Wear It Twice: Fall Harvest

One of the best things about the changing seasons is the yearly arrival of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Fall is one of the most colorful and decorative times of year - we are just as likely to adorn our tables with harvest vegetables as we are to eat them. Pumpkins, squash, corn, zucchini, nuts, and acorns are just a few favorites.

Today I went on the hunt for some beautiful fall jewelry and fashions in the colors of gourds and squash. A warm, earthy palette of yellow, green and orange is perfect for any fall project - from the closet to the kitchen. Because many of our fall favorites have curvy shapes, it's easy to recreate them with the beads themselves, as well as just color. A dash of leaf stitch here and there makes it even better.

For this month's collage, I started with a pretty yellow and cream tagua necklace, which brings to mind sweet corn. From there, I worked with a palette of olive green, burnt orange, and mustard yellow.

Autumn Harvest by mortira featuring slip on shoes

It was easy enough to find pieces in rich fall colors, and plenty of leather helps to round out each outfit. One of the best things about the cool-but-not-cold months is the opportunity to sport tights in an endless array of fun colors. I topped things of with seed and nut inspired earrings for each ensemble, then headed out to look for handmade and vintage looks.

What’s your favorite fall comfort palette?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Beading Tutorial: Pea Pod Stitch

I’m always on the lookout for quick ways to string beads simply, while adding the extra security of small stitches. Daisy chain and variations of it are a personal favorite, but doing the same old thing can get a little dull after awhile. This simple looped embellishment, which I like to call pea pod stitch, adds a lot of security to a simple strand of beads, and works up very quickly.

The very first project I tested the technique on featured 3-bead clusters and a pretty green palette. The curvy loops of seed beads that surround the bead clusters looked just like protective pea pods. I’m going to demonstrate the stitch with this same pattern, but it’s easy enough to change things up with your own accent patterns and sequences.

You can work this stitch with a single thread for short strands, so long as there are places to turn the thread around at each end. Clasps, focals, or other small stitches are ideal. Be sure to use beads that can take multiple thread passes.

To weave pea pod embellishments:

String your beads in the desired pattern, including sections with: seven 11/o seed beads, one 8/o seed bead, one small accent bead, one 8/o seed bead, and seven 11/o seed beads. When the strand is complete, weave around or start a new thread, moving in the opposite direction.

Exit from the third 11/o seed bead in the first sequence you come to. Pick up thirteen 11/o seed beads, and pass through the fourth 11/o seed bead across the accent cluster. If you are using a different set or style of accent beads, you may need to adjust the amount of beads picked up in this step, to comfortably span the gap.

Always make sure that the new loops of seed beads cross over symmetrically. This gives the finished pods a pleasing shape.

Continue adding loops to one side of the strand, until you reach the end of the work. Turn the thread, or begin a new one, and move back along the strand in the opposite direction.

Exit from the third bead in the first sequence, and pick up thirteen seed beads. Stitch through the fourth seed bead on the other side of the accents. Pull snug, and a complete pea pod will be formed! Continue adding loops to finish each section, and weave in the remaining thread.

What’s your favorite quick and easy chain technique?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Book Spotlight: The Art of Beaded Beads

What could possibly be more fun than making big, beautiful beads out of smaller ones? Even more appealing is the idea of creating your own unique focals and components for your jewelry designs, or perhaps just to showcase as little beaded works of art.

In The Art of Beaded Beads,readers will find a treasure trove of styles and techniques to add to their beading repertoire. There are 40 beaded bead projects in all, some using sculptural stitches, and others made by beading around a larger base bead. With the exception of a bead made entirely from steel hex nuts, all of the projects incorporate seed beads to create miniature beaded sculptures.

Author and designer Jean Campbell gets beginners off to a good start with an overview of bead types and materials, plus bead weaving basics, including instructions for the stitches used throughout the book. Clear, easy to follow diagrams will help new beaders who want to try out beaded beads - the short projects make for excellent beading practice.

The beaded bead projects range in difficulty from absolute beginner to advanced, and use a wide variety of techniques, shapes and materials. Contributors include Diane Fitzgerald and Sharon Bateman. Sprinkled throughout the book are some fabulous beaded bead jewelry designs to help inspire your next creation!

Each project includes a full materials list, step-by-step instructions, and clear diagrams; but beaders may want to be somewhat familiar with stitches like peyote, herringbone, square stitch and right angle weave, before tackling each bead.

