Bead and Wire Flowers ... by studio foster » French beaded flowers http://beadandwireflowers.com creating beautiful beaded and Ganutell flowers Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:57:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Wire, wire, wire …. http://beadandwireflowers.com/wire-wire-wire http://beadandwireflowers.com/wire-wire-wire#comments Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:20:27 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=787 Continue reading →]]> 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.

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/wire-wire-wire/feed 0 Thoughts of Christmas in January http://beadandwireflowers.com/christmas-in-january http://beadandwireflowers.com/christmas-in-january#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:00:34 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=745 Continue reading →]]> Each year I enjoy participating in a Christmas art/craft show put together by the South Cobb Arts Association, of which I am proud to be a member. This is a wonderful show with lots of different art and fine crafts, and is  well attended. My bead and wire flowers always do well at the show, but my problem is in preparing for the show. Somehow when I have a deadline to finish my work, my muse takes a hike, my creativity shuts down, and I find myself staring blankly at my workspace. Drat.

So every year I struggle to finish sufficient pieces to make up a decent display for the show. And every year I promise myself I won’t fall into that trap again. Perhaps creating these flowers in January and February won’t feel so much like I’m on a deadline … hope so.

Here’s a photo of the first flower for this year’s show. I’ve used Swarovsky crystals … always use them, nothing like the way they sparkle … and lovely fuchsia colored wire in a crystal base.

Tell me what you think.

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/christmas-in-january/feed 0 What’s the point? http://beadandwireflowers.com/whats-the-point http://beadandwireflowers.com/whats-the-point#comments Sun, 08 Jan 2012 13:23:23 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=692 Continue reading →]]> 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!

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/whats-the-point/feed 0 Arranging your beaded flowers http://beadandwireflowers.com/arranging-your-beaded-flowers http://beadandwireflowers.com/arranging-your-beaded-flowers#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:19:05 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=392 Continue reading →]]> You’ve made French beaded flowers, learned how to mount them in containers, and now you want to arrange them in the container. Here are some simple guidelines to achieving a composition that’s pleasing to the eye, and that will best display the flowers and foliage you worked so hard to create.
 
When arranging your beaded flowers in a container, the details of the arrangement are a matter of personal taste and preference, so don’t be afraid to be creative and follow your own unique style.  Here are some simple guidelines to achieving an arrangement that’s pleasing to the eye while best displaying the flowers you worked so hard to create.
 
Inspiration for an arrangement is everywhere. Look in books and magazines, and on the internet. Look at florist shops and flower shows. Look at home decor and decorating books. They all have photos containing floral arrangements to inspire your creativity.
 vase
Once you have a design in mind, select an appropriate container. When making your selection, keep in mind that your flowers are the feature of your arrangement, not the vessel. It should be of a harmonizing color, and any design on the container itself must be very simple so as not to overwhelm your arrangement. The size of your container generally should be about 1/3 the height of your finished arrangement and about 1/2 the total width. If your flowers are light in feeling, or just a few stems,  the container can be larger, like the one in this photo.
 
If your arrangement is to be viewed from all directions, such as one being placed in the center of a table, a round vase will work best. If the arrangement will show only the front of the composition, square or rectangular vases would be more appropriate.
 
Modeling clay, sand or even glass beads can be used to stabilize the vase and hold the beaded flowers in place. Stone, marbles or stone chips are also good materials for this.
 
Position your largest flowers first, as the focal point of your arrangement. If your design style is symmetrical, the largest, most colorful flower should be placed near the middle and just above the top edge of the container. If asymmetrical, the dominant flower will be off center and near the outer edge. Your foliage and filler flowers are then added to fill the empty spaces and complete the design.
 
Some additional hints –
  • Use lighter colors on the outside of your arrangement.
  • Facing flowers and foliage in different directions will give depth to your arrangement.
  • If you are using only one kind of main flower, give your arrangement variety by showing the flower in various stages of growth, such as buds and partially opened flowers. When creating these flowers, you can use fewer petals  or compress the petals inward, giving the look of a flower still in the stages of opening.
Check your arrangement often as you place your flowers. The end result, after all, must be visually pleasing, and you will be the best judge of how your want your arrangement to appear.
 
