Picasso's Garden

It's time for another monthly Etsy Beadweavers Challenge and for October the theme is "Inspired by Picasso".  I absolutely love a challenge based on inspiration from other artistic works.  I think everyone has a passing knowledge of Pablo Picasso's work, but I've never spent much time really looking further into it.  So I relished the opportunity to immerse myself in all things Picasso as I searched for inspiration.

            I've included this picture for reference only in accordance with US Copyright fair use limitations.


This seed bead embroidered bracelet was inspired by Mediterranean Landscape, 1952 by Pablo Picasso. The years of 1945-1962 were considered to be "The Mediterranean Years" of the artist's life and inspiration. This beautiful landscape features a Mediterranean home and gardens on the edge of the sea complete with palm trees and a sailboat. As a gardener at heart, I focused on the triangulated gardens with their naive flower beds in the foreground of the painting.

I've completely encrusted this cuff in size 11/0 seed beads in sky blue, matte red, color lined yellow and orange, kelly green and luster lavender. The "flower beds" are outlined in a chocolate brown and then embellished with size 8/0 seed bead "flowers" in white, aqua, matte blue, cheyenne pink and matte red with centers of tiny yellow beads. Two faceted black plastic buttons with coordinating loops form the closure and the entire piece is edged in pearl white beads. The beads were handsewn onto a stiff felt backing, and then backed with dark blue ultrasuede for comfort.

The cuff bracelet measures 7.5" long including loops and is designed to fit a 6.5 - 7.25" wrist. The cuff is about 2.5" wide.

Visit the Etsy Beadweavers team blog between the 9-15 to vote for your favorite entry! http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/

Etsy Beadweavers September Challenge

It's time again to celebrate the talent and imaginings of The Etsy Beadweavers as they create wearable art for their monthly challenge.  This month is "Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!"  The challenge was to create a piece that features a wild animal and some element from the Wizard of Oz. 

You're walking into the deep, dark forest and all you hear is the rustling of leaves and the beating of your heart. You imagine the eyes of forest creatures watching you behind every leaf and tree. Are they hiding, those Ravens, Owls and Hawks? Let's hope your friends are with you!

Who doesn't love the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy, the Tin Man and Scarecrow walk frightened into the forest chanting "Lions, Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!". That happens to be this month's Etsy Beadweavers Challenge, and I've created this necklace I've called "The Forest Has Eyes" expressly for the September Challenge.

At the heart of this beadwoven and bead embroidered piece is a stunning cab by Golem Design Studio http://golemstudio.com/, a part of their Wild Jungle series that features a collage of birds (and a fish!). I've used seed beads in the colors of the cab, blue, turquoise, purple, yellow and white along with some opaque turquoise crystals, gold luster purple crystals, white and teal glass pearls, opal purple glass beads and metallic purple bugle beads to accent the cab and two mountain jade purple cabs. There are two big birds flanking the middle cab with bugle bead "feathers" all around. All over the piece you can see glass pearl "eyes" surrounded by tiny seed beads.

The piece is suspended by a herringbone rope necklace punctuated by the assorted larger beads with a silver leaf hook closure. The 22" necklace is part metallic purple and part luster turquoise seed beads. The back of the embroidered piece is lined with tan ultrasuede.

Please visit our team blog, www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com (http://www.etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com) between the 9th and 15th and vote for your favorite entry.