A New Lariat Necklace for Spring

I should really make more lariats.  They are such statement pieces and really stand out.  Though they take longer than some other pieces, I do enjoy making them. Besides, they are fun to wear!

This particular lariat has 3-D petal designs on the focal piece and smooth, rounded pods at the ends of the strands.  I used ultra-suede strips for the necklace straps. They are strong, yet feel good on the neck. One of the beauties of this necklace form is that it is very adjustable, and one size really does fit most.

New! Adjustable Bracelets

I make a lot of bracelets, but they're on brass channel cuffs or bangles, so the size is pretty much set. I've been wanting to learn to make bracelets with adjustable bands of some sort, and decided to try my hand at some basic sliding knots.  For the solid bracelet sections,  I used some polymer sheets I made with a pattern that reminds me a little of plaids.

I also made some smaller beads to incorporate into the knotted sections.  This next photo gives a better look at the knots, the additional beads, and the sliding section.

I experimented with different cording, using 1mm waxed cotton and 2mm plain cord. The sliding section works nicely, so the bracelet opens wide to slip on, and then closes as tightly as desired.

Here are two shots of another bracelet in the same design.  The beads on this maroon and yellow bracelet were larger than on the coral bracelet since I used 2mm cording here and 1mm on the coral piece.  I think the proportions work well.

Last, I decided to try a really simple closure using elastic thread.  I did add an extra flat bead in the area opposite the band section.  This provides a gentle area against the delicate part of the wrist, and also serves as the place where I could hide the thread ends.  Both designs are easy to use, even if you have to put the piece on yourself.

Adjustable Tube-bead Lariats

I really like the concept of lariats, though I haven't made that many.  A few weeks ago, I taught a workshop on making hollow tube beads.  Of course, making beads often involves deciding how to showcase them.  Usually, you have to plan on how the bead will be used and displayed. Sometimes, I have a plan all set out before I begin, while other times I have not thought about it as much as I might have.  At the end of my demo on hollow tubes, I had a couple of sweet tubes without ends. Then came Clay Connection 2016, the every-other-year polymer conference, hosted by the Southern Connecticut Polymer Clay Guild (SCPCG).  I always look forward to this conference, and this year was no exception.  I had the tube beads with me, made a couple more, then decided how I was going to use them.  Adjustable lariats!





Here are samples of 2 adjustable lariats.  I have a few more tube beads made up, but they're not in lariat form yet.  This particular design leaves the cording just loose enough so the length and the size for around the head and neck can be adjusted. I like making little pod beads at the ends, too.  They provide a form to hold while adjusting the cord length, and they're just plain fun.

The Regional Show

Each May, there is a juried regional art show in Westerly.  The show is open to any artist in the area.  This year, for the first time, I decided to enter.  The judges are different each year, and this year they were owners of an art gallery in Connecticut.  I entered 5 pieces, and was surprised and pleased that 4 of them were accepted into the show.  I tried something new on a couple of the pieces, and thought I'd share them all here.
This first piece is a new flower shape I've been exploring. Sometimes I make it with 3 sides, others with 4.  I'll post other examples at later time. For this necklace, I used a nylon cord that compliments the flower.  Two extra attached cords were perfect for flower buds.

A second piece was another blossom cluster necklace. I love the sterling silver chain I use on these - it's full of tiny rings that move and make the blossoms seem alive.  This one uses colors from a different end of the rainbow spectrum, and the blossoms are smaller with ruffled edges.  

The pieces I'm most excited about are the next two.  I have been working on different ways to incorporate beadweaving into polymer.  The coral and brown piece has an insert of flat peyote.  The beading also creates the bail and holds the loop on the cord. The cord is a kumihumo cord I made with copper crystal bicones woven in with other fiber.

The last photos show two sides of the same piece.  The beaded circular flower in the center is open to both sides, letting light pass through.  The small rectangular shape on the buna cording slides to allow size adjustment.  The piece is reversible, with slightly different designs on each side.