Well...not exactly. Of the 20 or 30 media (including variations) I've tried, stringing remains perhaps my favorite. It certainly is the craft I've practiced longest and feel most competent.
Because the initial learning curve is so low and the initial outlay so small (you can buy all the tools you need for $50), and because, frankly, it's so often so badly done, beadstringing has an undeserved reputation as not being “real” art.
I beg to differ. It's the idea, not the medium, that ultimately makes the difference. I would even argue that it's the idea, not virtuosity, that really counts. That said, stringing can be as challanging and difficult to do as any other medium. Beadstringing may look simple, but to make a long lasting and attractive necklace requires some attention to detail. There are tips and tricks to stringing, as with everything else.
Whether I'll ever get around to scanning some of the really old images (those available on paper or film) remains to be seen, but I think the following gives some sense of my ideas. Stuff with lampwork is gonna be newer (2000s). Stone bead focals mean the piece is probably made in the 1990s. And gee, just to make it obvious, I've put price tags on the stuff that's for sale. If you're interested, email me. I also do commissions.
Inspired by stockings, this is the 2nd in a series of abstract wall-hangings/mini-quilts. Originally posted 27apr09.
Inspired by stockings, this is the Ist in a series of abstract wall-hangings/mini-quilts. Originally posted 23apr09.
One of the Friday night icebreakers at the 2009 glassact retreat was to make this beadsoup necklace . Originally posted 04apr09.
I convert a three hole bead into this luscious spring fantasy necklace . Originally posted 03nov08.
2 pairs of candy corn earrings made for two daughters. Originally posted 27oct08.
Purple, green and fuchsia 3 dangle hoop earring circa 1992. Originally posted 05oct08.
This piece was one of my earliest pages, then dropped off because I wanted a better picture, and so of course I forgot about it, until I needed to refer to it for another post. The original probably dates back to '96, but this version was first posted 02oct08.
Crystal and gold-fill earwrap made for me by Page. Originally posted 17nov08
Multi-strand necklace featuring customer-provided fuchsia freshwater pearls, amethyst, garnet, copper, silver and glass beads made to match a pair of earrings. Private collection, 2007.
Kids are natural designers, as this page demonstrates when several of my nieces and nephews had a post-holiday stringing party. Originally posted 28dec06.
Multi-strand freshwater pearl, moonstone, white pixie and bali silver bracelet made to match a similiar necklace . Originally posted 09dec06. (Private collection.)
As the number one object of inquiry and interest on my website, the bead curtain has now got its very own directory , (though I've left the old links in place) which includes some new (as of apr06) howtos, finishing the bottom , step by step design decisions for a single bead curtain strand, and...
Freshwater pearl and silver necklace. Strung summer 06, originally posted 18oct06. (Private collection).
Two multi-strand freshwater pearl and silver bracelets 2002, originally posted 17oct06. Whereabouts unknown.
Faux Ametrine necklace featuring hollow lampwork and PMC.
Moss Necklace originally posted 19jul06 . Private collection.
An actual new piece of stringing, the first in months . Multistrand garnet, onyx, glass and silver necklace with antique curliQ focal, ending with 8 strands of fringe. (Well, not counting those two bracelets I made for my sister, that I had to cobble together without access to my studio and its...
Another post a long time in the making: I started the necklace around the end of 2004, maybe. Failed to do a very good job photographing on the first two tries, finally got something marginally acceptable on the third.
I made this...um, I think before we moved. Say it's five years old or so. At any rate, I couldn't sell it, couldn't even give it away; it was such a resounding failure I tore it apart to harvest the beads for the lowly bead curtain. Now that silvered stringing cable is available, I wouldn't e...
I've updated the stringing howtos link to reflect the fact that at some point in time I collected the various posts, some of which used to be listed below, together on their own page. Scattershot to be sure, but at least there are now instructions for making bead curtain strands . Updated 0...
See also the index page I created specifically to document collaborations between Page and me . 23aug05
Shows a couple of in-progress shots of a necklace , and a lot of mess, but very little in the way concrete tips or tricks.
An idea a decade or more old finally comes to fruition —with a couple of techniques (bead crochet and glass beadmaking) added along the way.
More playing with pis ; early 90s? (posted 14aug04)
This sub-index page points you to a series of necklaces I consider to be more-or-less unique in their basic concept to me, and in which I discuss, a bit, some design philosophies. Much of that same philosophy is explicated in excrutiating detail up in the bead curtain howto posts.
A clean singlestrand design (private collections)
Early freeform designs, one by Page Kaczynski. Collection of the artist.
Serpentine & shell strung with kumied silk. Collection of the artist.
The start of a series... (whereabouts unknown)
Cats and fish chase each other in a silvery sea—new sep/02 Collection of Ms. Agnes Clark.
Unakite in many hues. Collection of the artist.
3 strand fantasy —another old necklace (new page, 27dec03) (private collection).
Trading is fun : polymer clay by Imagine. Collection of the artist.
Pink rhodonite flower serves as an accent.
My first really inventive design . Collection of the artist.
Something old, something new, something blue... (private collection)
...and it continues to evolve.
My favorite opaque stone , or the-multi-strand-into-a-silk-braid style reaches its height. Collection of the artist.
A clean multistrand design . Status unknown.
Turquoise & Pink Rhodonite
My favorite transparent stone, or two tourmaline necklaces , one showing `2into1'. Collection of the artist.
Though the necklace is old , the page is new. (07dec03)
Bead curtain directory & howtostring index added 05may06; moss & ametrine lampwork; fwp pieces; prices for items available for sale, and blurb, all added 18oct06...
Unless otherwise noted, text, image and objects depicted therein copyright 1996--present sylvus tarn.