Now it’s finished, place your new beaded flower bouquet in a prominent place and show it with pride!
 
 
 
]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/arranging-your-beaded-flowers/feed 1 Containing your beaded flowers http://beadandwireflowers.com/containing-your-beaded-flowers http://beadandwireflowers.com/containing-your-beaded-flowers#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:41:56 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=365 Continue reading →]]> You’ve made your french beaded flowers, and now you want to display them well. If you wish to create an arrangement in a container, there are many ways you can accomplish this. Remember, you are working with beaded flowers, which are quite heavy due to all those lovely little beads, and you want to be certain you have plenty of weight in your container so your arrangement won’t tip over!

An often-used material is modeling clay, particularly if your container is made from pottery or opaque glass.  This clay comes in blocks, and doesn’t harden. Heat a small chunk of the clay in your microwave for 10-second intervals to soften it to a workable state, then press it into the container. Placing your stems into the clay, it will hold your flowers upright. There is a good bit of weight to the clay, so it will also anchor the container and prevent tipping. Now cover the surface with some pretty dried moss.

A lovely way to anchor your container, especially a clear glass container, is to partially fill it with glass marbles or stones. These can be purchased inexpensively and will also hold your flowers upright while anchoring your vessel. Just be sure not to tip it over and have all those marbles rolling onto the floor!

If you’re feeling particularly brave, try the ‘fake water’ preparations. These seem to be a type of resin, with two formulas that need to be mixed together prior to use.  I love the look of this, but waterhave to admit I find them difficult to work with. The mixture is thick and very sticky, and somehow I manage to get it all over myself and my work surface. But the end result is wonderful, and to me it’s worth the mess.

Some tips for using these …

  • Follow the package directions carefully, mixing slowly to avoid bubbles.
  • After mixing, pour into a plastic bag and snip a corner of the bag, creating a hole from which to pour the mixture down the center of the vase opening – try to avoid getting the ‘water’ on the sides of your vessel.
  • Before pouring, place some glass marbles inside the vase and pour the mixture over these. This allows you to fill several vases with a single package of the rather pricey mixture.
  • Allow to cure the required length of time before moving the vase or components within. (Don’t ask me how I know this!)

You’ll think of other ways to contain your beaded flowers; I’ve given you only a few here. However you decide to mount them, though, you are certain to enjoy your arrangement for years to come!

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/containing-your-beaded-flowers/feed 1 Beaded flowers in the wedding http://beadandwireflowers.com/beaded-flowers-in-the-wedding http://beadandwireflowers.com/beaded-flowers-in-the-wedding#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:53:41 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=222 Continue reading →]]> I have a treasured friend … her daughter was getting married, and I was honored and excited to be creating French beaded flowers for the event.

If you have seen a large beaded flower, you know it can be quite heavy. Those tiny little beads, when wired together to create a flower, become quite difficult to carry for longer than a few minutes. jen1Wedding bouquets of beaded flowers are stunning, without a doubt. But to hold them for hours  –  not a good idea. We decided to feature just one large beaded flower in the bouquet of fresh blossoms.

Jen chose Gerbera daisies for her bouquet. It’s a wonderful choice, and currently quite popular among brides. The bouquet was amazing; bright and cheerful, yet quite elegant at the same time. I like to think that the big  fuchsia beaded Gerbera, placed in the center, was part of the reason her flowers received rave reviews! And the beaded Gerbera became a lasting keepsake of the cherished memory of her wedding.

I used metallic fuchsia 3-cut beads  and brown seed beads for the large center, all wired to a flat mesh disc. The layers of petals were created with 11/0 glass seed beads, and the flower was assembled onto three stem wires to support the weight of all those beads.

jen2For some fun and fancy, I used Delica silk finish beads to create some romantic daisies for Jen’s hair. They looked wonderful; their satiny sheen sparkling in the light against the beautiful red of her hair. Being cylindrical in shape, Delicas don’t normally work well in French beaded flowers, but in this case they looked great!

