Entries for this year's Battle of the Beadsmith are still being slowly been revealed. My piece happened to be one of the first, so I'm able to share with you my entry, the piece I've been working on a solid two months plus. Introducing "Locked in Time".
Inspiration: Steampunk
Steampunk
is a sub-genre of science fiction that features steam-powered and mechanical
vehicles, weapons and contraptions in settings inspired by an alternate history
of the 19th century British Victorian era or the American Wild West. Steampunk has been around since H. G. Wells
and Jules Verne, but only recently has it become mainstream in fashion and
jewelry. I began a very popular line of
Steampunk beadwork jewelry about a year ago, so for this year’s Battle of the
Beadsmith, I was ready to bring Steampunk and Seed Beads together in a whole
new way! I found some odd lots of old
alarm and cuckoo clocks on ebay and spent an entire weekend smashing them apart
to extract the most desirable gears and pieces.
Leather is also a big feature in Steampunk style so I scoured the thrift
shops for the perfect leather coat that I could take apart and upcycle into the
base of my collar.
Clocks,
locks, keys, gears and buckles are some the most recognizable Steampunk style
elements and they work quite beautifully with seed bead embroidery. I picture “Locked in Time” being worn by an
adventurous young Victorian lady who longs to explore the world in a time
machine she has built herself from the mechanical workings all around her. The centerpiece of the collar is a large
keyhole plate into which a key can be inserted.
Gears in all sizes have been attached to the leather, some with the leather
cut away to see through to her clothing.
The back of the collar gives the feeling that you are looking at the
inner workings of an automaton. More
keyholes, clock faces and gears decorate the collar accented with bead
embroidery in a variety of bronzes and peacock blues and greens. A little spray of peacock feathers ads a
touch of the exotic and the collar is joined over the right shoulder by a trio
of buckles. Dangling chains and a
beadwoven cubic right-angle-weave rope create movement and the look of
jewelry.
Measurements:
Back
12” across
Drop
8” from shoulder
Front
12” across
Drop
8” from shoulder
(12”
including front rope)
24”
around neck – adjustable
Weight
1lb 4oz
Materials:
Upcycled
leather and suede
Base
metal and brass finished elements
Upcycled
gears and plates from actual vintage clockworks (all cleaned and finished with
sealant)
Natural
peacock feathers
E-6000
glue
Beads Used:
Vintage
nailhead trim glass beads
Czech
glass pearls
Beadsmith
Antique Copper plated seed beads (15/0
used in the C-raw rope)
Miyuki
Rocaille seed beads #457 and #458 in size 11/0, 8/0
Miyuki
Delica hex cut 11/0 #0027
Miyuki
Delica 11/0 #608
Miyuki
Rocailles 8/0 #149
