Fairy Tales and Fabulous Beadwork

Green bead soup all ready to go!

Well, "Better late than never" is how the saying goes and I am living proof of that! As of yesterday morning I was certain that I didn't have time to participate in the Etsy Beadweavers challenge for March themed "Fairy Tales". Entries are due by midnight on the 5th and it just didn't seem do-able. Not only had my entry not been started, it hadn't even been conceived! So finding myself with a little free time (which never happens, and shouldn't considering the amount of housework, organizing, and so on, that need to be done around here!! Dishes?? Who needs clean dishes? Anyway... :-P) I looked up "fairy tales" on Wikipedia and got a whole list. I was hoping while browsing the list that inspiration would take hold and present an idea for the challenge. Actually, nothing really struck me until I got to "The Wizard of OZ" which is funny because it's never been my favorite story or movie (even though I do love Judy Garland) but my favorite color is green and I immediately thought of the Emerald City. So, I hauled out some of my newly organized beads and made a pretty bead soup in shades of green. (**hold that thought**)


Now, here is where I should tell you about a fabulous bead artist whose blog I follow even though I can't read a word of it. The blog is titled "ibolya-gyongy" which translates to "Violet-beads". Violet is Hungarian and makes the most beautiful bead woven jewelry. Her latest pieces use a free-form brick stitch technique and they are truly out-of-this-world! Here are just a few examples of Violet's jewelry (visit her blog to see more!):

Violet's lovely pieces have inspired me to spend some time exploring free-form brick stitch and get back to making some larger scale pieces again. Now, my Emerald City cuff is by no means a "large-scale" project but I hope it is a jumping off point to bigger and better things to come. And, so, using her beautiful brick stitch technique as inspiration to improve my own, I have set off down the yellow brick road on a new bead-y adventure. Here are few shots of "Emerald City", in progress. Cross your fingers and I just might get it done in time! :)