Still Beading

3/20/2011

I'm working on a spring goddess outfit for Cuprit, and spent much of last week painting the edges of the scalloped velour strips gold, and then starting the beading. The green and brown velour strips will be the 'over-skirt' and also hang from the elbows on the sleeves. Each strip takes almost an hour to bead, but I am getting a little faster as the end is finally starting to appear over the horizon. The upper sleeves and bodice have already been beaded, and I found the most interesting dyed fabric for the underskirt. I don't know if the whole outfit will be done before I go on vacation, but the farther I get, the less there will be to do afterwards. I'm looking forward to photographing Cuprit wearing this costume in the woods this spring.

3 Comments

jane

3/11/2013 03:34:45 am

Did you dye/paint the velour - and I'm refering to the mottled, tie dye effect? I assume you cut the "leaf" shapes - and then added the gold painted edges.
Just gorgeous!!!!
You need to write a book! I'd buy it in a heartbeat!

Martha

3/11/2013 03:51:30 am

Yes, I over-dyed the velour. It was a mottled colour with greens being the predominant colour, but there were also some glaring reds and yellows, that needed to be toned down and made more "greenish".

Actually I designed the dagged edges of the strips so they are the same if you butt the next strip up against the first one, but in reverse. I trace the pattern onto the fabric with a marker, then go over the marker with Fray Check, then cut them out after that's dry. Then hand-paint the edges with gold. It's a tedious time-consuming process.

jane

3/11/2013 06:47:42 am

Yes I can see that everything you do must be time-consuming, but your final effect is SO worth it!
Thanks for the reply!
. . . . . . . I'm thinking you must go thru a LOT of fray check LOL!

Still Beading

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