This week’s bracelet was pure indulgence. I wanted to make something featuring my new starfish color, aqua blue, and I wanted it to be fun and easy to create. I needed a simple, carefree design.
I can’t think of anything more carefree than freeform beadwork. The only style that I’m comfortable with is netting, which is easy to work, but has enough limits and boundaries that I still know what I’m going to get in the end. It’s also very aquatic and nautical, so it fits well with starfish. And since I really enjoy throwing lots of different beads together, I couldn’t resist.
In order to make blue starfish stand out, and look right at home, I created a palette that would look just like a white sandy beach - the kind that hasn’t been cultivated, polluted or in any way touched by humans. It would be imperfect, varied, and totally beautiful. So I started by mixing 11/o and 8/o seed beads in opaque white, lustered white, ceylon black/gray, light beige, and dark beige.
For accents, I went all through my bead stash and picked out beachy pieces, and assorted odds and ends that I might want to throw into a freeform piece. I began with pinch bicones in turquoise, crystal, and green meadow, frosted magatamas, the last of my pink shell beads and a few other bits of shell, just in case.
Almost immediately after I got to work on the bracelet, I omitted the turquoise and green beads from the accents. I was really happy with the more subtle colors, and I wanted to make sure that the blue starfish were the stars of this show.
Once the bracelet was complete, I went over the entire piece again, adding in peyote stitch and extra nets wherever it seemed fitting. Unlike most of the cuffs I make, this one has an overlapping clasp. I much prefer the seamless look for this piece, and I think I’ll strive for the same effect more often in the future.
Pass the coconut!
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I am not a huge fan of freeform pieces, but that is awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThis piece is SCRUMPTIOUS! You really captured a nautical feel with this. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThis does indeed pulse with a beachy vibe. I love the subtle colors you chose to make up the "sand."
ReplyDeleteIt's great and feels very beachy. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI love it! Good move deleting the blue and green beads, the starfish really stand out!!
ReplyDeleteWOW, I've never seen anything as cool as this!! I really need to share! Do you mind if I mention it and link over from A Bead A Day?
ReplyDeleteHi, Lisa! Of course you are welcome to share! Please feel free to grab the pick code, too. And thank you!
ReplyDeleteI like it Mortira. I think you took the right decision taking off the turquoise and green. Lovely colors and the design too.
ReplyDeleteStunning!!!...I love this!!..;o))
ReplyDelete