I love when I get asked to make something I never have tried before. This time, Sue ( a co-worker of mine) asked for a pin for a Christmas present for her grandmother.
She didn't have a preference to shape and only told me she wanted it red and white. Hmmmm. Red is not a color I work with too often. Not sure why, just don't. So I went to work and collected a variety of red and white beads that I had and once I saw the various shades of red, I was pretty excited. Red is a fun color!
My first thought was a fan shape with some fringe, but when I ran that by Sue, she didn't seem to enthused. OK, how about a star? flower? random shape? butterfly? Yes! she liked that idea. Butterfly it is.
Well, this little pin came together so easily. The only 'problem' is that it is only about 3" across at the wing tips and about 2 1/2" long. Bummer, so many cute red and white beads that didn't make it on the pin.
I started with two red rings I got from Robin Atkins and worked my way from there. The butterfly body was done by putting down two bead foundation rows side by side and then covering those lines on an angle. It worked up nice and firm.
I used pellon covered poster board for the base. I placed the embroidered finish piece onto a thicker piece of peltex and then used ultrasuede for the backing. The peltex gave it such a nice cushiony but firm feel.
I'm so happy with the end result (but not with the pics! It was too dark outside, so I had to shoot inside, and the flash was overwhelming and without a flash the varying shades just don't get picked up.)
I think I saw a caterpillar creeping across my studio table - I have a feeling another butterfly will be emerging soon......
5 comments:
Lynn: Your pin is beautiful. Who wouldn't love this present!! I don't work with red much either, though I wear blue shades of red a lot.
Boy, did you just crank this out! I like the way the middle body has dimension and the edging is stitched perfectly. My fave is the little bit of beading on the back...I like to put little surprises in my work too -- the inside of my purses are even prettier sometimes than the outsides...
These is just gorgeous! I love that textures and that it is red and white! The little bit of beading on the back is precious!
Thanks for the compliments! The bit of beading on the back of the pin is my 'signature' It represents a bleeding heart flower stem. The 3 blossoms represent my daughters.
Sue loved the pin and so did everyone else who saw it at the office. I will definitely make more of these! I'm dying to work some up in different colors.
As always Lynn, your work is to die for! Pretty on so many levels. I dont normally go for the reds either. I love red, its just not something I am drawn to like I am the earthtone colors. I am so hooked on brown right now its, ridiculous. Maybe you should make a couple and try them on Etsy? your work is so lovely and I love your signature too. You are truly bless with your gift of creativity.
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