Fordite Falcon

I LOVE BEAD EMBROIDERY!!  I often say that it is the beading that I do for myself.  Not that I wear it often, but it is my "sanity" refresher when my business beading gets the best of me.  I use it to refresh my "muse".  Here is the latest piece I have created.

I used a piece of Fordite for the focal which I purchased from a distributor this summer.  Not familiar with Fordite, also known as Detroit Jasper? 
From Wikipedia:
Fordite, also known as Detroit agate, is old automobile paint which has hardened sufficiently to be cut and polished.^[1] It was formed from the build up of layers of enamel paint slag on tracks and skids on which cars were hand spray-painted (a now automated process), which have been baked numerous times.^[2] In recent times the material has been recycled as eco-friendly jewelry.

This picture was taken in process, when I was stuck.  Obviously, thanks to the gals in my Bead Embroidery Forever! group on Facebook, I became unstuck and was able to finish.  You can see by the orientation, that the layout shifted also.  I had planned on the layout here being a pendant, but things went a different direction.  That is what I love about bead embroidery.  I start it and it just "happens".  My style is more freeform.  I rarely have a finished idea in mind when I start.  I also love that it becomes almost a treasure hunt or hidden picture by adding in the bits and bobs as I go along.

Here are a few other pieces I have created:

Center piece from an Artbeads Blog Partner challenge

Bead Soup Blog Hop piece with partner Shirley Jones Moore

Beading Challenge from The Jade Dog

design using Chris's lampwork cabs and leather

Beading challenge with Pine Ridge Treasures

Swarovski Fancy stone with vintage cup chain

My very first project!  Only one that I knew what it would look like when I started.

My second piece, Frankly My Dear.  Jen Martin, made the polymer face.

Can you tell it is my favorite beading technique?!

"Frank"ly My Dear...

I couldn't let one more day go by without showing you my finished piece!  Frankie turned out so awesome, and it was all freeform!  I didn't have a design in mind when I started him.  I just glued him down and started beading.

This photo gives you a closer look at the details.  I used all sorts of colors and sizes of seed beads, a vintage crystal in the center of the flower, Lucite leaves, copper beads, pearls, and other crystals to make my design.

Just a bit wider shot to show more of the detail.  I am so happy with the piece, though I am planning on making a couple smaller side pieces to attach to him to make it more of a collar style piece.  I had wonderful compliments on him a the Lincoln Bead Show Saturday.  I love beading, and making jewelry, but the bead embroidery is something I do for me.  I get to express myself in ways that I can't with my other beading!

I have to thank the Nebraska Bead Society for bringing me the opportunity to take the Sherry Serafini class in May.  She is an AMAZING teacher and I certainly wouldn't have made this without the class and her inspiration!  Also Jen Martin gets a HUGE Thank You for designing such a fun and wonderful face!  I love Jen's faces because they have so much character (without being "creepy" doll faces~too many horror movies about mannequins and dolls as a teenager!) and they are very high quality, great prices, and wonderful to work with!