Best wishes to you, Jen and John. May your future together be filled with endless joy and love, and perhaps now and then a sprinkling of beaded flowers.

 

 

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/beaded-flowers-in-the-wedding/feed 3 The beaded flower workspace – part 2 http://beadandwireflowers.com/the-beaded-flower-workspace-part-2 http://beadandwireflowers.com/the-beaded-flower-workspace-part-2#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 11:22:20 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=187 Continue reading →]]> I recently posted about workspace, with some tips and tricks for making your beaded flower workspace easier and more efficient to work in. Now I’d like to talk about setting up a workspace that will help us work more safely. These are things I’ve read about for many years, but it wasn’t until the past year or so that I began to take it all seriously, realizing how important some of these things may be in our crafting experience. Well, actually, it was because I started to hurt! I should have been more aware, and began to suffer chronic back and neck pain.

There are ways to avoid or lessen these problems, though, that are pretty easy to do. First, good posture is essential, so be sure to sit straight without hunching over, and sit fully on your chair. Sit with your feet flat on the floor, and keep your arms and wrists relaxed in a neutral position. A great aid to good posture is using an appropriate chair. I found an office chair a few years ago that adjusts up and down and is very comfortable for me.

I’ve also found it helpful to take frequent breaks, every 30 minutes or so, to walk and stretch. I often find my muscles getting tense, and doing a few stretches usually alleviates this tension.

Creating French beaded flowers and Ganutell does not require a lot of tools, but those you do need are available in different versions. Look for a size and shape that fits your hand and is comfortable to work with. Try the new ergonomic versions … they’re really helpful in reducing the stress of working with your hands.

ott-lite

Good lighting is critical to avoiding eye strain, and I often use a magnifier as well. There are some excellent lamps available …. The photo at the right is an Ott light that I love to use. It has a Truecolor bulb so I see the exact colors I’m using, and I can direct the light onto my work. Click on the photo to view detailed information on this lamp.

Lastly, have your workstation set and ready for use. While this may not be an aid to health and safety, it surely keeps the frustration level down when I don’t have to interrupt my work to go find another tool or supplies.

Beaders in general, not just those of us working with French beaded flowers and Ganutell, are prone to repetitive strain injuries as well as other back, neck and vision problems, so it’s important that we’re conscious of the causes. Take a good look at your workspace and see of there’s something there that needs attention. Then sit down and bead something pretty!

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/the-beaded-flower-workspace-part-2/feed 0 French beaded flower … Ganutell. So what’s the difference? http://beadandwireflowers.com/french-beaded-flower-ganutell-so-whats-the-difference http://beadandwireflowers.com/french-beaded-flower-ganutell-so-whats-the-difference#comments Wed, 20 May 2009 11:40:55 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=155 Continue reading →]]> Let me tell you about the differences between flowers made in these two wonderful crafts by first talking about how they are most similar – that is in the process of creating them. They are both made by wrapping around a central wire stem. They are both made with individual petals assembled into a flower. And there the similarity ends.
 
If you have seen examples of beaded flowers and Ganutell, I’m sure you noticed quite a difference indeed. The obvious, of course, is that they are made from different materials. In this photo, the French beaded flower, on the left, is made from small glass beads strung on a wire. This flower is more substantial and quite a bit larger in size than a Ganutell flower. The bigger beaded petals can be laced with a fine wire to give them even more strength, and the largest of these flowers can then be five or six inches across without losing it’s shape. differenceFrench beaded flowers are used in wedding bouquets, decorative floral arrangements, jewelry …. they have endless possibilities, except that all those beads make for lots of weight.
 
The Ganutell flower on the right is made from rayon floss  and a fine copper wire spun together to make somewhat stiff thread. This material has enough body to hold a shape well in a petal, but only to less than an inch in width. As you can see in the photo, even after assembling a good number of these petals together, the resulting flower is still quite light and delicate. That’s the charm of flowers made in the craft. Ganutell flowers also provide great opportunity for embellishment with beads and wires that are corrugated and spiralled. These flowers are used for decoration in wreaths, sprays, and framed arrangements.
 
