Mage's Familiar

The truth of the mage's familiar (at least in Rideum) is a little different than what standard tales will tell. It's not a "real animal", and it's not some entity disguised; but a mage's familiar is certainly a companion that they keep with them when they are to take a long journey away from home. It is their connection, their reminder, and indeed many times in the past it has served as the power to bring them back home. When a mage is either selected to, or elects to, use their gifts for some benefit of family or kingdom, then their family (and not merely by bloodline relations; magic cares not for blood, but for heart) gathers together to construct a familiar. No matter what skills they may have individually, from youngest to eldest, they contribute a part of building the familiar so that every stitch, every bit of paint, every bead so very carefully placed will be bound together with one will: to return the mage safely home. Some familiars have been stuffed with patches of clothing from every family member, while others have been decorated with beads from necklaces passed down many generations. Still others are simply constructed of socks and sawdust. (Magic cares not for material wealth, either; the value of will cannot be counted in coins.)

Between you and me, I'm fairly certain this little familiar will get the journey of a lifetime--and safely see their mage home.

So I sketched out a little pattern. Inked it, cut it out. Had some of this almost micro-suede fabric (it's not technically micro-suede, but it feels almost exactly like it; so soft) and decided to oh so carefully transfer the pattern lines and do a test with just a plain, simple, traditional plush. I should have known better. I was all the way through cutting out the pattern when inklings of this story, this creature's origin, started coming to mind. I had already sewn the back and belly when everything was becoming more clear and then... well, it should be more rustic, right? Out the window go the old plans, stomping straight into the front door come the new ones, and... here. I've been wanting to try that old-style "rustic" doll articulation, anyway. And I wanted to play with the idea of little stiffened/reinforced fabric "scales" here and there. So I can't really complain. Just sit back in awe and wonder what happened as usual.

This lovely critter cannot and was not intended to stand on its own, but drapes over one's hand or lap very easily. I mean, this is really soft fabric. And really smooth beads. And is seriously just a nice tactile experience. Entirely hand-sewn, no machine, because I continue to be insane and questionably intelligent. Wings are "unfilled" and "un-wired", but do swivel. Hips, shoulders, knees and elbows are all articulated. I'd intended for the head to turn too, but... the mock-up just did not look right. I like this better, anyway. (For Sale)

Purple Iris Dragon

It's rare for a person to actually see an iris dragon, or at least to recognize one. They're quite good at hiding, folding up their wings in such a way as to trick the eye into thinking they're just another fancy iris. By the time there's any realization that a second look is needed, they've fluttered off to some more flowers. More fascination comes in the fact that they don't even need eyes to "see" their environment; the "teardrops" that hang down from their tail are more advanced and sensitive than any insect's antennae. If by some chance you do manage to see one that isn't hiding, they tend to like gentle rubs on their backs, right between the wings. They're very soft and fuzzy there.

I'd had a very vague idea of this lovely creature somewhere around the time when I started working on the first Desert Bus 2014 chocobo. I even started the body and basic wire structure between chocobos. After I'd finished all of my Desert Bus work, I came back to this and had intended it to be simple. Yes, I should have known better. But I really love the result. The body is real silk velvet in a rich purple, with the purple beads being dark amethyst and the white ones being opalite. Then just so many glass beads, so much wire and finally a decent use for that plastic-feeling beading thread. And they're a pin/brooch! Because I don't do practical unless I'm paid in advance. (For Sale)

Beaded Mask Commission

Coming off a little rest period from the Materia Cuff commission, some very lovely and magnificent person actually asked me if I could do a fantasy beaded mask blending elements of both my (DFMW) Beaded Chainmaile Mask and Submerging.  I could not say “YES” quickly enough.

The basic idea behind the beaded curtain was to hide the eyes while still allowing vision.  To my surprise, it worked!  I mean, er, to my absolute expertise in these matters.  Yes.  Ahem.  Every hanging strand ends in either a single gold delica bead and a crimson-burgundy freshwater pearl drop, or a light gold Swarovski crystal with a red glass drop.  While the front is notably more heavy that the rest, the way the diamond pattern rests against and around the head actually distributes the weight in a way that doesn’t make it feel like your neck is always fighting with it.

All in all, I’m extremely happy with how this came out.  Thank you so much to the commissioner for the opportunity!

