Kate McKinnon's Groovy Cuff

Kate McKinnon's Groovy cuff

I picked up the beads for this cuff over the summer at The Isle of Beads. Normally I'm not drawn to grey, but when I saw these I instantly grabbed a hank of the gold and knew what I wanted to make - The Groovy Cuff. None of the photos really show off the how pretty the grey-blue seeds beads are.  The color combination really reminded me of something my great-grandmother Mildred would have appreciated. The top layer is made with pale blue-gray lined clear 11/0's and black diamond 15/0's.  The wider bottom layer is matte metallic antique gold 11/0's and the same black diamond 15/0's.  I really learned right angle weave working on this.  Once I got into the rhythm it was pretty easy to keep stitching and stitching.

This is the piece that was in the December 2009 Beadwork as The Modern Art Cuff (also on the cover of  the Favorite Stitches edition).  I think I like the brighter, more whimsical colors of the magazine pieces a little better, but these colors are sort of the opposite and are definitely understated and easy to wear. As soon as I finished stitching I wanted to put it on and I found this sari silk ribbon shimmering all pink and gold so I never got around to making a proper clasp.  I love the big bow which does not actually sit on top, but flops over the middle just as a regular clap would.  

I have also been searching for some glass sequins with which to embellish this piece, but haven't found any I liked.  All that I've run across are just too plasticy.  Of course that doesn't mean much because I have very few places to look.  At some point this weekend I'm headed to Havana, Florida (just north west of Tallahassee) to a little bead show.  Maybe luck will be with me.  Do you have any good sources for glass or other good quality sequins or metal discs?

click on collage to enlarge

Meet Me in St Louis

If you are in St. Louis on Friday night, you can go hang out with Kate McKinnon at The Bead Place.  She is bringing her beads and her black velvet lined bead tray to The Bead Place for some fun in the evening.  Check out her blog for details.  This is not a workshop, just beaders hanging out and having fun.  If it weren't for the 825 mile drive to get to St. Louis, I'd be there in a heartbeat.  Go to Kate's blog and take a look at the details.  She welcomes email if you have any questions about it.

Next, go view some groovy beadwork Kate and Dustin Wedekind have been doing for their upcoming book Geometrics (on facebbok) Geometrics (the website), go take a look. These pieces are awesome.

source

Also check out Kate's posts during the Seed Bead Summit back in May and you will see how the idea for this book came about.  You'll also get to see Marcia DeCoster, Teresa Sullivan, and Jean Power at work with Kate and Dustin. It was pretty amazing to read these posts as they came out and get a peek at the birth of the book.

Kate McKinnon Sale & Giveaway

Kate McKinnon is cleaning house and raising some spending money for her upcoming teaching trip to France.  She is having a big sale at her shop and has has daily giveaways.  Check out her latest offerings.

You can win this mod bead set if you hurry to her page.  I love the combo of hot on cool color in these beads by Joyce Rooks (left) and Libby Leuchtman (right).  Go and check out Kate's store, too.  Buy one of her metal clay books and be delighted.  Kate is offering loads of other beads as well as her own work at rock bottom prices.