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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Fibers for Jewelry

Do you ever wonder why fabrics have become so important to jewelry design?  Do you think the cost of metal might have something to do with its popularity?  Could it be that fibers used in jewelry are just so scrumptious you can't resist? 


Well, I'm in the last camp.  Fabric was my first love.  I learned to sew at the age of 12.   For about 15 years, I made nearly all of my own clothes including my bathing suits, lingerie, underwear and my husband's jeans.  Even though I haven't done that much sewing in a long time, I still love fabric.  That's why I'm so excited about the sari silk I've been carrying at Painting with Fire.   But now I've just received a shipment of Japanese Chirimen Cording!  Find out more at my website

Japanese Chirimen Cording, 3.9 yards


Here's my "Evil Eye" bracelet with chirimen fabric and "groovy cord" in a color called "Hydrangea."  The beads are ceramic that have been torch-fired with Sky transparent enamel.  One side of the lentil bead has a "blue eye" and the other side has a "red eye." You can find this piece at my website too!  









Thanks for visiting!  Have a great day!  Barbara

8 comments:

Cath said...

Beautiful! The colors are so brilliant and eye catching(no pun intended).

For me the appeal of fabric in jewelry is the contrast between the softness of the fabric and the solid of the jewels. I also like the feel of the fabric against my skin. Hard to express it exactly but it is very appealing.

LindaK said...

They are beautiful! I love fibers too! I never sewed much but my mother was a seamstress and worked with beautiful things. (She also got me started making jewelry when she left me all her tools and "stuff"!) I became fascinated with weaving at a young age and wish I still had the loom my grandfather built for me!

Kim Stevens said...

Oooooh, love that cording - I'll be checking that out!

And I love the bracelet, especially the evil eye bead!

Joan Tucker said...

Barbara, Lana and I have been selling Japanese cord for 3 years; sold out at Best Bead last year// cord looks beautiful with your enamel. I am taking a class this weekend in enameling will try one of our porcelain beads. I would love to combine enamel and porcelain. Also love to take a class in St Pete with you, maybe next year. I will be in Tucson buying not selling this year. Have a great year .Joan T

TesoriTrovati said...

Oh my sweet niblets! I am in love with that cord. I must put that on my wish list. I have plenty of fibers but find that I don't use them enough. I finally put them out for all the world to see on a shelving unit with baskets. I find that I use snippets in my work but these larger cords would be substantial enough for me to use as a base for a design. Love the colors too!
Enjoy the day and thanks for the inspiration, Miss Barbara!
Erin

Anonymous said...

These are really pretty. I love the colors and patterns!

Davinia said...

I love the cording, its gorgeous and a beautiful alternative to chain or leather. Bracelet is pretty damn gorgeous as well.

Kathy said...

Barbara those beads are AMAZING!