Recently I splurged on a strand of gorgeous Czech dragonfly coins, and it was definitely money well spent. The simple design and Picasso finish brings to mind all of the things we love about nature. Although I have some secret designs planned for them already, I still wanted to experiment a bit with color and see how well these beads can play with others.
I started slow with a simple palette of brown and green, going for a near match of the colors in the coins. Transparent lime green and dark topaz look gorgeous together, and provide a simple backdrop for the subtle changes in the Picasso finish. This Pond Water palette would look great in a flat stitch with a random pattern, perhaps as a cuff with a coin focal.
Next I wanted to incorporate some clear water, so I started with transparent aqua blue. This color is incredibly intense, and could overpower the super soft green of the coins, so I added some soothing medium topaz to complement the dragonflies. Reflecting Pool would work well as a rope and pendant, especially with a repeating pattern to represent waves of cool water.
For the final palette, I started with another complement, but in a whole new direction. Instead of a light-filled green, I grabbed some transparent dark emerald. The deep green really brings out all of the colors in the coins, and the addition of dark blue iris adds a shimmer just the a dragonfly’s wings. Evening Thunder definitely calls out for something bold and fringe-covered.
Do you have a favorite spring insect? How does it inspire your designs?
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Those are awesome beads. I like the first palate best. I am not a blue person. But the beads go perfectly with all three.
ReplyDeleteNicole/Beadwright