Shiny Things Gallery | Dragons | Beaded

They're shiny 'cause they're beads!

Autumn Baby Jewel Dragon Twins

Autumn Baby Jewel Dragon Twins

04 March 2017
Two curious jewel dragon hatchlings, ready to explore the world! And have a snack. And take a nap. You know, the truly important things in life.

I've been making these baby jewel dragons off and on for a while now, but I'd always been a little worried about their stability. Sure, everyone ought to know to be gentle with tiny handmade things like this, and I never received any complaints, but even so I just wanted to make them overall sturdier with enhanced stability just to be sure they'd stand the test of time. These two are the fruits of testing and labor and so much cursing and complaining, but the results are spectacular and extremely sturdy. They're still a little squishy and flexible, but overall the body, wings and limbs are much more stable than previous attempts. ...The downside here is that they take an awful lot longer to make (read: much more work) than previous attempts, but it's a worthwhile trade-off.

Still, I mean. Aren't they worth it?
(For Sale)
Vesta

Vesta

18 February 2015

Winged fire serpents like Vesta may not be what you'd expect. Oh yes, they carry the family lines of ancients, of great and powerful creatures which roamed worlds long before we can imagine. It's just that now, here on this planet of Earth, they've come to be so very small. Fitting in the palm of your hand small. But oh, they are no less fierce! But if you'll share your lunch with them, I bet you'll have a grateful buddy who is totally willing to light your barbecue for you.

So I wanted to do something a little different from my jewel dragons. From the moment I picked out the colors, I knew exactly what she was going to be; but this poor girl waited so very patiently to be worked on between other projects, and I'm happy that I finally managed to finish her. Unlike her beaded kin before her, she's not specifically designed for poseability, but for being sturdily reinforced to hold that pose. (Which isn't to say that small adjustments can't be made, but she's meant to be static.) I just really loved the idea of the dramatic pose, wings out, her lower wings supporting her as she gets ready to fly. I am deeply pleased with the result.

About those colors by the way... her body is comprised of beads I'd been hoarding away for a very long time. Long enough to find that they've been discontinued since. The wail I let out was not dignified. These things happen way too often. So, technically, her eyes, the 6 crystals on her lower wings, the dark red beads that make up most of her body, and the fabric of her wings, have all been discontinued over the years. This seems cruel. (Sold.)

Purple Iris Dragon

Purple Iris Dragon

11 September 2014
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)
Baby Jewel Dragon Pendant and Bracelet Set 2/10

Baby Jewel Dragon Pendant and Bracelet Set 2/10

02 June 2014

Preferred element: earth
Current favorite food: flowers (violets in particular)
Sex: male
Size: 2 inches long, 1.5 inch wingspan

Jewel dragon mothers are the most notorious for gathering a pile of shiny stones with which to circle their nest. Once their clutch starts to hatch, the babies naturally gravitate toward one stone in particular, partially "feeding" from it for the next several months. Here you'll find all you need to care for a baby jewel dragon, should you choose to take one into your home.

Accidentally made an EVA dragon.  2/10 completed.  I sure don't want to say this little guy was any easier than the last one, but at least I've kind of developed a little muscle memory for them now.  Enough.

Funny/tragic: while I was coating the stone with clear enamel, some green dye started to come off on my brush.  (That hadn't happened with the previous stone.)  I was close to being enormously frustrated until I realized that the dye was mixing beautifully with the enamel and of course the effect is impossible to properly photograph, but the green is so very, very GREEN everywhere rather than in just certain places.  It worked out beautifully.  And thanks to the fully cured enamel, there's no worry about the dye running ever again.

(For Sale)

Baby Jewel Dragon Pendant and Bracelet Set 1/10

Baby Jewel Dragon Pendant and Bracelet Set 1/10

29 May 2014

Preferred element: water
Current favorite food: fruit (all of it)
Sex: female
Size: 2 inches long, 1.5 inch wingspan

Jewel dragon mothers are the most notorious for gathering a pile of shiny stones with which to circle their nest.  Once their clutch starts to hatch, the babies naturally gravitate toward one stone in particular, partially "feeding" from it for the next several months.  Here you'll find all you need to care for a baby jewel dragon, should you choose to take one into your home.

Baby Jewel Dragon Pendant and Bracelet Set 1/10.  Yup, 10.  Ten.  First.  Of ten.  What am I doing.

I had this idea in my mind for a very long time, picking up an intensely gorgeous set of "fancy onyx" (brilliantly heated and dyed onyx to make the most spectacular color combinations).  It was a spiral of inspiration and insanity from there, I suppose.  I enjoy the result: a reversible, adjustable bracelet and a little dragon pendant which can also be converted into a bracelet.  Full disclosure: the baby dragon pendant is so comfortable with the satin cord that I forgot I was wearing it while I was dumping and editing the pictures right up until I went to scratch my neck and had a "WHAT THE HELL IS--oh" moment.

(For Sale)

Lani

Lani

28 March 2014

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.)

Adariel

Adariel

27 June 2013

Adariel is most certainly independently-minded, truly appreciating the people who know the difference between having a strong will and being pushy or closed off.  Even so, she's happy to encourage the uncertain and the timid to find their own voice and sing.

Well.  I had something completely different in mind when I started this project.  It's all the better for running off in a totally different direction, though.  The wings from start to finish were a wince-inducing four-day project, in part due to the several different types of stabilizing and reinforcing necessary to make certain that two points could distribute the weight without problem.  (Sure she only weights 0.8 ounces, but I'm thorough.)  And after the project shifted dramatically, I was aware that I would probably need more beads only to find... those exact type/color combination were no longer manufactured.  Well.  That's where the lovely light mint green diamonds on her back and stomach come from.  Necessity is the mother of... something.  Beads?

Ultimately, she's designed to hang somewhere.  Around a neck as a necklace, on a hook somewhere to show off her loveliness; whatever.  And with Swarovski crystals for eyes and two swirled green "moonglow" beads as tail accents, there's quite a lot of sparkly loveliness to show off.

(Sold)

 
Nienne

Nienne

15 March 2013

Nienne is a jewel dragon who loves night life in the city.  Or rather, he enjoys hanging around city parks and observing all of the interesting people who pass by at night.  His very favorite things are fireworks in the summer, but he doesn't mind a little stargazing with is people watching.  If you happen to be out for a stroll on a nice evening, and particularly if you have some peanuts to spare, he may just pay you a visit.

Oh, man.  I was aiming for "simple".  I mean, kind of.  Compared to... I'm not sure, exactly; point being, I kind of simplified a little.  And wound up deciding that what I really wanted to do was reinforce the little guy's wings so they could be fully extended without problem.  I succeeded!  ...And in in process managed to work some wire loose in the wings and then had to do things over and there was a little bit of screaming and some cursing I'd rather not repeat, but Nienne was obviously grateful so no harm done.  This resulted in stable but still perfectly flexible wings to go with the rest of his fully poseable (legs, toes, neck, waist, tail, and of course wings) form.  I quite happily managed to improve the internal structure as well; so while there aren't many poses in these pictures, so many more are possible and easily held.  (What can I say; I'm confident in the stability of my work, but I'm still the artist so I'm stupidly careful about it too.)

Ultimately this guy has a full wingspan of 9 inches, is about 5.5 inches from the tip of his nose to his tail, and stands at about 2 inches tall at the shoulder.  He was made by hand with love and beads and passion and thread and beads and wire and fabric and beads and hand aches.  And some beads.

(Sold.)