Thursday 15 January 2015

New to Beading


Hello....... I'm afraid to tell you how long I have been procrastinating over this make. So I was determined that as it was the New Year it was time to get on with it and learn a new craft.


 I bought the beading thread and beads for this make last summer and have been putting it off since then, as I thought I was going to struggle with beading big time.


It's not the pretty coloured seed beads exactly as I'm a little bit in love with them


  The problem was more there size as they are so teeny tiny and I'm a bit all fingers and thumbs when it comes to fiddly things. 


I'm making the necklace for a local craft exhibition, which is on at the end of February, so you see time was running out.   I've never really taken to jewellery making, but I needed something to fit one of the themes of the exhibition which is 'Eygpt' and to tell the truth beading sprang to mind straight away.


Just one small problem I had no clue how to bead, but that's what the Internets  for right? So after a bit of a look about.  I found this wonderful tutorial from Beading4Perfectionist 'here'  As soon as I saw the words simple and beginner I knew it was the one for me.

So with a tiny bit of fear lots of concentration and few beads pinging off all over the place, I added  my stopper bead and started to follow the tutorial.


As it turns out it wasn't so very bad I picked up the relaxing rhythm of the pattern fairly easily, I think thanks to the wonderful tutorial.


It's a slow old process though but gradually it's started to look like a necklace.


About four hours in (which took me about a week and a half to get too)  it looked like this and I thought yippee I'm nearly there.


But then it seemed to take me hours to add in a additional strengthening thread to the top of the collar adding in black seed bead between every third blue. Then I had to make two little beaded rings to attach the clasp too before finally tying off the necklace.   

A friend kindly helped me put the clasp and extender chain on


 So my Beaded Collar was ready for it's

Grand Ta-Dah moment.

Hopefully with its blue and black beading fits the theme of Egypt for the exhibition but with a slightly more contemporary twist so it can function as a modern statement necklace too.

Here's a closer look at the pretty beads, I just keep looking at it in wonder and thinking wow did I really make that! with my shaky fumbling sausage fingers.

Happy Crafting 

Clare xx

18 comments:

  1. Your necklace is stunning Clare, it looks really well made and not at all like a first attempt. I hope you make many more pieces for us readers to drool over; you may have just inspired me to give beading a go. xx

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  2. HI, what a fantastic necklace, I certainly wouldn't have know it was your first! There are just so many wonderful crafts and things to make just not enough time to do them all.

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  3. Amazing I have just followed the link but I don't know if I could do it however I am tempted to try.yours looks so professional x

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    1. You should go for it, I kept putting it off for months, but once I got going it was fairly straight forward. Happy Beading
      Clare x

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  4. Wow, it's beautiful! It looks like it was made by a professional. I have tried beading a few times but I'm not very good at it. We did used to make these rings when I was a kid using seed beads and that clear elastic thread, I made lots of those because they were quick and easy to do!

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  5. It's beautiful! Beading is one of those finicky things, though - so slow going and so tiny, yet when it's done, it looks fabulous!! :D
    Are you going to continue trying beading?

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    1. Yep so fiddly, think I might try and make a braclet, if I have the time before the exhibition.
      Clare x

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  6. Wonderful and so beautiful. Methinks the lady doth protest too much as that is a beautiful piece of jewellery and how amazing as a novice piece. Really well done and I am sure you'll get lots of fab comments on it at the exhibition.

    Ps would you share where you got your beading tray as it looks much better than the one I have as yours has bead tube holders?

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    1. Hi thanks, the tray is a beanbag crafting tray, made my a company call Lapdog. xx

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  7. Well you certainly wouldn't know it was your first attempt, it is stunning, a real delight. Good luck with the exhibition.

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  8. You are a natural! It turned out spectacular!

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  9. Seriously this necklace is just gorgeous.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  10. I think that is fantastic and am amazed that you made this on your first go at beading!! I have never tried anything like this and am in awe of you! It looks very Egyptian, and should be wonderful in your exhibition! xx

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  11. Well done Clare that is an absolutely beautiful necklace you can be proud. :) xx

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  12. That is gorgeous! And to make something like that as your first project :-o wow

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  13. Wow! I cannot believe this is your first beading project. It came absolutely perfect -- and I say that as a long-time beader. You have a talent there!

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  14. Absolutely gorgeous, well done for persevering.

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