Both these crafts are centuries old and often ornate in style. Today’s crafters, however, are creating lighter and more whimsical beaded flowers and Ganutell florals, making good use of the huge variety of new materials. Imagine with me — wouldn’t it be interesting to combine the best of both these crafts for a contemporary fusion of styles?
 
Stay tuned ………
 
]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/french-beaded-flower-ganutell-so-whats-the-difference/feed 0 When you lose your muse http://beadandwireflowers.com/when-you-lose-your-muse http://beadandwireflowers.com/when-you-lose-your-muse#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 20:46:37 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=141 Continue reading →]]> The encyclopedia describes a muse as coming from Greek mythology and meaning a goddess or spirit who inspires creation. In contemporary times, though, a muse can be just about anything from another person to an object; we are all inspired by many things.

For me, inspiration for a new Ganutell blossom or French beaded flower comes from everywhere … I can be inspired by a new color combination, or a flower blooming, or simply shopping for beads. It can be anything, anywhere, that strikes my fancy and sends me to my workspace.  Sometimes I have no idea what inspires me to create a beaded flower;  suddenly I can see it in my head and am motivated to create. This happens a lot when I wake in the early morning hours — not my favorite inspirational moment, for sure.

Then there are times when nothing comes to mind …. my creativity dries up like the desert …. and I find myself frustrated and disappointed. I’ll start a project, only to decide I don’t like it. Putting it down, I’ll start another and give that up as well. Aaaaarrrrgghhhhhh!!!

I’ve found there is really no way to avoid these times, but to simply wait them out. Often I won’t work on beaded flowers for days, but stay out of my studio and find other things to distract me and fill the time. Creating Ganutell and French beaded flowers is my passion …. perhaps I need to take time to refresh and regroup. It’s always my experience that suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, I envision that new piece and become excited with the prospect of making it. Glorious moment, that.

I don’t think there’s anything unusual in this experience, and that everyone goes through similar frustration. Let me invite you to respond to this post …. leave a comment and tell us what you do when you lose your muse.

]]> http://beadandwireflowers.com/when-you-lose-your-muse/feed 0 A Lovely French Beaded Flower Book http://beadandwireflowers.com/a-lovely-french-beaded-flower-book http://beadandwireflowers.com/a-lovely-french-beaded-flower-book#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 11:22:04 +0000 admin http://beadandwireflowers.com/?p=122 Continue reading →]]> Anyone who works with beads has a bead stash, and mine rivals the best of them. I probably have enough beads to make beaded flowers and Ganutell well into the next decade without buying another bead. Not that I won’t buy more, of course. I also have a beading book stash. I love beading books, and I have bought most of the books available on French beaded flowers. I’d have a considerable collection of books on Ganutell, too, but there’s only a few of them in existence.

As time permits, I want to tell you about some of these books, and today’s post is about my most recent purchase, Beads In Bloom“Beads in Bloom, the art of making French beaded flowers” by Arlene Baker. At first glance, I wasn’t sure about this book. It seemed it might be only for beginning beaders, but I’m so very glad I ordered it. “Beads in Bloom” is a beautifully illustrated softcover book that has it all. The author tells us about supplies, general information and techniques, then gives us some really unique patterns to try.

The section on Things to Know includes some neat tips on making beaded flowers, such as using old fashioned hair clips as an extra pair of hands. The section on Fundamental Techniques is just that. Well illustrated, this section takes us through the basic techniques in a very clear manner; a beginner should have no problem learning here.

In Flower Assembly we learn how to put it all together, including shadingrose-closeup and coloring techniques, as well as how to shape the petals with wonderful finishing touches. We’re given a beautiful Gallery of finished beadwork, then several Projects that are quite well written with easy-to-follow instructions. My first post to this blog includes a photograph of a rose pin that I did following a pattern from this book. Here’s a close-up photo of that piece.

“Beads in Bloom” indeed has it all. Being long on instruction and short on projects, the main focus seems to be for beginners, but there’s plenty in this book to interest and inspire beaders from beginner to advanced, and it remains one of my favorite beaded flower books.

At the time of writing “Beads In Bloom” is available at Amazon at about 30% off normal price. Click here for details.

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