Lumi ~ the first EBEG Challenge Winter Wonderland

Lumi Bead Embroidered Bib Collar Necklace

I've created this one-of-a-kind bead embroidered bib collar necklace for the Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild's challenge "Winter Wonderland". Growing up in upstate NY we saw many mornings like the one I describe below and this incredible statement necklace represents that for me. Lumi is the name of the Snow Queen in Fables. "Lumi" is Finnish and actually is the most common word in the language for "snow".

My inspiration:
As you fall asleep to the sound of snowflakes gently falling, you dream of a wonderland blanketed in snow. In the morning when you awake, you can barely open your eyes with the blinding white light coming through your windows. You rub the sleep out of your eyes and go to the window and for just a second you're not sure if you are still dreaming. The world is covered in a shimmering blanket of pure white snow! The bare trees and muddy ground are now masked with pristine beauty and It looks as if each individual snowflake is winking at you. The brilliance of the scene and briskness in the air takes your breath away.

Back Closure "snowflake" with peyote toggles

To see more incredible bead embroidered wearable art from the Etsy Bead Embroidery Team, Click Here!

Arabesque Style EBW December Challenge

Etsy Beadweavers December Challenge

This month's challenge really had us thinking outside the box!  Arabesque is an ornamental design style consisting of interwoven vines, flowers, leaves and geometric forms, often combined with other motifs. Motifs in Persian art can be a paisley, a geometric shape, a horse, lion, or flower. Western art motif examples include acanthus, egg and dart, and fleur de lis. Arabesque patterning is used in Persian rugs, tilework, medieval manuscripts, embroidery patterns and architecture.

Obviously, I took the Paisley theme and ran with it!  At the heart of this bold brooch is a twining vine embossed clay tile captured by a peyote beaded bezel. Surrounding the tile is a circle of tiny bronze Swarovski pearls, gold rainbow seed beads and some maroon czech glass pearls scalloped with tiny size 15 seed beads in olive green, gold luster ruby and iris bronze. An olivine crystal rivoli winks from the center of the brooch flanked by some czech glass bronze leaves. A row of olivine Swarovski marquerite and little Swarvoski crystal bicones punctuate the rest of the paisley design. Metallic copper seed beads and a delicate picot edge finishes the brooch to perfection. The brooch is 5" long and 3" across and is backed with tan ultrasuede and a gold plated 1.5" pin.

I love bead embroidery and have only been doing it for less than two years.  It's an incredibly free-form medium compaired to bead weaving.  I will usually start with an idea for either a cuff, a collar or a brooch.  Then I find at least one focal piece and gather up as many bits and pieces of pearls, czech glass, crystal and coordinating seed beads as I have.  Once I bezel the main focal I just start adding elements.  I know it sounds kinda woo~woo but I really just let the piece speak to me and show me the direction it wants to go.  Bead by bead a design takes shape.  I recently joined the new Etsy Bead Embroidery Guild and am working hard on a piece for their challenge "Winter Wonderland", so stay tuned! 

So stop by http://etsy-beadweavers.blogspot.com/2011/12/voting-for-december-challenge-arabesque_08.html and take a look at all the stunning creations submitted for this theme and vote for your favorite!