Fabric and Beads ... a perfect combination!

 Integrating fabric with jewelry is so hot ... and, boy, have I been enjoying it.  I started my college "career" as an apparel design major.  Fabric was my first love.  I used to have a bumper sticker that said, "The person who dies with the most fabric wins!"  That was me ...  

This bracelet incorporates pastel plaid dupioni silk, variegated cording from Japan and, of course, my torch-fired enamel beads.  These are my favorite beads because their ridges give the bead a striped appearance after a couple of coats of enamel.

Starting from the bottom, the enamel colors are: Lichen, Aquamarine, White with Woodrow Red transparent on top, Foxglove with Geranium on top, Marigold, and White with Nile Green on top.  All are Thompson Enamels and can be found at my website. 

I'm also going to be listing bias strips of dupioni silk at my website.  Look for it next week.  I love the amazing colors of dupioni.  I'll also give a little more explanation of what it is and why it looks so luxurious.  So visit next week!

Spice Drops

Spice Drops (detail)

A Shannon LeVart link to hold the whole thing together!

Decorative knotting of Japanese coiled fiber.

Calliope is another bracelet with a more open style.  Japanese-inspired block printed fabric is tied in triple knots so that it takes on the shape of a bead.  I'm especially proud of the sterling oval link in the front because I soldered it, which is no small feat.  I must approach the soldering bench with complete calm and relaxation, which is not my natural state.  But sometimes things accidentally work in your favor.

Calliope


Calliope Earrings with lampworked head pin baubles made by yours truly, New Jade beads, and fabric.

How lucky are we when we can represent our varied interests in assorted media to come up with a single creation?  It's a blessing, actually!