New Bead: Confirmation Design

I've always been fascinated by arabesque designs and have wanted to try them out on same clay beads for some years, but just never got around to it.  Very popular in polymer clay designs right now is the repeating kaleidoscope designs, which- when done skillfully, can look very much like an arabesque design like those done by famous designers Donna Kato and Carol Simmons.  I was even thinking about doing the kaleidoscope workshop in February at Laurel, MD, which isn't that far from me, but the thought of spending $400.00 for a couple days during which I may learn a couple things, was not worth it to me.  I decided the best way was just to get my hands dirty. 

I had wanted to incorporate the dove into a kaleidoscope design where I would use red for the symbol of confirmation so I pulled up a couple arabesque designs that inspired me and set to work. 

The concept of the kaleidoscope bead is very simple. Just like a kaleidoscope you look through, the pattern is repeated in a triangular design.  Here is what my triangle looked like when it was finished. 

I wanted a couple of things to be clear- like the dove and the hearts and the three dots above the doves head (for the symbol of the Holy Trinity), but the rest was just for beauty.  When I finished, I thought it looked very Scandinavian- oh well, I keep trying for arabesque!

It won't make a very good Hail Mary bead because the elements of the design will be lost, so I am mostly using it for my new confirmation rosary.  This design will be used for the Pater beads and the centerpiece.  It will also make a pretty pendant.