Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Welcome Back Guest Blogger and former Bead Maven Callie Mitchell :)

I must admit I was thrilled when Callie accepted my invitation to be a guest blogger...I loved working with Callie on the Mavens so it's great to see her back in a guest spot :)

Callie Mitchell

Many thanks to the fabulous Bead Mavens for inviting me to be a guest on their fabulous new blog!  This page is fast becoming a “go-to” site for all beaders interested in great design and the latest news in all things Beading.  It’s an honor to be here, and it’s great to have the Bead Mavens back again!


I’m also glad to be back designing again after a summer-long hiatus from beadwork. 
Sometimes it really helps recharge the batteries to spend a little time doing other things.  I find that I think about beadwork design almost constantly, even when I’m not actually at my work table with beads in hand. And my summer break was a good time to reflect on where I’ve been as a beader, and where I’ll head in the future.



Kathryn Howard Necklace
 When I got back to work, one of the first pieces I wanted to complete was the Kathryn Howard necklace.  For the past several years in an on-again, off-again way, I’ve been creating jewelry pieces to represent Renaissance Queens.  I’ve made a cuff for Mary Queen of Scots, a bracelet for Elizabeth I, and necklaces for Isabella of Castile and Catherine of Aragon.  Translating designs from other periods, made with different materials and techniques, is always a challenge.  I deliberately kept the palette soft and rather monochromatic in this design, as the details were quite varied – scalloped St. Petersburg chain, chaton-embellished structural component and natural pearl accents.  I was trying for a fresh and youthful, though elegant look.  The necklace is an investment in time to create, but it’s definitely glamorous. 


Carousel Cuff
 After Kathryn Howard, I wanted something simpler to work on.  Geometric beadwork designs are very much in vogue right now, and though my Carousel cuff isn’t a dimensional piece, it is every bit geometric.  I chose bold color palettes for this one, in primary colors and gold, as the shapes are geometric primaries in themselves – triangle, rectangle, circle.  As I worked on this piece, it struck me how much the design evoked childhood memories of a carousel, with pennant flags waving  in the breeze and shields brightly blazoned around its overhang.  Peyote stitch, both flat and circular, as well as brick stitch are employed in the design, and it makes up fairly quickly.



Noughts and Crosses Bracelets

During my “quiet time” this summer I also began to think about a future direction for my beadwork and found myself really going back to my roots as a beader.  I’ve spent a good bit of time these past few years exploring dimensional and complex designs and I find that I’m yearning for simplicity.  This week I worked up a new Tila bead design that fills this bill for me.  The “Noughts and Crosses” bracelet can be made in under an hour but is nevertheless richly textured and has, I hope, a “more than meets the eye” quality.  I chose really rich color palettes for this style, to act as a counterpoint to the simplicity of the design itself. I'll be working up tutorial for this fast and simple bracelet in the coming weeks.

I think simplicity in design can – and should – nevertheless be sophisticated and varied.  Designwise, right now I’m heading back toward basic ropes, flat work, beaded beads worked up in deep, rich colors, suitable for daytime, night time, any time. 
 I’m glad to be back at my beading table, and thanks for having me here, Bead Mavens!







8 comments:

  1. Love this, Callie, and I totally understand the getting back to simpler things! Love the Naughts & Crosses too.

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    1. Thank you, Sally! I guess finding the right balance between simple and complex is just not always easy for me. I'm glad you like the bracelet!

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  2. Welcome, welcome! What a thrill to have you back here again! I know just what you mean about recharging. Last year I took 6 months off and came back full of ideas. :) Your jewelry is amazing! Love, love it!

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    1. Thank you, Valorie! It's wonderful to be a Mavens guest blogger! I think when one needs a break it can be a good thing. As with you, the ideas came back at full speed. Just wish I had more time! :)

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  3. Hi Callie, I didn't know you were a Maven in the past until Mikki mentioned you were guest blogging with us. I cannot begin to imagine taking a whole Summer off from beading. I think I have forgotten what my life looked like pre-beading. I would probably walk around in circles complaining of boredom, feeling lost, wondering what to do.
    I sure can relate making jewellery inspired by royalty and what a great job you have done too. Thanks for joining us and sharing.

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    1. Yes, I was a Maven awihile back and loved it! I learned such a lot and met so many wonderful people. I know what you mean about feeling lost without the beads; I guess we all do. I'm glad my "beading break" is behind me! :)

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  4. Callie, dear friend, it is so good to see you back here guest posting. Thank you for sharing with all of us! You know I am one of your biggest fans and I am so glad you made the decision to get back to designing and re-opening your Etsy store! <3

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  5. Thanks to all the Mavens for having me here, Twyla! I love all the information and beautiful beady-ness you all share; so happy to be here as a guest blogger!

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