I started with a trip to some of the mines, to see where the Strontium came from.

Strontium Carbonate is used in toothpaste and my initial idea is to create my molecule using as many ‘products’ that contain it as possible. I started with Peyote stitch using cylinder beads in a stripes pattern. It was effective but not very realistic at all.

Still using Peyote stitch, I added size 8 seed beads in with the size 11 cylinder beads to see if I could get a more varied shape. Its too happy though, I wanted a smoother transition

This time I used size 15 and size 11 cylinder beads - varying the sizes but not the shape. It was far too subtle, but I did like the colour combinations of this one more.

This one was made using size 15 seed beads and size 11 cylinder beads. Again, I like the colour combinations but I’m not sure the size difference is going to show - I think the stitch used is part of the problem.

These are made using Flat Diagonal Cellini Peyote stitch (taught to me by Cath Thomas), using size 8 seed beads, size 11 cylinder beads and size 15 seed beads

Sample 5.1 - not enough red

Sample 5.2 - too uneven colour wise

Sample 5.3 - the ratio is right, but the shades of red might not be

I’m not sure the blue colouring is right, but when the two are wound round each other hopefully the ratios of colour will work

I tried herringbone stitch, as this was the only other option I’d initially thought of and I wanted to check all options. They all look too ‘peely-wally’ - a Scottish phrase for pale, they are too skinny and limp.

These are my final choices for colours and beads for my toothpaste bonds.

I’ve added some glow-in-the-dark beads, which appear clear in daylight, as Strontium is used in glow-in-the-dark products, so hopefully my sculpture will have a nice surprise to it.

For my atoms, I’ve chosen a red colour palette, as Strontium is used to give fireworks their red colour. I’d like to make the neutrons look like they’re exploding outwards, like a firework.

For the centre of my strontium and carbon atoms, I’ve chosen a pattern by Cindy Holsclaw called Half Tila Technocluster, which makes a solid bead with 12 holes in which will be a good base I think.

This pattern is very clever and makes such a good strong bead. I’m trying to use the darker colours in the centre, with lighter on the later layers to give it more depth

I love this bead! The holes in it are perfect for connecting the whole piece together. I think Im going to have these as my four carbon atoms.

Left is a matte colour way, and right is a shinier colour way. The left, to me, has more depth so will go on to be the centre of my neutrons, which I also need four of.

I love seeing these beads in their different stages - the pattern is really so clever!

The pattern I’ve chosen for the strontium atoms is the Sunburst pattern by Patricia Verrier - I’m convinced this will fit over the neutron centres and give an appearance of an explosion like a firework.

Each sunburst has 20 components, all which need joining in an exact way. I’ve tried to again add depth with my colour palette, using darker beads in the centre and lighter on the outside edges

I really think this will work. Both patterns are based on a dodecahedron and should fit together pretty perfectly.

Its exciting to begin to see how it will look when finished.

Trying to keep track of how many of what component I’ve made is proving tricky.

Getting there, slowly but surely

It fits together pretty perfectly!

I’m so pleased with this, its exactly what I pictured

its repetitive, but also fairly meditative

For the oxygen atoms, I’ve chosen a clever truncated isohedron tutorial by Murarusa Beadwork - its fairly quick but uses three tube beads for each ‘edge’ so should also be quite strong

A combination of hexagons and pentagons, its very clever but easy to go wrong

the dodecahedron on the left is too small, but the truncated isohedron on the right is perfect - proportional to the protons and neutrons but also retaining the hollow quality I like. 11 more needed…

Now I’ve got all my ideas (hopefully) finalised, its just a case of buying beads and then using beads.

A nice wee break back to the toothpaste ribbons in-between beaded beads

It looks like I bought just the right amount of thread for this project.

I bought a chemistry stick and ball model kit so I could visualise more easily the process of assembling my piece - realistically, the bonds may not be in exactly the right place but it should help.

I decided to use the actual bonds from my modelling kit as a base as they were sturdy, I knew they were the right length and the fitted perfectly into the holes in my beaded beads. Serendipity.

Each carbon atom has three oxygen atoms around it, so I started with these

To get an idea of how the piece would look, I started adding the toothpaste ribbons. I was also trying to work out if these needed adding in as I went, or after the fact

I really didn’t like the toothpaste on the model. This was a really gutting discovery but the blue was too jarring with the reds, and the fluidity of the Cellini didn't match the crispness of the geometric beads.

A balancing act from start to finish

I’m really happy with how this turned out. Although some of my initial ideas had to be scrapped, I think its all the better for evolving through the process.

For allowing me to use her Half Tila Technocluster pattern. Her beaded art is so beautiful and intricate.

For allowing me to use her Sunburst pattern. Patricia’s patterns are incredibly clever and definitely worth checking out

For allowing me to use her Truncated Isohedron tutorial. Her instructions were so easy to follow and I’d recommend this pattern to anyone.