Latest Amulet Bag

[Gail Devoid]

Gail Devoid

While I am working on customer orders and new designs, which are the types of work that go quickly, I try to have a long term project going. If I don't, I make mostly bracelets, or my customers wait too long for their orders to be fulfilled. Worse yet, new patterns don't get written up!

Below is one of my long term projects. I break the project down into parts and that helps me finish the project instead of creating a UFO (Unfinished Object) I complete maybe three of these big pieces a year:

Aten's Disk and Ankh

Like most of the bags I make, this one has a pattern on both sides. I was going to do a different strap until I saw how well this modified herringbone stitch went with the design. The purple iris Delicas provide great contrast to the gold plated beads. With that finish widely available, I was able to use twisted Miyuki bead bugles and Czech daggers for the fringe. This fringe gives the piece a fluid movement. My next bag will have spring flowers. Hopefully, the long winter months will allow lots of time for beading!

I also did a matching bracelet. Simple and quickly done, the bracelet complements the necklace when worn together, yet is beautiful enough to wear alone.

The bag has the same clasp shown in the bracelet. Even though the strap in the necklace is long enough to just put it on, I used a matching clasp so the strap design went in the same direction. This carries forward the V-shape design of the fringe on both sides of the necklace. Another reason for using a clasp: The pattern used for the strap would not connect the beginning pattern to the end very well. The clasp solved both issues!

I did manage to design a few new bracelets using my favorite stitch, which is bead crochet. Below is one that uses Miyuki drops and this shows first the side view and then a closeup of the bracelet from the top, or how it looks when worn:

Gail H. Devoid, Ph.D.
Need For Beads, Inc.
http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads
[e-mail]

[Gail Devoid]

Oshitani, H. (2008, April/May). Sea of Grass Necklace. Beadwork, 11, 48-50.
This is what I used to make the strap and the bracelet.

[Gail Devoid]

I will look it up and get back to you. I also used that for the strap for the bag.

[Dixie Ackerman]

Gail: I was speaking of the bracelet that matches the bag you made with the V design. If that is in a magazine, would you know which one. I think it very attractive. Dixie

[Gail Devoid]

I am not sure which bracelet you mean; the first one is a modified herringbone stitch that appeared in a beading magazine. The second one is bead crochet, and the stringing sequence is what makes The drops lineup the way that they do. The second bracelet is a pattern that I am selling on my website.

[Dixie Ackerman]

Gail: So good to hear from you. Actually Cliff has not been doing well at all. He has been in the hospital in Lincoln, Ne with a very serious urinary infection and has had a terrible time shaking this off. Due to his continuing illness I have closed my gift shop, so am starting a new chapter in my life. Have not had a lot of time for beading, but hopefully I will soon. I love your new bracelet. Tell me about this technique. Hugs...Dixie