Monday, April 4, 2011

Bead Dreams - what the heck...

I figured - what do I have to lose? 30 bucks for two entries? So what, I just sold couple of kits and can afford it!
So, I have entered the Bead Dreams for the first time. Have low ambitions and no expectations, but why not to try, really?

Here is my Laplandia, the first of the Land of the Midnight Sun.

I am seriously addicted to labradorites and all its family - larvikite, spectrolite, etc. Being a scientist, it is difficult to start believing in stone-healing-mumbo-jumbo, but this particular stone is certainly a magic one. At least for me. It makes me calmer, more pieceful and stronger inside. That's why I did not want to embroider those cabs: they are open from behind and are touching the skin.
I wanted to bead the Nordic nature: mosses that reindeer are grazing on, aurora borealis, colors of small lakes among marshes, mist covering the ground and the ever changing skies.

This necklace is very special to me. It took four months to complete, and three of those I was gathering the material. Stones are coming from India, Canada, Finland, Norway and Madagaskar. They were lovingly carved by Russian, Chinese, Indian and Hong Kong lapidarists.
Tiny Swarovki crystalls are shining like small droplets of dew. Even if I will never make it to the finals, I will always love it.

The pictures have been kindly taken by a professional photographer, Dan Pettersson (not a relative of mine) ;). He managed to show the true color of the stones. Please look at the series of four pictures below, and follow the color changes depending on the position of the light source. Note though - we share a copyright, please respect that and do not reproduce the pictures without our permission.


And, finally - this is how it looks like in real life. The neck is borrowed from a fellow beader :)

Wishing BEST OF LUCK to everyone who has entered this year!





26 comments:

Victoria said...

WOW, that is amazing!!! Best of luck!

AuntieAnnie said...

Beautiful. And it looks lovely on. Good luck

NEDbeads said...

Completely and totally spellbinding. Magical is such a perfect word for it. I absolutely adore it!!!!!

Szikati said...

Wonderful work, congratulations!!!!!

Las Creaciones de Boricua said...

Beautiful Piece!!!!!!! I love it!!!!

Amy's said...

so very beautiful !! I love it.
I wish I could make one like this.

cjvierow said...

I love labradorite and what you've created is absolutely stunning! The mossy tendrils, so fairy like. The hanging teardrop is a beautiful stone and the necklace looks fabulous on. If I had a vote, you would have it!

qween10 said...

Как красиво! Просто сказочная вещь. Представляю, ка камни приятно холодят кожу, просто мечта.

Chiara said...

Beautiful creation, I love labradorite too, can I ask you which color of delica you used, since my problem with this stone is the palette...if you would like to help me I will be grateful....

Oh, and best wishes for the Bead Dreams, last year I tried too, but this year I was too busy for creating something elaborate for the contest

Pelantura said...

Es precioso, una verdadera maravilla, enhorabuena!!!

KJ said...

The piece is evocative of a winter landscape. I love the colors and the flow.

What I like best about your work is that I want to touch it! The fit around the model's neck is perfect.

Good for you for pointing out shopping time. That is something I never seem to capture.

Káli Gopika said...

Fantastic work!!!Good luck!!!!(:-))

Aurus Jadwiga Betley said...

OMG, beatutiful !!!

flyingbeader said...

Oh good luck! This piece is just gorgeous! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, me & a few others that I know have entered. I don't think I'll get in either, but you are right...we gotta try

Foxan said...

Many thanks, dear all!
Chiara - I've used only round Toho seed beads for this one, no Delicas. Give me couple of days and I will try to locate those numbers for you. I am not at all organized, you see ;)

Hugs!

plumidia said...

Fantastic colors and design!
A necklace of a goddess. Good Luck.

tensai said...

Un chef d'oeuvre! bravo!

lunamin said...

Fantastic! Beautiful!

Tina said...

wow! that is amazing! i never see something like this.

Greetings from Croatia

Isabel Fr Garcia said...

que maravilloso, espectacular

Eva Maria Keiser said...

Super works, colors and design.
Greetings,
Eva Maria

Marsha Wiest-Hines said...

Oh-mi-gosh! The lines and texture are absolutely splendid. And I am a big labradorite fan as well. You have a real gift for creating work that is as breathtaking on a body as in a photo. I hope and pray the things B&B did choose will be a beautiful as this is.

Foksa said...

Oh Marsha...
Bead Dreams have kicked my butt.
Not original or professional enough, you see. ;)

isabelfranco said...

very good!!

ARTCORE SILVER said...

100xWOW!

Basia KosimkArt said...

Fantastic work!!!