I love dragonflies, and who doesn’t? In many cultures the dragonfly is a symbol of change, rebirth, self enlightenment, an opportunity to seize the day or to be brave and take the next step. For me, there are so many opportunities to interpret the shape of the body, and the wing display. Today I would like to share some examples of the way I use beads to create a dragonfly.
These are examples of a class that I teach, called the Dragonfly Brooch. I start with a dentailium shell. In the first two examples I incorporated a large button for the background, in the last example I created a base collaged from ribbonwork leaves and flowers. These examples also include additional beaded extras such as leaves that were stitched with the peyote stitch and brick stitch using size 11 seed and delica beads. I have also incorporated small ribbonwork flowers using a silk bias ribbon. Additional glass and shell charms were also included.
For the body of the dragonflies that I create I start with a dentailium shell. These are examples of what the shell looks like, the size and color can vary. The shells that I used for the bodies, had a pointed end.
I first bead the body of the dragonflies with the circular peyote stitch, using size 15 seed beads. I stitch pearls for the eyes, with the stacked bead stitch. The wings are stitched using the brick stitch and size 10 delica beads.
Dragonfly Summer: The base of this delicate hanging is made from an 18 gauge florist wire wrapped in batting and silk ribbon. I wire wrapped three small gourds in place with Artistic wire, keeping the stem of the gourds as part of the design.
I incorporated left-over samples from some of my other beaded classes, which include beaded leaves, grapes, berries, fuchsias, and pea pods using a variety of beads including size 11 seed and delica beads, size 15 seed beads, and fresh water pearls. Further embellishments include coin pearls, size 6 and 8 seed beads, glass buttons, and vintage glass leaves.
Lothlorian Twilight: The background for this piece started with a vintage embroidered purse, that had seen better days. I decided to cover the ripped and frayed areas with dragonflies, buttons, ribbonwrok flowers, and other embellishments. For more details about Lothlorien Twilight, see here.
Happy Stitching to You! ~Christen