Bead Samplers

These are my bead samplers.  The first is a sampler of trapped beads and edges. The backing is a subtle monoprint bound with a discharged print.

Going from the top left we have:

Binca with drawn threads exposing violet sequins.

Purple stone from Marloes beach trapped under free tatting.

Enamelled elephant (old earring) under stitched threads held with seed beads.

Seed beads under nylon organza stitched in groups

Pistachio shells dyed green and violet under nylon curtaining

Glass flower arranging pebbles under rose ground hand-made lace.

Shisha held traditionally

Flat fima paillettes under Torchon ground lace

Dyed shells under nylon curtaining.

Dip-dyed stone held with metallic thread and beads.

Balls of fine wire waste under green organza

Stitched and beaded large bead under stitched mesh

Dip-dyed earring bit under holographic metallic thread

Felt bead under polythene held with beads

First row edging:- Bugle beads laddered with metalllic thread, with fine hand-made springs and sequins, beads and sequins, triangular paillets

Second row edging:- fringe made with seed beads and crystal drops(plastic!) with a centrepiece of cloisonne beads.

Third row edging: - columns of bead shapes made from fima an washed in washing machine to make a silky finish.

Fourth row:- wooden beads and sequins, seed bead chains and laliques stars stitched with metallic thread.

I made this next sampler from some of my printed fabrics cut to form a spiral outlined with machined cords.  I wanted the beads to spiral too, following the fabric shapes.

Top left we have a covered washer, wing nut, fabric beads, buttons held in various ways, safety pins and paper clips, sequins held in various ways, some with bead toppings, bugle beads topped with sead beads to stand upright, springs made from fine wire stitched in a row with sequins.

Top right we have seed beads following the cord and graduating in size, washer made into a composite bead, buttons held in various ways, beads in various ways and beads in graduated groups and line patterns.

Bottom left we have paillettes and sequins stitched in different ways and with various little piled toppings. Triangular paillettes in the corner with seed beads, seed beads in a long pattern, painted vilene shapes with bead columns and hand-made beads from fima.

Bottom right we have seed beads and bugle beads following the cord and graduating with rows of beads graduating in size to the edges including beads made from fancy knitting yarn and dip-dyed beads from the notions pot.

The sampler is backed with dyed fabric mitred at the corners ( one corner not so good!) and framed in hand made cord with spiral couching.