Fresh from the Kiln
Photos from the 2007 Wisconsin Renaissance Faire (and lots of other Faires!) |
Costume Trim
Here's where you can find that perfect beaded trim. Most of the trim I make can stretch by about 5-10%, just because of the way it's made. That means that you can put it around your waist or across your front, and you won't have to worry about having an explosion of beads if you happen to lean forward or take a deep breath. I string with the thickest, strongest bead thread I can use and have it still go through the holes. I haven't yet had a problem with anything breaking. However, if you are worried, or expect to have an item put through a particularly rigorous adventure, let me know, and I can reinforce it with softflex beading wire, which is mighty nice stuff. It'll reduce the stretchiness, but give you a lot more durability. I can easily make trims to custom lengths, but if you would like, for many of the designs here, I can just make X number of feet, and you can cut it, and just remove the few extra beads, then put a dab of glue at the edges. If you're planning to do that, though, LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME. I put in lots of knots as I'm going, but if you're going to whack off a length, I'll put in double knots instead of half hitches. Someday, I'm going to do beaded trim like in the portrait of Eleonora of Toledo with her son Giovanni de' Medici by Agnolo Bronzino, c.1544-45, with that fabulous netting over the shoulders. Of course, then I'd have to find someone who's making the rest of the dress who needs the trim, since I'm not a costumer, and I can't even begin to eyeball the size and shape that the netting should be. Mostly, I just want to see if I can do it. Click any of the images for a larger version. The grid lines are one inch squares.
Basic Heirloom NetThis is the most basic of my netting styles. It is quite flexible, and can be made to go around gentle curves. It is symmetrical top to bottom. It can be stitched down, or, as shown in the bottom picture, you can attach either end to pins and use it across the front of a bodice or doublet. It is probably not strong enough to support the weight of a cloak, but if that's something that interests you, let me know, and I'll see what I can do. I can do monochrome or patterns. |
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Half-Heirloom NetThis netting style makes wonderful necklaces (tie in back with a ribbon for authenticity, or I can add a clasp). They are similar to the portrait of Elizabeth Brydges, 1589. I can make them in any color, glass or gem (my next project is a half-heirloom out of rice pearls). These are not as stretchy as the full heirloom, and tend to only curve in one direction (or straight). From top to bottom: 1. gold (glass) and silver-plated beads, 2. gold (glass), s-p beads and ruby-colored faceted glass teardrops, 3. hematite and glass, 4. gold and copper colored glass beads, 5. purple and mauve and gold glass mix because I was in a weird mood. These were done with fairly large beads, just because that was what I was in the mood to do at the time I was making them. I can certainly go smaller. |
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Other NettingThese don't really have names, they're just assorted types of netting. The top is almost a half heirloom, but not, and the bottom uses a combination of gold czech seed beads and clear czech faceted fire-polished beads. |
 
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Other Other NettingIs it really netting? The first needs to be ordered to length, it should not be cut unless you want a lot of loose beads. The second seems to want to curve, although it does go straight with some coaxing. I'm thinking the second would make for some really nice embellishment, possibly at the shoulder or cuff. |
