Erin's work is amazing. She has been looming since she was a child. The techniques she has developed are incredible and take looming to a new level. No more perfectly flat pieces of beaded "fabric". She creates all the designs herself, so each is original. The lecture was the introduction to a series of classes she began teaching at Bead Soup. But, I resisted. I have so many things on my plate, or should I say on my work table, that I didn't need another one! So, I watched what others created in the classes and admired the projects but I resisted! Some of my friends told me I should try it and I resisted. Finally, I decided to take one of Erin's classes. It was a small amulet bag that had a smocked front! Smocking in beads!! I used to smock. I even made a couple of dresses for my daughter when she was a little girl. But, smocking in beads was so intriguing. So, I signed up. This is what we loomed.
The front.
The back.
Detail of the smocking and fringe.
I developed my own fringe design and got to use the fantastic new dagger beads, which I love and have been wanting a project to come along so I could use them. I replaced the silver chain Erin had used on top of the fringe with a spiral rope of silver beads and the last dagger I had in the middle. And, I have a beaded chain pattern that I like so I used that for the neck strap. But, the wonderful smocked beading and the charted flowers are all Erin's!
I enjoyed the class and learning some of Erin's techniques. I probably will never be a committed bead looming person, but I enjoy Erin's designs and so tomorrow I'm taking my second looming class. We'll be making one of two designs for a Fall cuff. I'm doing the leaf cuff which has some interesting techniques that only Erin could come up with. And, I can't resist Fall themed projects of any kind and I love cuff, so I had to do this class! It should be interesting! I'll share when it's finished!
Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
