Bead and Wire Flowers ... by studio foster » beaded flower instruction

Love that wire!

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:21:54 +0000

Part of the beauty of a Ganutell flower is, of course, the prepared thread. Two strands of floss, spun with wire, make up this prepared thread that is wrapped around a central wire to create each petal or leaf. Using the same color thread and wire is great, and so is using contrasting colors together … a totally different look is achieved. Spinning this thread takes some time, and of course requires a spindle. So ….. if you don’t have either of these, just try wrapping wire alone. For this flower I used 24 gauge rose gold wire from parawire for the central piece, and 28 gauge wire for wrapping.

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’!

Bookmark It

Wire, wire, wire ….

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:20:27 +0000

Whether you’re working with french beaded flowers or ganutell, likely the subject most often discussed is …. wire.

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.

Bookmark It

What’s the point?

admin — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:23:23 +0000

I’m often asked about making different shapes on French beaded flower petals and leaves, and how to create a pointed petal is a common question. Here’s what I do:

In the rounded petal, the working wire is brought across the basic wire at a right angle. For a pointed petal, slide down one or two beads more than with the rounded petal and bring the working wire across the basic wire at a 45 degree angle. These extra beads cause the top bead of the working wire to rest slightly above the top bead of the basic wire. This creates a pointed shape, and can be done at either the top or bottom of the petal. If you have difficulty with this, or you want a very pronounced point, slide an extra bead onto the basic wire before making your wrap.

We’re continuing to work on the new blog format, and expect you’ll be seeing it within the next few weeks. Be sure to visit again and take a look!

Bookmark It

Holiday Wishes

admin — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 12:49:59 +0000

It’s amazing to me to realize that we are nearing year’s end. This year has been loaded with change and challenges for me, including this blog and the website ganutellflowers.com. The positive feedback I’ve received has been most encouraging, and I’m looking forward to sharing even more in the coming year.

There will be some major changes to the sites over the next few weeks, so you may see some strange things happening …. please excuse us as we work through the initial setup of the new website. Do come back and visit, though, and take a peek at our new look!

To all the wonderful people who have visited … many thanks for your support. To everyone I extend best Holiday wishes and the wish that the new year brings you all you hope for.

Bookmark It