Saturday, January 31, 2015

Geometric Triangle: "Stately Necklace" (CH0360) 📝

"Stately necklace" came about because I was playing with geometric shapes.

Geometric Triangle: "Stately" Necklace (CH0360)



I am in the boring and exciting phase of trying to collect more basic how-tos. I strongly believe that it will form a stronger foundation that will paradoxically give me more freedom to “break the rules”.

So like a good girl I pretend to be, I have been practising and practising on the most boring basic shapes. Bead Bead Bead! And it is always a pleasure and surprise that even while doing routine, rudimentary exercises, something springs out unexpectedly.

I was learning and practising the Tri-Wing beaded formation when the beads decided to do a bit of a detour.
Sidenote: This photo shows Kate McKinnon’s Tri Wing which utilises the MRAW (Modified Right Angle Weave) Bellyband. Kate teaches this in a video (see references section below). You can also download a free (.pdf) copy of how to bead the tri-wing which Kate McKinnon has generously made available at her site. [pic tri-wing]



Work Notes

Anyways below is a peek at how “Stately necklace" (the detour) was created.

Started with MRAW, where I chose to use drop beads as the intervening stabilizer beads. The units of RAW has to be divisible by 3 as I am going for a triangular shape.
For the standard RAW itself (on the side opposite the stabilizer beads) – I have used drop beads in the corners. Hence the corners of the triangle are also easily identifiable.
Once the (outer) triangle is done, come back to center to start “closing” it up.

(Note: the outer geometric triangle works off the edge where the stabilizer beads.)
If you look closely at this photo, you can see that the top (small) triangle has drop beads along the lines radiating to the three corners. And while it is not clear from this angle, the small triangle is actually raised. This is due to the “bellyband” (a term from Kate McKinnon’s Contemporary Geometric Beadwork).
Make the other side.

It is matching beaded geometric triangle minus the raised central triangle.
Sew in (peyote stithc) a Twin or SuperDuo bead (double-holed beads) along the edges of the bottom piece.

I will be using these Twin beads to join to the front piece later on.
Here, a view of the side. The Twin beads have given the pendant depth and bulk. From this angle, you can also see the raised central triangle.
Important Note:
It is a good idea to have some idea ahead of time as to how the pendant is going to be connected. Here I want it to be joined at two of the corners. So knowing that beforehand, I can easily incorporate 2 closed jump rings into the corners as I bead the two sides together.
And a real close up to finish off this WIP photos.



Finished: Geometric Triangle - The “Stately Necklace"

The beaded geometric triangle “Stately necklace" is finished with a stringing of semi-precious gemstones, matching and supple hand-crochet rope chain, and strong magnetic clasp.


Materials
  • Japanese beads - seed beads, drop beads
  • Czech beads - seed beads, twin beads
  • Eagle Eye agate round beads
  • Moonstone round beads
  • Sterling Silver butterfly beads
  • garnet & coral round gemstone beads
  • Sterling Silver filled wire (for wirework)
  • magnetic clasp

Status: 0FL SOLD ℋ (ChristineLim CharityAuction Aug 2016)


References: