Myrle Borine

My daughter Donna won a plain bag on her cruise.  Of course she had me bead it! Believe it or not, this is the back... And this is the front!

After a year and 200,000 delica beads later  I finished a 3' wide by 4' long beaded quilt.  I was inspired after seeing a quilt show at the Michener Museum.  The second picture shows a close-up detail of the quilt.

 Just like every other beader who becomes infatuated with beads to wear, Myrle fashioned her initial beaded collars the same way as her contemporaries... But why not "frame" the neck with a more traditional shape, accenting the roundness of the face which rises above - right on Myrle!

Like a heart or a song with a steady beat, regular rhythm is created by a series of elements, often identical or similar, that are placed at regular or similar intervals, such as in grids. Patterns are groups of elements or motifs that repeat in a predictable manner, a relatively easy yet complicated thing to do with beads. Take this 12" round sphere of interconnected delica patterns which Myrle has entitled, "My World," where oh where to look first...

When motifs or elements are repeated or alternated, the intervals between them or how they overlap can create rhythm and a sense of movement. In visual rhythm, design motifs become the beats. Rhythms can be broadly categorized as random, regular, alternating, flowing, and progressive.

Repeated use of a shape, color, or other art element or design in a work can help unify different parts into a whole. The repetition might be limited to only an instance or two: not enough to create a pattern or rhythm, but enough to cause a visual echo and reinforce  or accent certain aspects of the work.

Repeating art elements in regular or cyclical fashion to create interest, movement, harmony and unity holds great appeal for the viewer. Rhythms can be random, regular, alternating, flowing or progressive and include mosaics, lattices, spirals, meanders, waves, symmetry and fractals, as seen in Myrle's hooded bodice beading.

This Peyote stitch pattern on metal frame vessel  was chosen by juror  Bruce W. Pepich Executive Director  of the Racine Art Museum for the Wayne Art Center 2009 Craft Forms Exhibition. The form measures 15" high x 11"wide x 11" deep One day Myrle saw a form similar to this and  decided she wanted to bead something with that same shape.  So she drew up what she wanted and a friend of hers  welded it together for her... Then she went to town! All pattern artists have one thing in common – they all use patterns in their art. The medium or technique is not important as long as someone employs a combination of elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement. When it comes to art, patterns have been used from ancient times. They exist in nature; the repeating units of shape and form can be identified in the world that surrounds us.

The Japanese kimono is one of the world's instantly  recognizable traditional garments.  The word kimono literally means "clothing" and up until the mid 19th century  it was the form of dress worn by everyone in Japan. Myrle's large kimonos are about 22"wide  x 30" high while her smaller ones are 8"wide x 10" high.  When she was just beginning to bead, Myrle visited a museum  and saw a piece of material from an old tomb displayed between  two pieces of glass. It set her to thinking...  what a good way to show both sides of a flat piece!   So she immediately proceeded to display her small one-sided   kimonos between two pieces of Plexiglas.  This means of display wasn't well suited to many exhibitions  so Myrle went to free-standing, clear Lucite stands.  With her new kimono stands, she was able to actually make  more realistic beaded kimonos with both fronts and back...