Now everybody who knows me also knows I am seed-bead-phobic. I never seem to get over the idea of 'a myriad of tiny little things I need to manipulate'. However (yes, there must be one!) just the day before reading about Therese's & Christine's challenge I watched a video on... what do you think?! on St. Petersburg stitch. I loved the video - it presented the whole process very simply. I took it as a sign, thinking this might be just what I need to try it - if I leave it on myself do to that, I'll never push myself beyond my comfortable cozy state.
So... I breathed deeply and registered myself into the challenge.
We had the 2 stitches to try: RAW is dead simple, and can be used with large beads or crystals quite nicely. So I picked St. Petersburg :)
After an excruciating time choosing sizes and colours from my existing stash (I kind of got myself into a bead diet this month, and promised I will buy only the bare necessities) I decided upon a combination. Not the most spectacular one, but I still like it very much (although the trouble seems to be on what to wear it with! maybe I should get into clothing shopping?!)
I started my stitching and when my thread ended I took a break. One reason was that I wasn't sure how to start a new one in the most seamless way (Therese and Christine were both a great help and both let me pick their brain a few times during this adventure). The other (and most important) reason was that I wasn't sure what to do with it now :) I had about 3 inches of a splendid bead weave and... no idea in the whole universe on what to do with it.
A few hours of browsing through magazines and listening to music I decided to take it further.
I present you now my 'Green Dragon' (Godmother: Karen W.) St. Petersburg piece (aka St. Pete)
This is how it looks: a double St. Petersburg weave that separates into 2 simple ones around the neck. Something like a beaded tie :) I love the texture, I love how the beaded weave molds on the skin (I actually cannot stop playing with it when I am wearing it) and I already have a few more ideas on how I can use it for other pieces.
Can you say 'hooked'? Because this is what I became - now the seed beads are not so impossible to manage, I took my trapshooting approach: it is one bead at a time (or a few in this case). There is something dramatically soothing about bead weaving, I believe it has to do with holding a needle and weaving the thread through those little colourful pieces - I love sewing and I love needle work... but I haven't done any in years... this experience just brought back memories of past and made it such a pleasant journey.
Thus I would like to thank both Therese and Christine for making it happen and for accepting me into their wonderful group - when they mentioned you don't really have to finish a piece, it's important just to try the stitch they lifted the pressure and made me comfortable in trying. I know I can succeed in trying, even if I wasn't sure I would succeed in finishing a piece.
Thank you, my visitor, for reliving the joy of this new adventure with me today!
Please make sure you visit the other participants, I am looking forward to seeing what everyone has created!
Alicia Marinache <-- You are here
Love it!!! (insert evil laugh) Now you are hooked forever! I so love what you did with the St. Pete, that's such a great idea. You are totally correct, it is very soothing to stitch a piece. I'm not a fan of sewing, which is so funny to me that I love beadweaving. Glad you enjoyed the process. :)
ReplyDeleteAlicia - you did amazing for a seed-bead-phobic!!!! This is so pretty and I love the design on this piece!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVE this Alicia!! how clever to connect the pattern in a 'zipper effect' I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteHi Alicia,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for joining in on mine and Christine's challenge. I am also glad that we have converted another none bead weaver into our world. You did an awesome job on creating a one of a kind piece I love it! I agree with Cynthia it does look like a zipper. I hope you join in on the next ATTS challenge.
Therese
Stunning Necklace and I love the colors you choose as well. A true sign of a jewelry maker imo is that you start buying clothes to match your jewelry! I think we all have done it at some point lol.
ReplyDelete"Dramatically Soothing"~you are so right. What a great way to put it. And this being your first time, and having felt that way...I think you will go on to seek more stitches! YAY!!! I love your necklace~after our e-mails I could now wait to see what you made and your design it so lovely~it hangs so nicely. It does look like one of those skinny ties from the 80's (or was it the 90's? I am getting so that the decades are all blending together) but with more style :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hopping, Alicia...I really hope we will see you signing up for the next one!
May I repeat once again you all have made me jealous that I didn't even try the St Pete stitch--Marla even told me it is a fun simple one! I want your necklace!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work, Alicia!! I'm with you, there is something soothing about beadweaving, A calm rhythm. I am always telling people that it's my therapy.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an awesome idea. I love the double stitch for the focal and it does look like a little tie. That necklace will look amazing with just a plain button down or a simple t-shirt!
ReplyDeleteVery cool! It looks like a zipper! I could see this in darker colors for steampunk look.
ReplyDeleteWhat a season-perfect matte green and I love it paired with the bronzey-brown. Your design is fabulous, and I would be tempted to play with it, too. I also learned St. Petersburg for this challenge, and found it to be so relaxing and meditative, I didn't want to do anything else!
ReplyDeleteI think your necklace is beautiful. I love the soft green!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that I like the most about doing blog hops is how they can challenge you to either learn something new or push yourself in what it is you already do. I work with many different mediums but beadweaving is by far my favorite and old stand-by. Your necklace is great, really good job!
ReplyDeleteSonya
Hi Alicia, Love your St Pete necklace. It turned out great! And, it sounds like you had a lot of fun with it along the way. Always nice ;)
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw your first photo I thought "chinese dragon". I think its the combination of the chevron pattern of the St. Pete's with the combo of green and gold. And the way it curled and twisted in the photo. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job on your first try! I think you now know why bead weavers are addicted. It is bead therapy. Cheaper than a therapist.
ReplyDeleteAlicia you did a fabulous job! I'm so jealous of you guys that can bead anything longer than a bracelet. LOL. Your work looks fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful necklace, Alicia! I love the green. And now I'm intrigued about the texture of the St. Pete stitch. Maybe I'll have to give it a go, after all. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you and I had similarly addictive St. Petersburg experiences! I love the way your necklace turned out and I totally agree as to how wonderful it feels ... like a luxurious fabric against your skin! Can't wait to see what other pieces you'll create!
ReplyDeleteYour necklace is wonderful. Isn't fun to learn a new stitch for a challenge and then to fall totally in love with the results? I hope to see more pieces in the future.
ReplyDeleteI just love how it turned out - a perfect stitch for this zip-lariat :-)
ReplyDeleteAmazing!:)I love it.
ReplyDelete