Thursday, July 12, 2012

Bead People

(background is a page from a book I made)


In the beginning..........
 there was a multitude of mismatched beads that kept tantalizing me to do something with.
...wire that begged to be twisted and bent...
...little folk that needed to be brought into being,
with character that wanted out..
 I gave in.




This is just after they were born... standing around, testing out their new little legs, stretching their arms..
 but really not knowing what to do with themselves...
  they couldn't even call out to one another as they had no names and all they could say was "Hey you with the Green head"  or....  "You with the Skinny legs"...   but that didn't always get the attention of the one they wanted  as more than one had a green head and they all had skinny legs....



Something needed to be done....
 since each one knew deep inside that they each had their own ideas and thoughts (yes of course, even bead people have their own ideas and thoughts) and  that they were each different...  they deciphered that each one had their own character... and with character they began to choose names for themselves.. and with that they got to know each other even better and they each found a friend that they wanted to hang out with just a little more than any of the rest..
 So here they are, ready or not...  for their introductions.


Beatrice likes ice cream and twisting at her naturally curly hair.

Daphne is a traveler.  Carl is afraid of flying....  She's working on him.

Edmond is the strong silent type... although he texts a lot.

Helene indulges in sweets but Gerard is so much in love he hasn't noticed.

Jasmine likes gardening, 'cause she always thought her head looked like a pea.  

Louise is a Go-Go dancer... Kevin is breaking out in red hot blisters over her.

Margaret is a clothes horse.

Oscar works out constantly on his physique.

Quentin and Rochelle are back-to-the-landers.

... and Sam and Tina are party animals... You'd never know it to look at them!

***

 I only breathe life into them....  when they grow up they do whatever they want.

***

 
 handmade by moi at Desideratum Art Jewelry studio  New Brunswick, Canada

** Update: Feb. 2019... not trying to sell anything on this post... as I am not making them anymore but they were fun to do at the time... although quite time consuming.

37 comments:

Oldfool said...

Great imagination and I like but I'm not piercing any of my body parts and my bride let hers close up years ago.
By the way I see life in about everything except politicians.

Guillaume said...

Great chaarcters!

Steven Cain said...

Ha! It must be raining if you're indoors naming bead people. I luuuuv Beatrice's naturally curly hair!

Deborah Carr said...

Gwen, these are positively brilliant. I love your mind.

Gwen Buchanan said...

OF...no need to poke any strange holes in yourself on my account. And about the politicians...you got that one right!
Thanks Guillaume... without character, what do we have.
Penny, that's a good idea!
Steven.. actually it's been a long hot sunny stretch.. had to get some shade.
Deborah.. I just had a goofy streak to get rid of.

Carol Steel said...

How creative and clever. The names and characters are fantastic...you didn't get all the way through the alphabet though...so more creations are coming? These are neat earring people, especially appealing to those of us who have an odd number of piercings...the endless possibilities.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Carol, haha, good for you.. you noticed the alphabet sequence.. I always like to give myself some kind of guide to start from.

Tracy said...

These are soooo CUTE and very clever, Gwen. They look like they're dancing... Sweet how you've paired them up. Such fun! :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Lynne with an e said...

OMG, your descriptions of these little folk made me LOL, and reduced me to leaving ridiculous acronyms. I absolutely love the stories, and how the earrings are so quirkily and defiantly and proudly mix-and-not-match! I could read a whole book of these illustrated character descriptions.


(On a personal aside, I was recently in Hfx. visiting some mutual friends of ours, Danielle & Paul-- formerly of Cornucopia-- who had such lovely things to say about you and their memorable day in St.Martins).

Cuidado said...

Love them, Gwen. I still make mismatched earrings too but have not named them. Hope you are enjoying this incredible summer.

Valerianna said...

Seeing them close-up and in pairs took it to a whole new level of great!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Tracy, Oh I had nothing to do with matching them up... they did it all by themselves. I've created mini monsters.

Louciao, Your whole idea would be the most fun ever.. once one gets going with silly it is hard to stop.
Ohhhh lucky you, I haven't seen D & P for so long. Thanks for telling me... They are such great people .. somuch enthusiasm, and we always got along so well. very talented son too!

