage". At top a loomed cuff, is a Blue Morpho Butterfly which is hande woven 15/0 glass beads, wired to hold its shape. The looming is completed with 11/0 Delica glass seed beads, with a graphed picture of flowers in golds and green leaves. Eash outline of the graphed picture, is outlined in 'copper wire'. The fringe is strung with 4mm AB blue Swarovski Crystals and glass 'drops' of gold. |
|
|
|
|
"Poppy Wrist Corsage"
|
This cuff is wider than most, 2 1/2 inches, but a bold statement in vibrant colors. The Poppy is a favorite flower of mine. Being delicate and only lasting a few days, after bloom, I wanted to get the colorations correct. A slight hue change between orange and reds with multiple "hair-like"
stamens in the center of a bold black and one very large, long stamens directly center.
|
|
|
|
"Monarch Butterfly Wrist Corsage"
|
This Monarch Buttefly is completed using 15/0 Japanese glass seed beads. The Satin Matte Royal Blue Delica cuff is loomed with a flower garden design, of pink, green, gold Ceylon and Satin Matte 11/0 Delicas. I detailed the picture on the cuff, with colored wire. AB Black drops and 3mm AB Topaz Swarovski Crystal Bicones complete the fringe.
|
|
|
|
"Hibiscus Wrist Corsage"
|
The bloom of a Hibiscus is very delicate and beautiful, no matter what color. I prefer the 'peach' tone and decided to recreate the same feeling, with a sage green leaves and a sparkling, curly tendril. I loomed, 18 Delica beads wide, 11/0 beads with a 'South Western' style. Each petal of the Hibiscus is also loomed in tones of peach 11/0 Delicas. The stemin is topaz glass, stacked on wire. For the fringe, I thought the natural feel of 8mm 'rose jasper' stones would bring both colors, peach and sage, together perfectly.
malachite/coral round stone.
|
 |
|
|
|
"Luna Moth"
|
The 'Luna Moth' has always been an interest to me. It exists in a 'fragile flight' with the most irredencent shade of green. These colors can be interpreted as 'reflections' of light or as 'muted' in sun rays. This beaded cuff, is my interpretation of a Luna Moth. The wings were graphed, then beaded with 15/0 glass seed beads. My cuff is loomed using 11/0 Delica beads, edged with clear glass dagger beads and 4mm AB Emerald Swarovski Crystals. A three dimensional feel was embroided with wire-strung beads and the graphic design adorned, attaching Swarovski Crystals and Sterling Silver rondels.
|
 |
|
|
|
"Pansies Bloom Wrist Corsage"
|
Pansies bloom in many different color combinations, but the purple and yellow seem to be a familiar color, when this flower comes to mind. This flower's five petals are set very different than other flowers' petals. I loomed each petal with a different pattern. Since the stems of this plant are very long and thin, I included some unopened buds attached to long, 6/0 size glass bead stems. Each leaf is loomed using 11/0 Delicas in shades of green. I secured all of the flower parts on a loomed, 18 bead wide, 11/0 AB Green Delica bead cuff. I custom make my own cuff blanks, then line underneath using suede.
|
|
|
|
"Zebra Swallowtail"
|
This Zebra Swallowtail Butterfly cried out to have a brilliant red loomed cuff! I used a 11/0 Delica in a crayon red, wired a 'spiral' design on top then fringed with glass red crayon beads. The detail of this swallowtail includes a 'spot' of light yellow, included with the bright white and black.
|
|
My continued interest in 'seed beading' using a loom, and wanting to create 'wearable art', has evolved not only my interests, with varied subjects, but also my 'talent'. Again, the thought of working in any other medium, would take away the time I crave, to advance my personal techniques, in seed beading.
|
If you have any questions about my beadwork
or art, e-mail Me!!
erin@simonetti.com
|
| |
