Before I began “beading the sun” I decided to back my piece with wool batting (if you missed last week’s intro to this topic click here). In this way I’m able to hide my knots in the batting and have a more substantial surface to hold the beads.
My plan was to trim away the batting from behind the sky after the beading is done, and layer it all with a flatter cotton batt. This will create a trapunto look behind the sun.
Next I gathered my beads and supplies and began laying out some favorites from my collection:
I added an arc of fasteners to the layout:
then I auditioned some snaps and interspersed beads to see how it all would look:
Next I marked the areas to be quilted.
The quilting needed to be done before the beading. I used a bright variegated thread to quilt the “channels” and “fillers”.
Once quilted – the beading could begin! I found some very intriguing beads in my collection (I’m as addicted to collecting beads as I am to collecting fabric!) This circle bead has the holes going through from the side and room for an additional bead in the center.
I’m really enjoying stitching down the fun patterns:
There are more beads to come, but I’ll save that for next week’s post.
And speaking of beading… I found this post on FaceBook (the text is part of the post):
Isn’t this just screaming to be beaded??? I actually wrote Harvard University and obtained permission to make a piece of beaded fiber art based on this amazing photo. We’ll see if I actually do it 😊. I can’t imagine how anyone could think that something this tiny and complex could happen by chance. God’s imagination is infinite!
judy raddatz says
Thank you. Wonderful as usual from you
Annette M Navarre says
That is beyond amazing. Our God is an awesome God! Thanks so much for sharing!
Cindy Unruh says
Thank you for sharing your creative process. Looking forward to seeing the finished sun project. Also thank you for sharing Gods Word.
Patti N says
I can’t imagine how much fun beading that cell would be! I can’t wait to see what you do.
Mary says
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men. Matthew 3:23 – Thank you, I needed this reminder – I do have a wonderful job and work with a great team…. but there is always a but… none of us are perfect by any stretch, so it makes it so much easier for me to change my attitude around when I remind myself that I am working for the Lord – not for anyone else. My job just defines the day to day tasks and quantitative requirements – the Lord calls me by name and rains down His grace and mercy everyday – because as sinner I can’t make it a day without sinning by thought, word, or deed each day. Thank you Lord for your love and guidance, help me be still so I can listen when I am restless.
Thank you for bringing quilting and all my new quilting friends into my life.
clkquilt says
Amen! Thank you Mary!