The Caged Bead Experiment
It’s been a while since my last post. This flu season has been bad and it is taking me a while to recover. I watched my grand daughters 2 weeks ago while they were on their Easter break. I actually was just hanging out! I taught the oldest grand daughter, who is 10 years old, how to do right angle beading. She was hooked. She beaded three bracelets that day. While I was teaching her, I realized how much I missed beading. I was an avid beader many years ago.
I had a beaded an amulet purse that was my original design. I loved the colors but the purse was beaded too loose or too big. It sagged when I wore it. I loved the fringe and I wore the jewelry purse for a long time. Then one day about 12 years ago, I decided that I wanted to re-use the beads. So, I cut the purse up and here’s the beads.
They were a jumble of beads. As you can see, I still have some string/thread in the fringe areas. I started to sort out the beads and then I stopped sorting them.
I decided that I wanted to make the Caged Bead pattern that I have owned by Carol Wilcox Wells. I have owned this pattern for quite some time now. I knew that the bead wasn’t very big but there was a lot of work that went into making this bead. This image is from Carol Wilcox Wells Caged Bead. Isn’t it gorgeous?
The bead is started with a beaded strip of peyote. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of the beginning. I need to get into the habit of taking pictures of my work in progress again. You join the flat strip together to make a tube.
Next comes the layers. You start beading another strip on the edge of the tube. There is a fringe edging that is added to that strip. A third layer is added on top of the second layer at the end. This third strip really added dimension to the piece. I especially liked the picot edging on the third strip. This edging hides the messy ends nicely. I could not get a good picture of the picots. I need a better camera.
After the three layers are finished on both ends of the bead, the netting is applied. Here’s where I really struggled. My netting is not as neat as I would like it to be. It’s OK. I considered this a sample bead. This is not as neat as I would normally want it to be. I used all the beads from the old beaded project. I need a lot more practice with making beaded netting to cover a beaded area.
I mounted the hollow bead on a silver chain. I will wear this bead.
My whole reason for this experiment is that I wanted to finish a necklace that was designed by Carol Wilcox Wells. I finished the focal bead from that kit and started the spiral beaded necklace. I hated the focal bead and the necklace when into the bin for me to decide what to do with it. This week I ripped apart the focal bead and started thinking about a new focal bead. I now have about 8 inches of the necklace beaded. I need about 10 more inches to go. Then I will make a new focal bead. It probably will not be the Caged Bead. I want something a little more modern, sleek in form for this necklace. I am still experimenting in my mind.
I had a beaded an amulet purse that was my original design. I loved the colors but the purse was beaded too loose or too big. It sagged when I wore it. I loved the fringe and I wore the jewelry purse for a long time. Then one day about 12 years ago, I decided that I wanted to re-use the beads. So, I cut the purse up and here’s the beads.
They were a jumble of beads. As you can see, I still have some string/thread in the fringe areas. I started to sort out the beads and then I stopped sorting them.
I decided that I wanted to make the Caged Bead pattern that I have owned by Carol Wilcox Wells. I have owned this pattern for quite some time now. I knew that the bead wasn’t very big but there was a lot of work that went into making this bead. This image is from Carol Wilcox Wells Caged Bead. Isn’t it gorgeous?
The bead is started with a beaded strip of peyote. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of the beginning. I need to get into the habit of taking pictures of my work in progress again. You join the flat strip together to make a tube.
After the three layers are finished on both ends of the bead, the netting is applied. Here’s where I really struggled. My netting is not as neat as I would like it to be. It’s OK. I considered this a sample bead. This is not as neat as I would normally want it to be. I used all the beads from the old beaded project. I need a lot more practice with making beaded netting to cover a beaded area.
I mounted the hollow bead on a silver chain. I will wear this bead.
My whole reason for this experiment is that I wanted to finish a necklace that was designed by Carol Wilcox Wells. I finished the focal bead from that kit and started the spiral beaded necklace. I hated the focal bead and the necklace when into the bin for me to decide what to do with it. This week I ripped apart the focal bead and started thinking about a new focal bead. I now have about 8 inches of the necklace beaded. I need about 10 more inches to go. Then I will make a new focal bead. It probably will not be the Caged Bead. I want something a little more modern, sleek in form for this necklace. I am still experimenting in my mind.
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