Sunday 19 August 2012

Handmade Monday: Beaded flowers




An exciting time for Blue Forest Jewellery, as my wire rose necklace and earrings were featured in Bead Trends this month.  I'm waiting for the hard copies to arrive so I can show it to you, as the mag is only available in the States.





While I was thinking about that, I started to list and make some more wire rose items






 I took these to the filming of the BBC show 'Handmade Revolution' in Hanley at the weekend, but was too chicken to show them in the end! 










And while I was making those, some daisies popped into my head as well!




 I've been mad on flowers for a while now, and thought I'd share the technique for these beaded beauties.  I've been turning them into rings.



 Here's a quick run through how to make them.

You will need:
Monofilament
5 4mm beads in your main petal colour
1 4mm bead in your chosen centre colour
Jewellery glue (optional)


Thread three of the beads, including the centre one, on to a length of monofilament.  Cut more monofilament than you think you will need so that you have enough to feed back through the flower for strengthening at the end.





Take one end of the monofilament (it doesn't matter which) and thread it back through the two main colour beads.  Pull tight to form a triangle of beads.







Thread the other 3 main colour beads onto one end of the monofilament.  Again, it doesn't really matter which end.






Take the other end of the monofilament and go back through the 3 beads you just added.  Pull the thread tightly and the flower forms.







When you pull, the centre bead will automatically become raised as it get pushed up by the other beads.  Go through all the main colour beads as many times as you can with the monofilament and the flower will gradually strengthen.  Knot the ends or continue to work them, and add a spot of jewellery glue if desired.  Done!



Here's a link to see what other lovely crafty folk have been making this week.

Alison x

14 comments:

  1. Your little rings are so cute! Congratulations on your feature too- well deserved!

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  2. I agree the feature is certainly well deserved. I love your flowers. You should have had more confidence in yourself but I do understand. I was going to say that the beaded flowers are my favourite but as I just scrolled up to check I am not so sure. Yes I am drawn to the colours but the other pieces have a pull to me too. hmmm.

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  3. I like the 'daisy' rings - the bead's colours work just so nice with the ring.

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  4. A very well-deserved feature - well done. Love your roses, but the daisies are adorable too x

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  5. I confess to being a daisy fan and they're really great, but also love the ring you alsmot showed to handmade revoltuion. Simple yet not! Was that Hanley, Staffs btw? I live in Melbourne but home is still Stoke-on-Trent.

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    Replies
    1. Hi there, Thank you! It was Hanley, Worcestershire, but I'm glad it reminded you of home from so far away :-) Alison x

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  6. Wow!!! Those wire roses are amazing! You should've showed them at the BBC thing!!!
    And I love the little flowers too...sooo cute :)

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  7. How lovely to have your work featured. Congratulations

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  8. Well done on being featured in Bead Trends - well deserved as your jewellery is gorgeous. Hope you have a good week.

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  9. Congrats on having your work featured.I can see why

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  10. those look great...you should have definetly shared them.
    Debbi
    -yankeeburrowcreations

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  11. I love the rings,they're gorgeous!Congratulations about your feature.

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  12. How exciting that is for you, to be featured in Bead Trends! Congrats on that. And thank you for the tutorial, I have saved this page. Eventually I will get to some beading. I really will!

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  13. These are wonderful jewelery for any occasion. I like all these. Thanks for the posting.

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