Beads

Aren't these beads yummy I am in the process of working on a new piece of work which has lots of beads and stitch on it and on the last day of Open Studios Chrystal and her mum cam to visit me and she makes beads and runs her own bead shop in near Necton in Norfolk. We had a really good chat and we are going to swap skills one day. Her website is a wonderful bead sweet shop and I am going over there shortly to pick up some treasure. Visit her website HERE 

Ely Beads

On the way home from St Ives I called into Ely

and went into my favourite shops. I have a soft

spot for Ely because it is where I trained as a nurse

and I met and courted my husband there.

I first went into Ely Beads.

I love this bead shop it's like being in a sweet shop!

I collected together a mixed bag of beads ready to add

to my new piece of work based on Architecture and decay

of buildings.

The orange bead is for another fun 3D piece

I have in mind!!!

I love their inspiration wall in the Beading Workshop Area.

Vist their yummy site

www.elybeads.com

I also went to Ely Bike Centre which has

one of the largest haberdashery and fabric

selection in the area.

I am needing sheers, satins and lace for my

new work.

Visit the shop

www.elybikecentre.com

Gallery Day 12th April 2011

Jeanette has finished 'Bolliwood Turrets', it now needs the

considered background and the box frame!

Click the label Bolliwood at the bottom of this post to see it's

development and changes.

See more Indian Inspiration on my website

www.art2inspire.co.uk

Enjoy watching the Henna Mehndi Designs on this video.

The designs could be used for many medias.

Embellished Flowers

In the afternoon I got to play with the papers

I had made in the morning.

I cut two lots of the postcard sized ones into 1cm

strips and then stuck them onto a piece of lace.

Then, it was lots of free motion machining.

I gathered it all up and then beaded!

I had a wonderful time!

I think it was also because it was a lovely

sunny afternoon and I was able to sit and stitch!

It also reminded me of being a child and

making paper flowers, sticking and stitching

anything together

for presents for my Mum.

I have made varying paper flowers over the years

using similar techniques.

More inspiration can be found with

work by a textile artist, Jill Flower,

You can visit her website at

www.jillflower.co.uk

You may also like these flowers with buttons as centres.

You can also do this technique with any colour paper and

ink stamp the edges, make a hole in the middle and put a

brad through it to hold the petals in place.

Scrunch and arrange as before.

Diana's Dresses

Mrs Peggy Umpelby had lots of samples but the ones which were

the most intricate were those on Diana's dresses.

Peggy often made up several samples for the designers and Diana

for them to chose their favourite.

The top sample is from one of her famous State Occasion dresses,

the sample was magnificent, no wonder this became one of

Diana's favourites.

These lower samples were from the 'Elvis' dress as it was called

because of it's raised 'Elvis' type collar.

designed by Catherine Walker and beaded by Peggy

and her team at S.Lock Ltd.

The dress was beaded with thousands of varying sized pearl beads.

The right hand sample is beaded in a quilting/embroidery pattern called

'vermicelli'.

The border which was the hem of the dress has three lines of

bugle beads which is then wrapped stitched with crystal beads.

A lovely way to finish a piece, a technique I think I

would like to use in the future.

See the fantastic You tube video of Diana's dresses.

Wedding Dresses

Peggy still works for Fashion Houses,

beading from her own home in Norfolk,

although she told us she had really retired!

It was very apt with Prince William and Kate's wedding this month

Peggy showed us some wedding dress samples and pictures.

This is a section sample of a recent wedding dress.

the layering of the beads to form flowers are beautiful.

Peggy's Husband sources all her beads and motifs for her from

around the world. Often taking days to find the right ones.

click

Creative Beads for a supplier they use.

Peggy beaded Princess Diana's wedding veil

using over 10,000 3mm pearl sequins.

See this really good article about the dress which mentions Peggy here

www.trindadad.com

View this amazing video to see how some tambour beading is done.

Queen's Dressmaker

Mrs Peggy Umpelby has been beading The Queen's dresses

for over forty years. Mrs Peggy explained that the dresses

come in pieces or lenghts of fabric which then have to

be beaded. It is Peggy's skill at where to bead the beaded design

so that the shape and form of the body and design will look their best.

Tambour Beading is always worked on the reverse of the fabric.

The beader doesn't see the front as they work

often feeling the design as they go.

Peggy explained that it is easier on the sheer fabrics to see! the design

and that a 'pounced' pattern is often put on the

heavier fabric such as taffeta

so it can be followedThe sleeve section above and includes cutwork.

It is one of a pair which replace ones on one of

The Queen's favourite dresses.

See Hardy Amies Royal Exhibition

(use the scroll button on the right of the wedding dress photo on Amies

site to read the information)

and then watch the video which includes some of

Mrs Peggy's work

click

www.hardyamies.com

Beading Evening Dresses

I have made evening dresses in the past but this one I brought.

I've done some alterations to it and this week

I have added some simple beading to the bodice and straps.

The beads are small glass seed ones that really glisten

and of course they are in one of my

favourite colours.

It's always nice to go somewhere you can where a proper dress!

I hope to show you show photos shortly with me in it!

Jeanette's Textile Picture

Jeanette creates some wonderful textiles.

So richly layered, embroidered and beaded.

She allowed me to take a picture of her and

her textile art, that she had borrowed back from a

friend to show us.

Thank you Jeanette.

Sorry, about the shiny photo of her work above.

Jeanette is also the lady behind 'Bolliwood Turrets'.