It Only Took 5 Years….

Around 5 years ago, I went past my local bead shop (which no longer exists), and saw that they were offering beadweaving classes… I enrolled… and the reason I did so was because I wanted to make bags and incorporate some beaded elements on the bags…  that was 5 years ago!!! :-) My beadweaving repertoire has definitely grown since those early days and finally I designed (and made) my first bead-embroidered bag!!!!

It isn’t perfect… and there is definitely room for improvement, especially in the finishing and edging (which I’m not 100% happy with – yes, I’m a perfectionist! :-D)… but it’s good enough for me and I have been using it everyday!!! :-) I do love it!!! it’s the perfect size for walking around with enough room to fit my mobile phone, my keys, a small wallet, some tissues… you know, all the essentials! :-)

It wasn’t easy, and it took me way too long to complete… I think partly due to the fact that I was really worried about screwing up the suede (which isn’t cheap).. it took me about 4 1/2 days to complete, which is way too long, and am hoping that the next one will take about half the time…

I used one of Lisa Peters Art’s gorgeous large cabochons/tiles that I've had in my collection for a while and thought this would be the perfect project for it, and some lovely Swarovski crystals that complemented the colours depicted in the cab.

The beadembroidery was done directly onto the suede, which I’m not so sure I will do again, because when I wanted to unpick, it left holes in the suede (in this case it didn’t matter as the piece grew larger and covered the bits I unpicked, but in the future it might be a problem… I think next time I will bead onto beadbacking and then add it to the suede/leather.

I’m dying to make another one… although am a bit apprehensive about how long it took… well I’m a bit apprehensive as I’m not completely comfortable with how to finish it, so I guess the next one will be experiment number 2! :-)

Let me know what you think… .and if you have any ideas for the edging I would be very grateful to hear them! :-)

Happy beading everyone!!! :-)

Water - work in progress - Part 4

Yes!!! Ok!!! so it's becoming a bit of an epic :-) I am now on part 4 and it still isn't 100% finished!!! :-) having said that, I am thoroughly enjoying this!!!!

I've been sick since Friday... my son gave me whatever he brought home this week :-) I think it's the flu... or a really bad cold... not that I know the difference... in fact I don't even know if there is a difference :-) anyway.... so the last couple of days, even though I still felt like utter and total crap, I took my "water " piece to my room and spent the days in bed advancing with it... First of all I have to mention that this will not be going for sale... it is mine!!! all mine!!! :-) I just love it too much!! That and the fact that I have a terrible bag fetish which I have not been able to fulfil in the last couple of years, I ave decided that I'm keeping this one! I really, really love it + I'm so proud of myself for making a suede bag!!! I honestly didn't think my sewing machine would sustain the extra thickness... but it did!!!

Here's the body of the bag:

I made the outside with the suede from an old suede shirt I've had hanging in my cupboard for at least 9 years.... (I'm so glad I don't like throwing things out!!!!) I think I only bought it because I loved the suede and the richness of the colour... and it was relatively cheap... and now it's been turned into what will probably become my favourite bag of all times!!!! apart from my Fendi baguette that was stolen from my house by a house-guest years ago (but that is a whole other story, and am still hoping one day it will come back to me with the jewellery and watch that was also taken - so if you are reading... :-) and I do know who you are, no hard feelings, just please give me my stuff back!!! ... as I said a whole other story :-D) So, I was saying.... I used the old suede shirt for the body of the bag and for the lining I used one of those lovely designer sample fabrics that my neighbour gave me last week.... I think it may be silk, but am not sure...

For the flap I chose one of the heavier sample fabrics and then cut a square of suede of the same size. I then glued and stitched the bead embroidered piece onto the fabric, did some more embroidery, glued the fabric to the suede and beaded all around the joint pieces. And here is what came out :-)

I'm so over the moon with the result... and I'm definitely keeping this one for me :-)

I still have to make a strap for it, although I actually don't think it needs it, but for practical reasons, walking around holding one 3 1/2 year-old in one hand and the dog leash in the other, it makes sense to put a strap :-)

I sort of have an idea in mind involving an old silk turquoise sarong... and some beaded beads... lets see if it come out like I envision it... in the meantime, here is the back view of the bag:

obviously not finished :-)

Did I say how pleased and proud of it I am??? :-) amazing what one can do with an old shirt, some scraps and a few beads!!! ;-)

Come back soon and check out the finished piece :-)