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Beads can add sparkle to home, garden decor By Bethany Waldrop Keiper . "Art is the sun, moon, and stars of the mind, the whole mind." -- Samuel BeckettThis column is dedicated to the memory of Miss Lucile, who loved butterflies so much. The beauty of many beads makes me want to incorporate them into designs around my home, moving past the traditional jewelry styles. Mobiles are a great way to do this, and show off your favorite beads. Mobiles also give people who do not wear jewelry the opportunity to enjoy beads. Mobiles are actually considered sculpture, but not your traditional kind. They are referred to as "kinetic sculpture," since the parts move, and movement is actually part of the design.The idea for my mobiles came from shopping at my local dollar store -- in the toy section. The plastic glow-in-the-dark butterflies and stars I found there are available in most dollar stores, discount stores, or specialty stores with a science or nature section. I've also seen plastic glow-in-the-dark planets, sea creatures, flowers, smiley faces, and peace signs. I used these plastic pieces as the tops for the mobiles, at the bottom of the mobiles' strands, and even some places in between. They help add interest, a sturdy item to attach your beads to, a means of catching a breeze, and a soft glow at night.Of course, when I set out to make my first mobile, I figured that it would be logical to start at the top and work down, which, naturally, is not the way to do it at all. To learn to properly construct a mobile, I consulted Timothy Rose, a professional mobile sculptor, via his website, http://www.mobilesculpture.com. Rose has been creating mobile sculpture for more than 30 years. The secret, according to Rose, is to start from the bottom and work to the top. There are a great many ways to design mobiles, but the assembly should always start at the bottom. First, find or make the shapes you want to work with, and arrange them on a large piece of paper. Draw lines connecting the bottom or end pieces.Next, begin to wire (or string, in my case) the pieces together. Start with the small end pieces first, and then connect the middle systems together. Finally, balance the top. Rose suggests connecting the middle systems to the top bar, balancing the mobile, and then hanging up your new creation. With Rose's advice, you can make beautiful, complex mobiles with any materials. I started with simple, single-strand ornaments or mobiles. Sunshine-yellow beads and pretty butterflies made a perfect match for a single-strand home or garden mobile.
Choose a strong, clear thread for your mobile. I like using clear Beadalon Elasticity -- not only for its strength but also for the extra movement or "bounce" it provides. Twist beads are also great for movement -- they really add a nice spin or twirling effect even when they are stationary. Knots or crimps below each beaded section will keep the beads in place. These can be reinforced with a thread-safe glue, such as G/S Hypo Cement if desired. It is safe for Beadalon wire, Elasticity and SuppleMax.
The simple designs I have created stand very, very small in the great shadow of the mobile master, Alexander Calder, http://www.calder.org . This American artist changed the way people view art forever with his creation of the first mobile in 1930. Calder has a long and storied history in the art world, and has been a major influence and inspiration for many artists. By the early 1970s, Calder's mobiles were famous worldwide. His kinetic sculptures ranged in size from the monumental to jewelry-sized. Jewelry-sized? I wonder what he would have created with a handful of sparkling lampworked beads... something wonderful, I am sure. References:Timothy Rose, professional artist, http://www.mobilesculpture.com Calder Foundation website, http://www.calder.org Butterfly beads, fish beads, luster star beads, heart beads, and firepolished citrine and sky blue beads courtesy of the Bead Peddler.
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