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Debra Smith - Pandora's Box
In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman created by Hephaestus, Greek god of handicrafts.
Endowed by the gods with all the graces, she was treacherously presented in marriage along with the box, in which all the evils that could trouble mankind were confined.
As the gods had anticipated, Pandora opened the box allowing the evils to escape into the earth.
The outside of the box is done with the Huichol beading technique using beeswax to set the beads on the box. The cabachon is done in a free-hand beading style using the loop stitch featured on my video tape (Beadesigns by Debra) available for order on my website. The clasp on the front of the box is a peyote covered dowel trimmed out in a beaded ruffle. The inside is many, many hours of branch fringe and wicked little charms to depict the release of the woes of the world by Pandora. The branch fringe was sewn on ultrasuede and then the pieces glued into the box. The center of the inside of the box has three springs beaded with the same branch fringe to create a popping up effect when the box is opened and also gives movement when the box is moved. It's creepy! The legs are larger beads with a beaded bead cap done in a ruffley free-form loop stitch.
I've been beading for about 11 years now. I've learned many different techniques from many different sources. Classes from David Chatt, Diane Fitzgerald, NanC Meinhardt, Lisa Nivens and local artists and teachers has given me a diverse background and repetroire of stitches and bead education to guide me.
I have faith in the creative power of God and believe with all my heart that it flows in all of us. The fellowship of being with my sister beaders is inspiring and exhilerating and I love bead retreats. We have a great bead society (The Alaska Bead Society) in this state and their support and ongoing efforts to educate and promote beads and beadwork is invaluable to me
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My website is located at: http://www.alaska.net/~dls. Yes, I'm willing to respond to inquiries by e-mail (dls.nospam@alaska.net). Pandora's Box is currently on display at Alaska Bead Company. It is for sale for $2500.00.