soutache statement necklace

"midnight leaves"

(statement necklace made with soutache cord, tilapia leather ,

vintage  cabochons, beads, pearls and rhinestone chain, all from john bead )

 

last summer my friend carmi gave me a preview copy of

 Fernando DaSilva's soutache book

asking me to create a few small samples

well little did she know that I would become addicted!!

a few months ago I was commissioned to create the a showcase piece for John Bead

using their  fabulous line of soutache cords

The necklace was displayed in their “New Innovations” booth at the

 Craft and Hobby show earlier this month

it was a pleasure to work with Fernando, 

at our first meeting I presented my ideas and

 with his guidance and materials selections i immediately got to work

  with his  full confidence in my artist abilities it was easy to get carried away

"the bigger the better"

I started out creating individual pieces, once I had about 20 components made

I started "collaging" them into groups

moving them around constantly until I found a combination I liked

every day I would work on a few pieces and whenever I walked by

my work table I would stop and rearrange

it took me a month to complete using over 50 yards of soutache cord!!

 

i am so grateful to John Bead for giving me this opportunity

( I would have never made anything this big)

thanks carmi for introducing me to Fernando and soutache!