INTRODUCING PAT HERKAL AND BEATRIX THE RABBIT

Hi Everyone!

I am so fortunate to know some extraordinary people who create from their hearts. Pat Herkal is one of these artists.  Of course I am thrilled she created this amazing creature with Nicole's BeadBacking.

So In Pat's words here is what she did.

I started with a rabbit pattern I purchased from Cynthia Treen on Etsy. Her bunny is about 7” tall. I enlarged the pattern then changed or tweaked it to add detail. Beatrix is 17 1/2” tall.

I traced then cut my patterns out of Nicole's BeadBacking adding seam allowances where needed. Much of the head and outer ears were covered with buttons from my mother and grandmother’s button boxes. The inner ears, cheeks and soles of the feet are sequins that my mother used to make Christmas stockings. Ultrasuede is between the ears and down the nose and on the front of the ears. I used silk bits mostly hand dyed by a local fiber artist, some upholstery fabric and velvet bits for the arms, legs and body. I randomly machine stitched the fabric onto the pattern pieces drawn onto the Nicole' s BeadBacking and embellished them with crazy quilt embroidery, beads, a few charms and a broken rhinestone pin and buttons. A friend made me a felted ball and I beaded it for the tail. I used copper wire in the ears, through the head and into the body to add stability and to allow me to move the ears and head as desired. It is put together with a combination of hand and machine stitching. There are 70 pennies in the base to add stability and it is tightly stuffed with fiber fill. Voila! She is quite stable and heavier than anticipated. 

I love this!!!

Here is the beautiful Pat Herkal. 

Artist Statement

Beads, thread and fabric occupy my head and hands every day. Whimsy and color inspire my work. Mixing beads, shells, stones, and found objects – man made and natural – I create wearables, sculptures and dolls. All are hand sewn one bead at a time. Backing is applied with a beaded edge. The smaller the bead the better. I have fun creating, so when people see my work, I hope it makes them smile. I spend my time creating, traveling, gardening and living an artful life.

Biography

Pat Herkal had a career military father and moved frequently, living on the east coast and in France. She has a BS Nursing degree from the University of South Carolina, and retired from nursing in 2012. Pat lived, worked and created in Riverton, Wyoming from 1975 to 2004, and moved to Port Townsend, Washington in March 2004. With her grandmother’s influence she started creating in fiber when she was 5 years old, embroidering towels, pillowcases and clothing, crocheting rag rugs, and progressed to macrame, weaving, quilting, doll making, pieced clothing, knitting and beading. Pat’s beaded jewelry can be seen in the Artist Showcase at Northwind Art Center in downtown Port Townsend.

Nicole/Beadwright 

Honor and integrity in art, in life.