The Second Skirt
Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 05:42PM 
Here is the second skirt in the series of 7 dolls I am working on. I painted a tree onto a black piece of ultrasuede with bronze golden fluid acrylic paint. To make the foliage, I used the same paint watered down with acrylic glazing liquid and titan buff paint--I dipped a q-tip into the paint and dabbed it on to make the little circles. I like q-tips. I stitched tiny potato and rice shaped fresh water pearls to the ends of some branches to enhance the foliage.
I wanted to accent the tree with something dimensional. I remembered seeing those neat little wire birds' nests and did a google search to see if I could find an idea on how to make them. I found a little tutorial and a great blog on "Just something I made."
I went to Shipwreck beads (a huge bead store about a mile away from my day job) and picked out large freshwater pearls to make 'eggs.' I spent about an hour and a half perusing the bead aisles. If you haven't been there, Shipwreck beads is akin to a large gymnasium full of nothing but aisles and aisles of beads/charms/findings. I found a few other beads and bits I had to have...but I did get out for less than $30, so yay me ;p. Below is a picture of the store I pilfered from their website. They have a gallery with more store pictures.
Enough distractions...On to skirt number three! :]
Reader Comments (6)
Holy moly, that is SOME mega bead store. I've only ever seen their catalog in the past.
That skirt looks fabulous. Anticipation is growing to see what these ladies are going to look like. Can't wait.
Gorgeous skirt Jess, and I really like the nest with pearl egg embellishment - also the other small bead and pearls you added to the foliage. Beautiful!
OMG...that store is amazing! I would have been hours in there (and I'm sure I would have spent more than $30.00)
PS: I like the look of your blog!
Your entries are such fun; I look forward to each new one. Could I steal 1/8 of your imagination?
The bead store reminds me of Fabric Depot in Portland. You can't get out of there in less than two hours.
Linda, Sue & Bobbie thank you for the comments on the second skirt :]. I am having fun taking my time with these and I seem to be on a painting kick.
That last trip to the Shipwreck bead store was taken on my day job lunch break on Saturday, so 1.5 hours was pushing it. I have spent quite a bit there in the past--it is so close and tempting. :]
That skirt is amazing! I love the tree! It is really gorgeous! I am so wishing I had a bead store like that around here! LOL! That looks like TONS of fun!
Thank you :].
I just noticed the happy row of surveillance cameras in the bead store pics. I'll bet their security has a time determining theft for teeny tiny beads and packages.