I cleaned out my purse the other day, changing bags for the season as you will, and I found a bead I didn't even know I had. Which, as any of us crafters know, it's unusual in and of itself. We all have our stashes. We all have things tucked away that we might use, someday, when the mood strikes. In this case, though, I was surprised because it was a hunk of blue coral. I don't particularly like blue coral. It's too dark, for one thing and in general, not usually my cup of tea. Still, I had this piece and I hadn't beaded in a long time.
So off I went to my newly organized supplies to see what I had to go with that gray blue of the coral. Almost a faded denim color, I didn't want to match it with my usual pearls. At least, not entirely. As it happens, I lucked out. I found my gorgeous kyanite pillows that I'd had no idea what to do with. Then I found a strand of aquamarine drops. Add in the tiny freshwater pearls for spacers and.... Voila!
I would have chosen silver, but I just didn't have anything substantial enough. The pearls, just visible there at the top, were rough enough to do the trick. What I thought particularly interesting is the way the kyanite, cut into such formal, elegant shapes, went so well with the more irregular shapes of the coral, aquamarine and pearl.
I also got out some fine silver chain, thinking that I could drape it along the strung beads or intersperse it, but I wasn't sure how. Still, it was part of the mix. So I put everything on the board and left it to sit for a while. Then, I took the kyanite and aquamarine off their temporary string to see how they all laid together. I was right, they were perfect together.
Now, to find the perfect pattern.... (To be continued)
--Mina
