Tag Archive | beading

Dragonfly Brooch- peyote and brick stitch

May18
Dragonfly Tropics

Dragonfly Tropics

As a child I collected shells from the shore, and used them to create jewelry and small dolls. I loved the small white dentalium shells as they were so useful, and when I saw these lovely green ones I knew just what to do with them.

The base of this brooch is a wire covered with silk ribbon. It creates the perfect perch for a beaded dragonfly and a vine full of flowers and beaded leaves.

The dentalium shell body is embellished with a circular peyote stitch in size 15 seed beads; the wings are brick stitched in four separate sections with delica beads. Two small pearls are used for the eyes.

A beautiful abalone shell button is stitched in the center of the vintage bead vine, with small carved pua shell buttons stitched amongst the glass flowers and leaves. The silk vine is also enhanced with Hanah silk bias ribbon work flowers with beaded centers and brick stitched leaves that are made from delica beads.

Happy stitching, love what you do! Enjoy- Christen

PS: here are two additional versions of this brooch.

Dragonfly Moon

Dragonfly Moon

The second brooch Dragonfly Moon has the beaded dragonfly attached to an antique Mother of Pearl disc. This is then embellished with free form peyote vines with beaded leaves, vintage MOP discs and more glass beads.

Autumn Dragonfly

Autumn Dragonflies

The third brooch Autumn Dragonflies has a similar covered wire base as the first brooch. It is also encrusted with silk bias ribbon flowers, vintage and new glass beads stitched leaves, but for some reason I didn’t stop there! I then added more French wire, velvet and silk bias ribbon worked flowers and leaves for the background. So now it is a small wall hanging rather than a huge brooch!

Enjoy- Christen

Cobblestone Collar- Beaded Jewelry Ensemble

May18

Cobblestone Collar- Beaded Jewelry Ensemble

Cobblestone Collar- Beaded Jewelry Ensembl

The necklace is made from a unique stitch that resembles wagon wheels or bricks placed into a pattern. It was a marvelous vehicle for these wonderful vintage and new Tahiti shell buttons that I had been collecting. The necklace made from size 8, 11 & 15 seed beads, is also adorned with fresh water pearls.

The first bracelet “Cobbled Cuff” is stitched with the free form peyote stitch. For the center piece I used a vintage Tahiti shell buckle found on a treasure hunt through my mom’s button jar. I stitched the bracelet with size 6,8,11 & 15 new and vintage seed beads along with fresh water pearls. A filigree bronze button is used for the closure.

The second bracelet “Velvet Cuff” is made with vintage carved tahiti shell buttons stitched with vintage glass seed beads onto a base of velvet ribbon. I especially love the flower shaped button on the left!

Cobblestone Collar- Beaded Jewelry Ensemble

Cobblestone Collar- Beaded Jewelry Ensemble

Happy stitching, let the beading begin! Enjoy- Christen

Umbrian Vintage Ensemble- necklace, bracelets and earrings

May18
Umbrian Vintage Ensemble

Umbrian Vintage Ensemble

I have had a wonderful adventure collecting these vintage buttons with the grape and leaf motif for this project. I finally found enough to make a necklace with matching bracelets.

The necklace, an original design, is made from two silk cords, with the vintage glass and metal buttons and beads sandwiched between them. Additional beads, many vintage, were added to dangle below the buttons for embellishment.

The earrings are made from vintage findings with new and vintage glass beads.

The first bracelet “Truffles and Toadstools” is made from my “Klimpt Kollage Kuff” pattern. This bracelet made from a base of ribbon that is encrusted with vintage celluloid, and horn buttons inlaid with abalone. Glass buttons and metal charms were also used.

The second bracelet “Brandywine” is made with a right angle weave stitch. All of the buttons are vintage brass. The glass leaves and beads are new, as are the charms that dangle below the buttons.

The pin and the shoe clips are also vintage.

Umbrian Vintage Ensemble

Umbrian Vintage Ensemble

Happy stitching, let the beading begin! Enjoy- Christen

Garden at Versailles- bead embroidery on a bracelet

May17
Garden at Versailles Bracelet

Garden at Versailles Bracelet

Garden at Versailles is a lightweight bracelet created with a base of vintage French jacquard ribbon from the ’40’s. The pattern on the ribbon determined the embellishment choices. The yellow bronze buttons were stitched in place first, with the bead embroidery stitched around the buttons. Glass seed beads in sizes 8, 11, and 15 were used as well as glass leaf charms and glass leaves on wire stems. This bracelet is worn with my Easter in Paris ensemble.

Happy Stitching, enjoy! Christen

Ellen Matilda’s Rose Garden- silk ribbon embroidered purse

May7
Ellen Matilda's Rose Garden Purse

Ellen Matilda’s Rose Garden Purse

Ellen Matilda my was my grandmother and she longed for a rose garden. There was never a lot time or extra money for this.

My aunt, her youngest daughter also loved roses, and was able to have a garden in her mother’s memory. It was beautiful and her mother would have been proud of it.

