¿Qué Onda Q'town?: Project of the month

Monday, February 6, 2012

Project of the month - Thanks Diane Fitzgerald!

¡six of the eight leaves x almost three hours each!

It took me almost a month...well, about 48 beading hours that I fit into the past month. I finished Diane Fitzgerald's Gingko Leaf Necklace. This came after one of my husband's epiphanies this holiday season - bead kits make great presents. It really is perfect because it is a splurge that I would probably not buy for myself, but which I love. Before I started I read somewhere that each leaf took about three hours. I didn't really believe this until I got going. I think I got that time down a little, but it was hard to tell because I don't think I actually sat for that amount of time in a row. I love the piece! I can't wait to put some of the things I learned from it to use in some more work.

No longer am I afraid to make long necklaces - this one has a 15/0 peyote spiral around a satin cord that goes on for miles. Diane's directions for the spiral are super easy. I thought I might have some trouble using such tiny beads, but I had not trouble going round and round. Any errors were easy to spot right away. I also thought for sure I would see all the new threads, but I got pretty good at weaving everything in a seamless manner (my method differs a little from Diane's method). A cone of Nymo B, some beeswax, and a thread burner got me through the long piece. At one point I had to stop and work on leaves because I was pretty certain I was giving myself a repetitive stress injury, but a few days off and I was good as new. I think the spiral part ended up being about 34 inches, which is a bit longer than the direction.

I spy a strand of corgi hair in that necklace

Working on the leaves in brick stitch and blending the colors has given me a new appreciation for transparent Delicas. I've been thinking about making some leaves in spring/summer colors so when winter ends I won't have to leave my new favorite necklace in the drawer until next fall.