As I have been slowly but surely unpacking my art supplies from my move a couple of weeks ago, I found my March page neatly wrapped up in one of my moving boxes. I had gotten as far as placing the polymer clay glazed face cabochons created at my January guild meeting on the fabric and then had stopped around mid-March so I could pack everything up. I was so delighted to finally find my page and sat down almost immediately to give each face a beaded bezel. I used the “barnacle” technique as explained on page 50 in Robin Atkins wonderful new book called “Heart to Hands Bead Embroidery”.
Back in March when I was so looking forward to Spring’s arrival after a long cold winter, I found myself studying trees very closely to see any signs of Spring. In one of my meditations, an image popped into my mind of each knot in a tree having a face in it that was waking up from a long winter’s sleep. Shortly after that I was purging some old magazines and found this image.
It reminded me so much of my image of the faces in the tree. The feeling I want to convey with this piece is one of an organic awakening. Robin has another bead technique on making twisted tree trunks (page 67). I think this beading technique will be perfect for the look I want. Stay tuned for more progress!
Art and Tea 
I love that particular cover art (it’s from an old Sage Woman, isn’t it?) and am happy to hear you have reached the point of unpacking your goodies. Love the colors of this piece and the work you have done so far. Will be fun to see how it looks when completed!
Thanks Acey! Yes, I found this beautiful image from the cover of an old Sage Woman magazine. I used to subscribe back in the 90s.
Oh WOW! You’re back in business! Hoooooooray! I love the faces you made, your fabric choice and the barnacle bezels… Whooo-hoooo!
Thanks for the two mentions of my book and references to two of the techniques explained in it. I makes my heart SING when folks take what I give them and run with it in this way. Can’t wait to see your finished piece.
Hugs,
Robin
Thanks Robin, I’m so glad to be back to beading! I missed it so much.
Your book is absolutely fabulous and so inspiring! I’m so excited by all of the various techniques you share and your writing speaks directly to my heart. Thank you for such a wonderful gift.
-Karen
Your journal page looks wonderful, Karen ! I love the beadwork around the faces. Great image you found too…I can see the similarities between it and your journal page…
Thanks Dora! You were there when these little faces were created so you know how much fun it is to make them. I remember you asked about beading around the face cabs. I would recommend Robin’s book very highly for some wonderful ideas!
Oooooooooh — this is going to be spectacular!
Kathy V in NM
Thanks so much Kathy, I’m really enjoying the beading process for this one.
[…] Many thanks to Robin for her inspiration with this twisted tree branch stitch. The timing of receiving her new book, “Heart to Hands Bead Embroidery” was perfect for what I needed to express with this piece. I wrote about that here. […]