October Art Bead Scene Challenge

Title: Madame De Pompadour  By: Francois Boucher

           Date: 1756  Medium: Oil on Canvas

color palette

October's Art Bead Scene Challenge is inspired by Madame De Pompadour.   Francois Boucher is the artist.  His colorful Rococo style portrait has rich colors.   Roccoco was developed in the early 18th century in Paris.   Rococo artists and architects used a more jocular, florid, and graceful approach to the Baroque.  

I focused on the colors in the painting rather than the content.  I love the light turquoise blue and deeper turquoise in the painting. For my color palette I decided to add the light flesh colors and peach colors to the blues.

Crocheted Seahorse Necklace by BayMoonDesign

 I used a lovely seahorse pendant by SheriMallery as my focal in the necklace.   I then enlarged the size of the focal by combining some textured beads, copper jump rings and copper spacers. 

I recently watched a Heather Powers video on bead crocheting. I have been wire crocheting necklaces and bracelets for years so I was interested in seeing a new style. I wasn't disappointed. Heather recommended using C-Lon .5mm or S-Lon medium weight thread and a crochet hook size 8 or 1.5mm.  and seed beads. Let me tell you--it is much easier on the hands to use thread compared to wire.  Right away I knew I had to get some of that thread.  Heather used a bead spinner to place the beads on the thread which is genius.  The key to using the spinner is to use a big eye needle with your thread to easily string your beads.  I didn't know about the needle and I was never able to use the spinner effectively.  It took some time to master the bead spinner, but it was worth the time investment.  I have mastered it and it saves a ton of time.  For this necklace  I strung 16″ of peanut seed beads before I started crocheting.  I recommend watching the Heather Powers video  for step by step directions.

Crocheted Seahorse Necklace by BayMoonDesign

I love the technique ! Give it a try and let me know how you like it.