Please feel free to contact me, anytime, for questions or comments.
I'll probably be working in my studio!!
erin@simonetti.com
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"Breast Cancer Awareness Cuff"
Designed and Created to depict 'courage'"
One of my favorite and most touching requests, was from a wonderful Woman who wanted me to create a cuff that tells a story of her experience with 'Breast Cancer'.
The designing of this cuff, took many twists and turns. I have more pictures to 'manage' so I can share some techniques used. I will add these pictures, and tell more of this wonderful story, as soon as possible.
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Above is a montage of different angles or views of this Breast Cancer Awareness Cuff,
offering you a more realistic feel of how it shows, when worn.
I love this aspect, of all my cuffs, knowing the true picture even though the worn version, of the cuff, will be diceiving!
Be sure to notice the added 3D parts of this cuff, the ear off the edge of the cuff, but also the added ear on the large dog, itself!
I share my looming thoughts frequently on my Blog,
"A Bead Looming Intervention"
The right 'Intervention' can help,
so commenting, on my blog posts, will help us all learn more about bead looming!
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"Picture This" Cuff, 'Frederick the Frog Cuff!'
I was requested to create a 'loomed cuff' with a 'Frog' as the subject matter. I knew there would be many green beads, and a need to portray 'action' in the pattern, as frogs hop alot! The pattern I sketched is 32 beads wide, then added extra beadwork for the snout and feet. To complete the 3D feel, I embroidered various lines to finish each foot, eyebrow and top of the frog's head. His front leg is not only 'hanging over the fring', but was beaded seperately, in a peyote stitch to follow the loomed pattern, then attched to the top of the looming. The 'action' is shown by the graphic design I created behind the frog. My final detail is the 'tongue' beaded in a 'spiral rope' stitch and ending in a beaded rendition of a fly.
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"The Frog Cuff, extended,
for a full view of the design."
When worn, a 'Frog' can only be considered. Opened out to it fullest, the entire 3D picture comes to life!
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Above is a montage of a few stages created to complete this 3D Cuff. I realized when I originally graphed this picture, that I wanted it to extend and have dimension, out side of the loomed size.
I plan this no different then if I were to draw a picture on a piece of paper and the drawing ends up being too large, for the paper size. Instead of redrawing the same picture, on a larger piece of paper, I tape more paper around the edges, allowing the same design to be completed without interuption. This is exactly how I plan my cuffs. I want them to extend outside the normal boundry.
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Below, on this same page, I show a detail example of how a pattern can be created,
from any photo, even one taken with your own camera!
Once a picture is decided, then I select the beads. One of my absolutely favorite line of 11/0 Delicas, is the 'Satin' finish line. You can find shades of 'satin' in the number ranges of 800 and some in 600, of the Delica Bead Line.
The picture above is a cuff I created as an "Occupation". All three cuffs, above, are the same one, but notice how the 'Satin Delicas' reflect different, in light. Gorgeous!
Notice how the same 'Satin Delicas' take on a 'matte' finish look, when in another light!
As with all my cuffs, this is completed with a Sterling Silver Bar Clasp.
There are 10 colors used to create this picture of the Stylist's Sissors and Comb.
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I custom graph my patterns, using the method pictured above left. Superimposing a section of 'loom graph paper' over the picture of my subject. Bead colors are selected, based on the colors I see in the original picture. From this group of colors, I select the best match,
as I loom and follow the graph.
Using the 'E-Decrease' method I created, I finish the loomed cuff with a 'sterling slide bar clasp',
shown above right.
This "Picture This" Cuff ended up being 26 Beads Wide and I loomed 35 different,
11/0 Delica Bead Colors/Finishes.
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"Patterns created from Photographs!"
Creating a pattern was easy, for me, because I loved flowers and butterflies. I draw my patterns, with color pencils on graph paper, in the color variations to show depth and form. It was more difficult to create realist patterns, or copy photogrpahs, on a piece of graph paper. Now I have mastered using the computer for creating "Photographic Patterns".
My large challenge is deciding the bead color and finish, for the right play on light.
I am realizing, more these days, why there is a need to create so many different bead color and finishes! They actally create a completely different color, when placed next to another, of a different finish.
The combinations seems endless, but hopefully there will be more and more colors offered!!
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"Monarch Wrist Corsage"
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The Monarch Butterfly has such beautiful colors, and is a favorite of mine! I graphed a picture of a Monarch, selected 15/0 glass seed bead colors and completed a 3-D butterfly. Wanting the Monarch to 'sit' statuesque, I outlined underneath each wing with wire. This cuff was loomed to include a 'flower design', using 11/0 Delicas, then I 'embroidered' the outline, of each flower, bud and leaf, with petit size 15/0 glass seed beads. The beadwork was then attached to one of my custom cut aluminum cuffs, lined with suede.
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""Flower Power Watch""
The watch face was selected, to create a colorful long stem flower, on a cuff.
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"The watch is attached to a separate tab of looming, so it is able to be detached, from the cuff, on one side, access the back of the watch and it's movements, then reattach. The watch is very 'maintainable', while the loomed 3-D design creates 'wearable artwork'.
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I custom size, shape and cut the metal cuff blanks I use for all my loomed cuffs and watches. This allows me to control the flexibility of the blank and the shape of my designs. As with all cuffs, this watch is lined, with suede, then edged using glass beads.
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"Field of Poppies Necklace".
Loomed 25 beads wide, using 11/0 Delicas. The pattern, of poppies and leaves, are loomed using silver lined and ceylon Delicas, trimmed with a lavender ceylon Delica. I used a matte black Delica bead for the background so the pattern would 'glow'. Each poppy petal was loomed with a varigation of silver lined reds and oranges, 11/0 Delica glass beads. The thick, short fringe is create with green glass bugle beads and 8mm lavender acrylic beads, as the acrylic beads also 'glow' during various light plays.
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"Dogwood Necklace"
One of the most odd shaped patterns I have created, a Dogwood Petal. The petals were loomed using Antique Glass Beads, in a matte ivory, 11/0. The 'suede' look to these beads, lend itself to a realistic flower. The Dogwood was assembled on a loomed irregular shape, loomed using AB blue Delicas, 11/0. Each leaf was also loomed, using matte finishes, of different saturations of green. A 'looped' fringe and an 'accent swag' of glass beads, were also in tones to match the looming. The center of the flower is a beaded bead of mettalic 15/0 glass Japanese beads.
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If you have any questions about my beadwork
or art, e-mail Me!!
erin@simonetti.com
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