My aunt’s garden inspired me to create one in ribbon embroidery in memory of both my Aunt Ellen and my grandmother Ellen Matilda.

I used the maidenhair fern stitch for the base of the design using a variegated pearl cotton thread. The tips of this stitch are embroidered with 4mm silk ribbon using the the lazy daisy and bullion-tipped lazy daisy flowers. Spider web roses are stitched with 7mm silk ribbon, and carnations are stitched with 3mm ombre ribbon. French knots and bullion knots are used for the details and stitched with 4mm silk ribbon or silk buttonhole twist thread.

A vintage button for the closure; glass seed beads and glass leaf details; brass butterflies; and vintage glass beads on the handle add the perfect finishing touches.

Happy Stitching! Christen

Days of Wine and Roses- silk ribbon embroidered vest

May4
Days of Wine and Roses close-up

Days of Wine and Roses close-up

The inspiration for the colors of this vest came from the main fabric itself, which is from one of my favorite fabric companies, Hoffman Fabrics. The champagne-mushroom dyed background is liberally sprinkled with chocolate and rose colored ferns and leaves. I used these colors and added in a sage, celery and dark green for the ribbon worked flowers and leaves and the embroidery.

The front of the vest has a raw silk panel stitched in at a slightly off kilter diagonal angle. On either edge of the the cotton and silk seam seam run a display of whimsical floral vignettes. The ribbon worked flowers and leaves are made from a variety of new and vintage ribbons including: Hanah silk bias in 2-1/2″, 1″ and 5/8″; vintage cotton grosgrain and velvet ribbons; double sided satin ribbon; cotton and moire fabrics. The vignettes are embellished with silk ribbon embroidery in sizes 2mm, 4mm and 7mm silk ribbon. Silk and cotton threads were used for details and traditional embroidery stitches.

Days of Wine and Roses- vest

Days of Wine and Roses- vest

Happy Stitching! Christen

Ocean Rivers Bracelet- free form peyote

Apr21
Ocean Rivers Bracelet by Christen Brown

Ocean Rivers Bracelet by Christen Brown

This was a class project that I just for Joggles.com. The base of the bracelet is a grosgrain ribbon, embellished with shell buttons and covered in beads stitched with the peyote stitch.

Happy Stitching! Christen

Shiraz- grape themed necklace ensemble

Mar3
Shiraz by Christen Brown

Shiraz by Christen Brown

I love the shapes and forms of grape clusters and their leaves. My parents had a concord grape arbor, and the vines with the little curly tendrils were fascinating. I have used these shapes for inspiration in “Shiraz” and other pieces like the “Grapevine” ensemble. Of course the wonderful wines, dolmades and dried “yummies” that can come from this marvel of nature are certainly benefits one cannot ignore!

I added color to the silver toned vintage buttons, earrings and pin with Pinata Paints. These paints are formulated to paint metal objects. Pretty cool stuff!

Bracelets by Christen Brown

Bracelets by Christen Brown

Happy Stitching! Christen

Deco Plumeria Ensemble: neck-piece and bracelets

Mar1
Deco Plumeria by Christen Brown

Deco Plumeria by Christen Brown

The inspiration for this ensemble came from a wonderful group of old “confetti” celluloid buttons from the Deco era found at an antique show in Santa Monica, CA. The colors of the components I chose for this ensemble are so reminiscent of the “barkcloth” curtains of the 1930’s with large images of tropical flowers, that I just had to make a floral venue in which the buttons could reside.

The necklace and first bracelet “Violas and Peas” are made from a base of grosgrain ribbon adorned with individually stitched ribbon worked flowers and leaves, (and pea pods in the case of the bracelet). The second bracelet is made from vintage glass cabs glued to a metal base. The last “Ribbon Bracelet” is a vintage jacquard ribbon covered with vintage Bakelite and celluloid buttons.

I used a variety of ribbons in this ensemble including silk bias, grosgrain, French wire and even a ribbon that was tied to a box of Godiva Chocolates (a Valentines Day gift from my husband). You just never now what may come in handy some day….

Bracelets by Christen Brown

Bracelets by Christen Brown

May you have many hours of Happy  and Joyous Stitching! Christen

Antique Autumn Roses: neck-piece

Feb28
Antique Autumn Roses- by Christen Brown

Antique Autumn Roses- by Christen Brown

This necklace was started in a class using my pattern “Entwined Roses”. The design grew with the addition of the wonderful wrapped metallic gold center piece given to me by a friend.

I had also just acquired a collection of vintage celluloid buttons, which found there way into major focal areas around the hand made silk ribbon flowers and leaves. Almost all of the buttons are made with vintage materials such as Bakelite, brass, molded glass, and cinnabar. Two other special components are the porcelain leaf button by Rama in the front, and a large flower shaped yellow bronze button from Worldly Good Buttons.

The other stunning components are the gold reflective glass flower shaped roundels, that really make the rest of the colors stand out. I used the peyote stitch to add in the vintage and new glass beads and charms; carnelian, Pyrex, cloisonne charms and dangles; and wrapped metal dangles.

Happy Stitching! Christen