Work in Progress (2B) – Choosing the Embellishments

Originally, this third posting on how to construct a contemporary art quilt, was supposed to be part of the second posting on choosing beads, stampings, and other embellishments.  However, I realized that it was way too long for an easy read, so I split it into two parts. Here is the second half of how I make my choices for decorating the surfaces of my work.

In this photo are some of the larger beads and stampings that I pulled from my stash to consider for the next phase of my art quilt’s construction. In the middle are some different sized plastic snowflakes that used to be popular for children’s craft projects. They are almost impossible to find here in the States in opaque colors, so on eBay, I found some sources in China. I hope I’ve bought at least a lifetime supply of opaque white ones. Since I do a lot of garden scenes, I like to sew them on, as I’ve done in the card in the middle, with contrasting embroidery floss, to simulate flowers, stars, or just to use as a small splash of color. To the right if the card are two small, gold safety pins. (For awhile, there were colored pins on the market, but now all I can find are the gold ones.) I like to add size 6 or larger beads on each pin, and then sew them down the edge of a ribbon or to create the suggestion of  a line. The large gold and aqua, dichroic foil ,oval bead at the bottom is great, color-wise for the composition, but as I write this posting, I’m not sure there’s much room left on the surface for something that big. (Note – as I write this, I am further along with the embellishing the surface tof the quilt, and that bead did indeed turn out to be too big. However, there was an oval glass bead, with similar colors, that worked well with five of them scattered across the surface.)

Finally comes the choice of which seed beads to use to cover the motifs on the fabrics. Of all the materials that I use, these little pieces of glass are the hardest to order on-line, as the color on the monitor is not what necessarily arrives in the mail. My “paint by numbers” method covers up a lot of the fabric, and color accuracy is important to me. It is still surprising how different the color of beads can be in a vial, where the color appears to be much more concentrated, as compared to how they appear when threaded and sewn down, so rather than order on-line a lot of samples,(unless I have already visited that store and saved the numbers), I make a few trips a year to Accents Beads. It’s about a 45 minute drive to Rockville, MD; USA from where I live, but I get to touch the colors up close and personal. They have a huge selection of seed beads and I can usually find what I need.

I used to store my seed beads in clear glass jars so I could see them easily, but now I have so many that I put them in 3″ x 5″ (7.5 cm x 12.5 cm) plastic bags, (usually secured with a rubber band) and then put all of those bags into large, clear containers containing similar colors. The plastic condiment cup in the middle of the photo above makes for easy access when I’m doing the actual sewing,but I have to remember to hear the snap when the lid is put on to prevent bead accidents. In the same photo, along the bottom edge, are two index cards from my last shopping trip. A straight pin is threaded just a little through the card, 4-5 beads are threaded onto the pin, and then the tip of the pin is pushed back through the card and secured with clear tape. I cut the color numbers off of the plastic tube that those beads came from(each one has their own numbering system) and then I write it below the appropriate pin with the beads. Usually the numbers stay the same from one shopping trip to the next at a given source, but sometimes, I can tell the beads on the pin are the right color as what’s in the vial in front of me, even though now the numbers are different.

Choosing embellishments for a new art quilt is one of my favorite parts of the process, as I get to run my fingers through my stash of goodies. However, I have to give up any need to have a particular button or bead to be available the next time I want to use it. These materials are subject to the whim of fashion and jewelry colors and trends, so some of my favorite items just stop being produced. Some times, I can find another source on-line, but often, I have to accept that I used up the last of a particular item on the last piece of art work, and so the search begins for a replacement.

Why not leave a comment as to your thoughts on this piece. Please take a minute, fill it out, and then share your ideas with the rest of us. We all grow when we share our thoughts and impressions, so why not join our growing community of those who appreciate art quilts and textile arts. We’d love to hear from you!

You can see more of my art work on my web site at www.fiberfantasies.com

To find out how to buy my art work, please check out “How to Buy my Art Work” in the “Pages” section to the right of this blog.

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