Faux Shisha

by Cynthia Tinapple on April 27, 2011

These new mirrored beads delight me so I thought I’d share them with you. I’ve always been drawn to Shisha embroidery (you know, those wonderful textiles with mirrors). Seeing how Maria Airoldi applied small nail glitter pieces to her beads gave me big ideas.

All that I learned about working small and intensely in the Cynthia Toops’ class was brought to bear on this project. Thin cane slices were individually applied to a black bead. I felt like I’d hit a new vein of creativity.

The small hexagonal pieces of glitter bake tightly onto the raw clay with no adhesive necessary. Cynthia Toops’ faux heishi beads are cut from thin sheets of baked clay with a paper punch. These beads represent a collaboration of many ideas from artists around the world.

Dayle Doroshow will draw a random number for the book giveaway (see Tuesday’s post) on Friday afternoon. We love all the comments! Thanks.

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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }

Cindy Walcott April 27, 2011 at 7:16 am

It is always fun when you show us your own work, Cynthia. I suspect that we are of similar age — I remember wearing clothes with mirrored embroidery as a teen!

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Lennie Poitras April 27, 2011 at 7:36 am

I love your site…You are so wonderful to always have a new posting, I look forward to it every day first thing and wonder why so few artists do that…Thanks!

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Melinda Hayes April 27, 2011 at 8:09 am

Love this idea. Have seen the large hexagonal glitter and thought hmmmm what to do with it! Now I know.

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Norma Agron April 27, 2011 at 8:52 am

Gorgeous beads! Love the colors.

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jan montarsi April 27, 2011 at 10:19 am

Love them Cynthia!!
Where did you find the glitter I been looking everywhere, sally beauty supply
doesn’t have any BUT I was surprised to find them selling tiny cane slices to apply to finger nails.

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Cynthia Tinapple April 27, 2011 at 7:36 pm

Kitkraft.biz has them. I’m looking for more sizes. Ideas?

ct

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jan montarsi April 28, 2011 at 12:04 am

Thank you Cynthia,
If you find more let us know
what are they actually called or the product name ?

thanks again for the info and your wonderful site
jan

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Cynthia Tinapple April 28, 2011 at 1:10 am
Jackie April 28, 2011 at 1:40 am

Wow these are amazing what a great idea to use the glitter with the beads I bet they look lovely in real life with all that sparkle!

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Lori April 28, 2011 at 1:58 am

Wow! Refreshing tonsee something new and different. LOVE the little mirrors!
I agree with the others – any info on their whereabouts, mfgrs or importers would be greatly appreciated! I teach classes to beginners and these people get bored so quickly. Any tiny uniqueness wouls send them on a trip that would keep them from harassing me about Fimo being hard to condition!
Thanks for your ever-flowing trip of uniqueness! Don’t ever stop!

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Wendy Moore April 28, 2011 at 4:58 am

So so magnificent, Cynthia. They look fantastic strung up. It all comes together so well. I hope you are wearing these if I see you some time!!!

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