Using just wire and beads makes for a lovely flower – shiny and colorful and quite graceful. Although the same wrap you use for prepared thread will look different if you use only wire, it still looks quite beautiful. I added some beads for bling, and also take the leaf shapes and give them a twist for an entirely different look. To me, these wire flowers take on a more contemporary look as well.

So next time you decide to create, try this method … I think you’ll enjoy it. This is truly a ‘bead and wire flower’!

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There’s lots of craft wire out there, but they’re not all created equal. You want a wire that’s workable, for sure. Especially for people just learning the craft, and for older folks like me, your hands can get tired and ache if the wire is too stiff and inflexible. You also want a choice of colors, and colors that won’t fade or tarnish over time. It’s a long process making these flowers, what a shame to have them look bad over time because of poor quality wire.

There’s lots of opinions out there, I’m sure, and I can only give you mine. I’ve always worked with Parawire. The pricing is right, and the quality is wonderful, and don’t you just love the colors. It’s a little softer wire, and I always give the central wire a tug to make it a little harder, but it’s really nice to work with.

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The last flower I completed was truly fun, and I couldn’t resist showing you just one more! I love the color of this prepared thread, and decided to make three different styles in the same arrangement. I found some very light blue thread that I spun with silver, and I accented the petals with seafoam wire. All the centers are made with silver beads. This arrangement is a good example of the many ways we can create unique flowers by changing petal shapes, colors, wire and beads so that every piece we complete can be new and unique. The flower at the upper left has petals shaped like butterfly wings, outlined with corrugated wire. The flower to the right has large petals from prepared thread, outlined with two wraps of wire, and smaller inner petals made with wire. The remaining flower uses square petals with silver beads at the tips, again outlined with wire. I mounted all three in a crystal candle holder, with just some strands of wire for interest. It received rave reviews!

So now the push for the show is over, but no rest for me! I’m working on major changes to the site. I’m excited with the upcoming changes and hope you’ll visit again soon!

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Here’s a photo of a piece I’ve just completed. I used Swarovski crystals for the center of the flower and for the stylized flower ‘buds’ below it. The petals are made with gold boullion wire, often referred to as Ganutell. I used a tea light holder I couldn’t resist buying.

After the rush of the holidays, I look forward to sharing with you all the different techniques for making these bead and wire flowers – they’re totally fun!

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The flower in my last post was more traditional in style, but those I’ve made since then have taken on a very whimsical look. A friend refers to this one as alien!

The point being, of course, that this craft gives us much opportunity to be creative and not hesitate to push the envelope. This one was really fun.

More later ………..

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I decided on two flowers using an off-white floss spun with silver and embellished with silver wire and beads, and added a light blue flower with some silver accents. I thought it made a nice winter bouquet. Here’s a photo of the finished piece.

I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Ganutell flowers offer unlimited opportunities to be creative and expressive. This is just one  more example.

I’ve had lots of requests for some basic instruction in this art form, as well as the bead and wire flowers, and I’m currently working on a new e-book. Be sure to register for my newsletter, as I’ll be emailing an announcement when it’s available. (Update:the e-book is complete and available! Check it out here.)

In the meantime, stay warm, and bead something pretty!

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I had to take a brief hiatus from blog posting and focus on work and life issues … not nearly as much fun, but there it is. Happens to all of us, right?

The good news is that being away from it has given me an opportunity to review and regroup — to think about what direction I want to take next. I love to learn new arts and crafts. Can’t help it; when I see something pretty I often want to learn how to make it. I’ve done most crafts at one time or another, and enjoy just about all of them.

Thing is, I keep returning to bead and wire flowers, specifically Ganutell. These delicate little flowers are fun to make, offering lots of opportunities to be creative. They’re unique, and people love them, and I think I’m quite obsessed with making them.

So there’s my new focus. I’m looking forward to sharing lots of information on how to make these lovely flowers, resources to purchase the hard-to-find tools and supplies, and interesting ways to embellish them. I’ll even give you some new ideas on how to use your work in projects.

I’m looking forward to sharing Ganutell with you, so visit often!

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During the 1930′s American families decorated their homes with French beaded flowers imported from Europe, but it wasn’t until the 1960′s that the technique itself became popular. With the publication of instructional books by Virginia Nathanson, Virginia Osterland and others, crafters learned to create French beaded flowers, and the technique flourished through the 1970′s. Patterns found in these books are still used extensively today.

Currently, French beading has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, and with the availability of new instructional materials and patterns we are seeing lots of interest in learning the technique.

I’ve been excited to find more contemporary designs in these new patterns, with a fresh and whimsical style, and the availability of glass beads in a vast array of colors and textures. What great inspiration – positively makes one’s mind spin with new ideas!

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