If you’re a seed beader, and you’ve been wanting to create your own unique art beads without learning to use a torch or kiln, The Art of Beaded Beadswill provide plenty of ideas for beads that you can make using the skills and materials that you already have.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Jean Campbell and Lark Books
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Three Elemental Pendants

If there’s one thing that I can say about the destash challenge, it’s that I’m learning an awful lot about myself and my beading habits. The most recent lessons came from trying too hard to force beads together, instead of just letting things evolve naturally.

It all started when I decided to make a bunch of elemental Y necklaces, to use up assorted destash beads. Things were going really well at first. I combined some matte yellow Czech clams with the last two of my emerald glass rings, and a handful of green hexes and cubes.

After adding a variety of blue beads, the palette was complete - lots of beautifully aquatic transparent glass, filled with light and ready to head to the beach. I was really happy with how this necklace turned out, after avoiding the clam beads for months, and I was so excited that I forgot what made this piece so perfect.

Rather than choose beads carefully, I mashed a whole lot of destash elements together for the Flora pendant. I started with lime cubes, and added a dash of bright orange 8/o seed beads that I never seem to have any use for. Once the pendant was complete, I tried to use the same palette for the beaded chain.

Instead of trusting my instincts, which were telling me to make the chain and beaded bead contrast like in the Earth pendant, I tried to make greens and oranges and wood beads all work together. I sort of liked how it all looked, but something was telling me that it could be a lot better. I took a little poll on Facebook to confirm these doubts, and started over.

I didn't try to find a way to make all of the beads work together - instead I decided to change the palette quite a bit. I grabbed half a packet of raspberry lined seed beads, and made little daisies with rootbeer centers. I kept the topaz fire polish I had chosen, and the wood beads, but didn’t concentrate on using everything up. The new necklace was much better.

Finally, I moved on to Air, again excited about finally finding a use for some tricky destash beads. Starting with some green and blue Swarovski Elements butterflies, I added a handful of blue fire polish, some Ceylon seed beads, and the last of the white porphyr pinch beads. Since I already had some pastel colors, and I needed seed beads for the base of the beadwork, I also added half a packet of smoky amethyst.

It wasn’t until I was ready to think about a clasp that I realized how little the Air necklace resembled the previous pendants. I was really ready to move on to other things, so I threw on a Swarovski button (another destash bead down!) and called it a day. This necklace I’ll be keeping for myself. Perhaps it will serve as a reminder of what happens when you rush inspiration and cut corners with bead choices.

At this point in the challenge, I’m looking ahead to the end. I have a few tagua pendants to complete, and then it will be time to take stock again. There are two more projects I want to finish, which will make a big impact on what’s left in the destash tray, but they probably won’t empty it completely. After this week’s lessons, I’m thinking that a few items will stay through the New Year, so that they can wait for the right project to come along.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
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Inspired Beaders: Soul of Somanya

Here on Inspirational Beading, we often get to see some amazing handmade beads, or jewelry designs that have a great story. Today, we get both! You may already be familiar with the gorgeous handmade products from Soul of Somanya - a fair-trade style bead and jewelry project based in Ghana, West Africa. Co-founder and director, Mel MacDuffee, joins us today to share a little insight into this wonderful organization, and how it all began.

Mel: Most people here call me Mel...my African name is Manye Dede Adanki Banahene III. “Manye” means “Queen Mother,” (I was made an honorary Queen Mother on my first visit to Ghana) and “Dede” means “first-born.” Someone there told me that “Adanki” means “Brave, Wise & Stubborn,” but that remains unconfirmed. “Banahene” is the surname of the Krobo family of which I am now a member. I am (by their customs and beliefs) the third in a line of Adanki’s in their family—hence the “III.” But the most mind- boggling part is that I instantaneously became the mother of I’m-not-yet-sure- how-many Banahene children and/or adults. Still trying to figure that one out.

Inspirational Beading: When did you first get started with beads and jewelry design?

Mel: Actually, I started out as a crocheter. I had developed a technique called “Overlay Crochet,” which I started applying to making crocheted jewelry. That’s what my first book, Crochet Overlay Jewelry (Leisure Arts, 2006), was about. But the real push came when my travel-writing business crashed after 9/11 and, after years of working for myself, I reluctantly applied for a job at a local bead store. Much to my surprise, I found that I loved working there. I started learning all different kinds of beading techniques, although I found myself increasingly drawn towards delicate wirework. Eventually, I started publishing some of my designs. It was one of those designs that ultimately led to the founding of Soul of Somanya.

Inspirational Beading: How did this passion lead to the creation of Soul of Somanya?