Cuidado, The summer has been fantastic hasn't it?... seems like someone just turned on the Magic button.


Valerianna, their personalities are larger than there little selves.

Acornmoon said...

Gwen, I love those little beady people! I can see them on book marks too, or adorning book bindings, sewn onto linen threads in exposed sewings.

Sharmon Davidson said...

I love, love, love these, Gwen; now i know what everyone is getting for Christmas!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Valerie, I have always believed almost any art form is inspiration or a jumping off point for every other art form ... Glad you mentioned some. Cheers.

Thanks Sharmon... I had a lot of fun with them.

Joanna said...

What fun! I love the names and descriptions.

pauline said...

oh Gwen, these are so friggin' adorable... i so enjoyed this post. You have a fabulous imagination!! Those names had me smiling all the way. I'm catching up with blogs and was looking so forward to visiting you. Hope you're having a wonderful summer. I still plan on making it to your studio before the end of the season. xoxo

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks Joanna, Do any remind you of anyone you know?... maybe that's not safe to mention!


Hi Pauline, Thank you.. Summer is a busy time isn't it.. so many things happening that we all want to take part in.. I think they should make summer twice as long don't you??

jerilanders said...

Gwen, That was so much fun! I loved it. Dear little pea-headed Jasmine is indeed a gardener, Love your imagination. It is quite a gift to pour such personality into little bead people, I would do it too!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Jeri, Now if I could only get these little folks to help around the house..

Falcondawn said...

Hello Gwen Buchanan,

fine work. Looks very interesting, stylish and full of spirit. I like really.

All the best!

Yours sincerely

O. Klastat

http://www.no-extremes.de

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks Olivier, Some of the little folks are a bit self-possessed don't you think. cheers.

rivergardenstudio said...

I love all the fun earings... I love the go-go dancer , actually they are all adorable. Have a happy week. It's almost August!
roxanne

Anet said...

It's as if you could hear their conversations. They are adorable!
Would they be conversing through your head when you wear them?

Falcondawn said...

Self-possessed? You say, you think and you are.

I am :-) Like your creations are. Fine.

Choosing. Interpreting. Sense giving. Refusing, Searching. Finding. Telling. Realising. Admiring. Liking. Rejecting. Criticising. Desiring. Wishing. Offering.

Many ways to see and be. "Crafting" is turning history into reality. Magic. Time travelling. Futuristic and past at same time: wonder. You? No Wonder woman. Gwen.

I leave now here by wishing well. See you soon again, can´t say when.

Yours sincerely, appreciatively and admiringly

O. Klastat

http://www.no-extremes.de
http://www.after-damn-comes-dawn.blogspot.com

Gwen Buchanan said...

Roxanne, yes August is upon us. time moves too fast. Thanks!

Hey Anet, it might get so bad that you can't hear yourself think and you may need ear-plugs as well as the earrings.

Olivier, We try to find fun where we can. Thanks for your many interpretation of the bead Folk. Cheers.

sandy said...

These are great and so fun to look at.

I also loved the "fog" photos!

And your hand studies - wonderful.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Thanks Sandy, I have just come back from exploring your new blog and getting caught up on all the things you are sharing.

BumbleVee said...

hahahha....very funny Gwen.... I make up stories about all my neighbours and some sound as familiar as these guys.....
they are all so cute....

BumbleVee said...

your earrings are cute ....not my neighbours ...

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hahahaha... BumbleVee you are the funny one!! Thanks so much.

sandy said...

Well I did see them back in 2012 - but I didn't comment enough - these are fantastic, adorable, and I want all of them!! Love the descriptions of who they are. So glad you posted this again.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Sandy I was looking back over some back posts and I got a chuckle ... Thanks for coming over .. how's California these days?

nancyt said...

these are fantastic they are such quirky characters the discriptions are right on point i also make jewelry never thought of doing this to make earrings the mismatched beads is what make the earrings your ideas are wonderful it brings charm and personality to the earrings.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hey there NancyT ,Thank you, they were great fun to make.. thinking up things like this really spurs on the imagination. Cheers

Unknown said...

I enjoyed the life you breathe into your creations. The commentaries are wonderful.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Dear 'Unknown" Thank you so much... I should do a new set