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Jen Van Benschoten creates gum drop bead embroidered mandals.


For More Information Visit:


www.beadalon.com


www.beadingdaily.com


www.jewelrytools.com




Materials:

  • 5-18 Czech glass gumdrop beads
  • Accent beads: 3mm druks or fire polished beads, Czech farfalle beads
  • Seed beads, size 8o, in color to contrast with gumdrop beads
  • Seed beads, size 11o in at least 3 colors to contrast/match gumdrop beads
  • Seed beads, size 15o in color to contrast with gumdrop beads
  • Clasp of your choice
  • 1 sheet Nicole’s Beadbacking
  • Stiffener: plastic milk jug or poster board
  • E6000 glue or Therm O Web Peel’n’Stick double-sided tape
  • Ultrasuede, leather, or other fabric for backing
  • Beading thread, 6 lb. test

Tools:

Step 1: For each mandala, cut 1 square of Nicole’s Beadbacking, about 1 ¾”.

Step 2: Cut a 5’ piece of beading thread. Tie a knot in one end. Come up through the Nicole’s in the center, and pick up a gumdrop bead. Center the bead in the square, adding a tiny drop of glue if desired to hold the gumdrop in place, and stitch down through the Nicole’s to secure the gumdrop.
Repeat 5-6 times to stitch the gumdrop in place.

Step 2: Come up through the Nicole’s about 1 bead width from the gumdrop. Pick up 2 size 11 seed beads and push them down against the Nicole’s. Stitch down, working in backstitch, to secure the beads to the Nicole’s.
Repeat around the gumdrop, adding pairs of size 11 seed beads, until you have an even number of beads around the gumdrop. Pass through the first bead added.

Step 3: Pick up 1 size 11 seed bead, skip the next bead in the ring, and pass through the next bead. Working in peyote stitch, continue stitching around the gumdrop, pulling tightly to form a bezel.
For the next and final round, secure by stitching a row of size 15 beads. Weave your thread back down through the peyote stitch bezel and into the Nicole’s. Come up one bead width next to the bezel.

Step 4: Work in backstitch to form a pattern around the gumdrop. For the first round, I use size 8 seed beads, and then work 4 rows of size 11 seed beads in various patterns.

This is where the meditative part of the beadwork comes in: have fun creating your own patterns. You can repeat the same pattern over and over, or make each round a different pattern to contrast with the previous rounds.
After each round, weave your thread through the beads several times, pulling slightly, to make the beads line up and secure them.

Work the last round using size 8 seed beads. Tie off your thread, weave through the beads one more time, and then pass down through the Nicole’s and trim your thread close to the beadwork.

Step 5: Place your completed mandala on a piece of stiff cardboard or a piece of a cleaned plastic milk jug. Trace around the mandala.

Trim the shape from the milk jug, cutting well inside the line you just traced. This piece of plastic must fit inside the mandala, leaving about ¼” around for stitching the fabric backing to the beadwork.

Using either a piece of Peel’n’Stick or E6000 adhesive, attach the plastic to the back of the mandala.

Place the mandala on a piece of fabric (I prefer Ultrasuede or Sensuede) and trace around it. Trim just on the outside of the shape to ensure that it will completely cover the back of the beadwork. Using the adhesive of your choice, adhere the fabric to the back of the mandala.

Step 6: Cut a piece of beading thread, about 3’ long. Pick up one size 11 seed bead and pass through the mandala and the Ultrasuede, then back through the seed bead. Pull so that the seed bead rests up against the edge of the mandala, hole side facing perpendicular to the mandala.
Repeat around, working in brick stitch to add the edging around the entire mandala.

Step 7: If you have enough working thread, you can embellish the brick stitch edging using beads of your choice. Picots are nice using size 11 and size 15 seed beads, or you can add tiny loops using clusters of farfalle beads for a lovely edge.

Step 8: Decide how you want to use these mandalas. You can connect them easily using accent beads such as round druks and other gumdrop beads, or crystals, gemstones, and even larger seed beads.
To join the mandalas for a bracelet, connect them across the center of each unit. To create a gentle curve for a collar or necklace, connect them near the tops of the units.

Step 9: Add the clasp of your choice, using a seed bead loop, or a jump ring sewn into the brick stitch edging.

For more information visit www.vanbeads.blogspot.com

 

 

Katie Hacker & Jen Van Benschoten

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