Mel: Somehow, a group of beadmakers in the Krobo region of Ghana, West Africa, got hold of an issue of Bead & Button magazine, in which I happened to have an earring design, along with my email address. Traditionally, the Krobo artisans have strung their beads on pieces of cotton string or twisted raffia, tying them off with bulky knots. Now, seeing what the rest of the world was doing with beads, they wanted to learn some of our fancier techniques. So I woke up one morning to an email inviting me to come to Ghana and teach them.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite bead design or style?

Mel: Well, of course I’m pretty partial to the Krobo powdered glass beads, especially the hand-painted ones. I got to watch the whole process of how they’re made the first time I went to Ghana, and I was awed by the amount of time, skill and creativity that goes into them.

Inspirational Beading: What’s the most interesting or unique thing about the bead making process?

Mel: I think the fact that they’re made out of recycled glass is important in a world that is finally becoming more conscious of the need to re-use and recycle. But I also love the fact that the homemade kilns in which the beads are fired are made of termite clay. It turns out that termite saliva is a binding agent that allows the artisans to fire at higher temperatures without their kilns cracking. I’ve always wondered who figured that out.

Inspirational Beading: How have your experiences in Ghana influenced your own designs?

Mel: My previous wirework tended to be extremely light and lacy. These chunkier beads have led me into experimenting with making heavier kinds of wire beads and lace. I also do a lot more stringing than I used to in order to find harmonious ways of combining the colors and the various styles of beads made by the Krobo people.

Inspirational Beading: What’s your favorite thing about working with beadmakers in Ghana?

Mel: I don’t really work directly with the beadmakers these days, except by trying to buy the beads we use and resell directly from individual artisans when we can, so that they can keep the full retail price of their beads rather than having to share it with their bead sellers. The young people who actually earn a living wage working for Soul of Somanya don’t make the beads—they make the jewelry. But my favorite thing about working with both groups has been their absolutely fearless approach to learning. They don’t seem to worry about messing up as so many of us here do, so they are free to just plunge in with joy and verve and give it their best shot. Consequently, they learn with astonishing speed.

Inspirational Beading: What is the most exciting bead or jewelry design in stock right now?

Mel: I really love the Adinkra earrings our artisans produce. They feature a range of traditional Ghanaian symbols meaning everything from “Strength & Humility” to “Friendship & Interdependence” to “Grace Under Hardship”.

Inspirational Beading: Are there any new projects or products on the horizon for Soul of Somanya?

Mel: I’m so glad you asked me that! Yes, we’re currently running a campaign on an online “crowdfunding” site called Indiegogo, where we’re raising money to launch a whole new line of products featuring the incredibly beautiful textiles produced in Ghana. It’s a very user-friendly site, and we are offering “perks” that are worth more in Soul of Somanya goods than the actual value of the contribution made. For example, for a contribution of $20.00 we give back a gift certificate for $20.00 plus a 15% discount that can be applied to the same purchase. So people actually come out ahead by supporting the campaign.

If we can raise enough money, we’ll eventually be offering handbags, tote bags, laptop and iPad sleeves, cell phone cases, men’s ties, etc. This will allow us to offer living-wage jobs to more of the at-risk young people in the Somanya area, ensuring that they will not have to become street prostitutes or thieves in order to feed their children and support older members of their families.

Inspirational Beading: Who do you hope to inspire with your work?

Mel: We try hard to help people understand the importance of supporting 3rd world artisans and agricultural producers by purchasing their products. My own interest, and that of most of our regular customers, is a humanitarian one. But if that isn’t a strong enough motivator, we try to encourage enlightened self-interest. Because, whether we are willing to acknowledge it or not, we are no longer a world comprised of dozens of unrelated economies. If the recent crashes in various Europe economies hasn’t amply demonstrated that, I don’t know what ever will. We are a world economy now. Our economic health depends upon that of every other nation in the world. So when we behave generously towards others, we are being generous to ourselves as well. And in the process, we are extending a compassionate hand to the half of the world’s population that struggles to survive on a couple of dollars a day.

You can learn more about Soul of Somanya, their products, artisans, and mission of hope on their website. To support their upcoming line of handmade textiles, visit their funding page on Indiegogo. Beautiful artisan beads and finished jewelry are also available for immediate purchase on Etsy. To see more photos from Ghana, beautiful jewelry, and lots of other bead goodness, check out Mel’s Soul of Somanya Blog.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Melody MacDuffee and Soul of Somanya
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