Lani

Lani's the curious type. She'll follow a stream to its source, then turn right back around and follow it to where it ends. The problem is, she's still small and young, in need of a traveling companion (and a place to rest).

At this point in time, this is what I'm calling a "simple project".  Her body was beadwoven, then gently "stuffed" to keep her dimensions (and so you can gently squeeze her while pinning or unpinning without worry about changing her shape). Her wings are handmade paper (that I've had and not made much use of for way too long) over a wire frame, strengthened with several layers of a clear material that leaves a lovely gloss behind. Of course she also sports 10 genuine Swarovski crystals (yes, her eyes are two different colors) and 5 absolutely lovely green goldstone beads. Her wings and body are somewhat flexible, allowing her to move and flex along with her chosen companion, whoever that may be.

(Sold.)

Akanksha

Akanksha isn't quite one of those magical fish who grants wishes.  If a cruel person catches her, then what she whispers in their ear is the truth of their cruelty, and how the rest of the world is pained by such actions.  If a kind person catches her, she will whisper to them of the good things that they have done, and encourage them about the good things that are still left to do.

Fitting, then, that Akanksha would be a barrette. I'd just been looking at images of koi and fighting fish and... decided to try something different?  I have no other explanation.  And I finally found a use for beading thread, at long last!  Ahem.  Those larger beads are mostly gemstone (and argh, I can only identify the quartz with any certainty; the rest is "dyed something") and therefore heavy.  Her pectoral fins are wired beads, and her dorsal fin is comprised of only beads a thread, reinforced with iridescent paint so that it's flexible.

(For Sale)

Martian Sunrise

Maybe I've been reading too much classic hard science fiction lately.  Nah, that's not possible.

I just wanted to do something a little different for a bracelet.  Hand sewn, hand beaded super soft fabric managed to get a little "stiffened" and reinforced in the process, sort of turning it into a soft bangle.  The centerpiece is a gorgeous 12mm "red tiger eye" bead that really flares in direct light, giving off a fiber optic type of glow.  I'm rather fond of the semi-rustic look of it, myself.  I'll have to play with this style/method more.

(For Sale)

Goodnight Summer

The rich, lush colors of the last summer evening are tinged with just a touch of gold amongst the greens, a little hint of copper amidst the silver moonlight and dark blues and purples before twilight.  Alas, I will wait for summer's return under a warm blanket with plenty of hot drinks.

Just a little experiment.  I sort of accidentally decided to return to a simplified bit of chainmaile, at first planning to make the entire necklace that way... but then there's always the possibility of pinching, and that's no fun.  I decided instead to simply (FOR ONCE) and make the necklace easily adjustable with less work, less weight, and still keep the look I'd wanted.  Success!

(For Sale)

Ewan

Ewan's shy.  Really he is.  It's just that when he gets the opportunity to shine, he turns out to be a charisma bomb.  He'll play just about any game quietly, but give him a chance at something action-y and he'll be making the kind of moves and commentary that'll have a whole room enamored and laughing.  Well, if you can understand chocobo, that is.

To say that I "went a little overboard" may be an understatement.  I think I rocketed straight to the sea floor only to rip through the molten heart of the planet and emerge on the other side.  But, you know, shiny results!  So beyond just spending however many days (over a week; I refuse to figure out more) making this poseable chocobo with wired legs, head, neck, wings and tail, I spent several weeks hand-sewing and hand-beading his blanket, headpiece, those two decorative "front flaps" (I r a artist I no wurds), all of the various bands for the saddle, then of course formed the saddle and panel armor from scrap leather, added several layers of iridescent gold pigment, and finished off with a little decorative gold chain with three lovely Swarovski crystals and a couple of tail pieces comprised of glass beads and gorgeously dyed jade.  I feel as if I succeeded in... something.

A note on the leather panel armor: it's not so much the weight but the way the weight is carried that makes it necessary to adjust his legs so he's not going to go tumbling forward when the armor is on.  The "tail pieces" are actually counter-weights to help alleviate that problem, but adjustment is still necessary.  There's a whole bunch of stylish combinations to be achieved from all of these pieces, so of course Ewan's set to be a star in any situation.

Very soon he'll be on his way to join Desert Bus for Hope's lovely crowd of awesome goodies.  More on that soon.