Tips and Art Gallery

Tips from Judy Walker, bead artist from Monrovia, California.

"I find that the dichroic Aikos look best when used sparingly. One bead at the tip of each fringe when there are many fringes, a thin line of them accenting another color area, etc. I made some twisted fringe, and I thought to use half dichroic Aikos and half matte black, so the dichro would twist around the black. But it didn't look very good, because the twisted fringes were too close together and the dichroic effect seemed diluted. I ended up undoing it, and redoing it as all black twisted fringe with three dichroic Aikos as a picot at the end of each fringe. Looked much better.

"I also believe they look best against dark matte beads, for maximum contrast. If you combine them with shiny silver-lined beads, they lose some of their effect. I like them combined with 310 matte black, and with matte dark blue iris (can't remember the delica number for that one off hand). They really blaze out against a dark background. I've found they don't look as good beaded into a large area, partly because of the inevitable small areas of black uncoated areas on the beads gives a large beaded area a mottled look. But they look great in a straight line. The uncoated areas don't have a negative effect in that case-they don't seem to break up a continuing line one or two beads wide.

So in general, I believe restraint and contrast are the keys. Additionally, I like to place them where they'll move- on the end of a fringe, swinging or moving somehow, so they catch the light.
Hope that's helpful!
-Judy"

Faux Coral - by Judy Walker, Monrovia, CA Bead Artist and Teacher www.walkerpublications.com judywalker@pobox.com	Polygon Necklace, by Linda Lehman, Silver Spring, MD, Bead Artist and Teacher Author of “Bead Crochet Jewelry: Tips, Tricks, and 15 Beautiful Projects” www.emporiumofwearableart.com
	You can click images for enlargement.
Long Vee - by Judy Walker, Monrovia, CA Bead Artist and Teacher www.walkerpublications.com judywalker@pobox.com	Tassel Pendant - by Judy Walker, Monrovia, CA Bead Artist and Teacher www.walkerpublications.com judywalker@pobox.com
Blue Sky as Ocean's Blue- neckace, by Louise Hill www.louisehilldesigns.com www.louisehilldesigns.com	Two necklaces by Les Perles de Frany: Coral Necklace by Les Perles de Frany Necklace in honor of Louise Hill http://frany.koms.info
Leland Eye, by Laura McCabe, Mystic CT www.justletmebead.com