Class Samples by Heidi

Fibers  (yarns, eyelash, mohair, etc.)       
Sponge brush
Acrylic or Metallic Paints
26-gauge wire
Needle nose pliers & wire cutter
Seed Beads and Charms  (beads need to be able to thread on wire)
Silamide Bead Thread and Needle if you want beads without wire
Scissors
Small paintbrushes                           
White Glue (Elmer's or Aileen's is fine)
Fabric (scraps from other projects work well)
Fabric glue that dries clear i.e.: Fabri-Tac or Diamond Glaze
Round chopsticks, pencils, knitting needles, or drinking straws for wrapping fabric
Surgical gloves or hand lotion (optional)
Paper plates, wax paper, or freezer paper for work surface

Cut or tear fabric strips.  Heidi's favorites are 2" to 3" in length and ½" to 1 ½" in width.  Strips can be rectangular, or if you taper them with end can be narrower than the other , they will roll up like crescent rolls.

Pre-paint long edges & one end of each fabric strip with acrylic or metallic paint.
You can also use rubber stamps and stamp your fabrics with the paint.

One thing Heidi found when she first did these beads is that she did a lot of stamping and painting on the strips as pre-work, but once they are rolled up you really only see the edges.  So do as much pre-painting as you like.  Since the fabrics are rolled up, you can even just use muslin and paint the edges.

We will not get 100 done in a 2 hour time frame, but you will probably find that we make 20 to 30 each.  Heidi worked them on a jelly roll pan in front of the TV, so be prepared to have fun.

More References:

" Bead Embroidery " by Valerie Campbell-Harding

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" How to Make Soft Jewelry " by Jackie Dodson

" 15 Beads : A Guide to Creating One-Of-A-Kind Beads " by Jane Dunnewold

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"Surfaces for Stitch" by Hedley

1. Optional - wear surgical gloves or hand lotion to keep from getting glue on your fingers.
2. Spread a thin layer of white glue on a fabric strip with a sponge brush, leaving about 1/2" (13 mm) dry.
   
   
   

   Spread glue on fabric strip

   
   
3. Starting with the dry end, roll fabric around chopstick.  Variation:  don't cut the fabric into strips, but glue & roll a piece the width of a drinking straw, allow to dry, then cut to desired lengths, cutting all the way through the straw.
   
   
   

   Blank Beads by Heidi

   
   
4. Slide beads off the chopstick, then allow to dry some more, until dry enough to handle.  If you haven't painted yet, you can slide the beads back onto the chopstick, then paint the ends.  Balance the chopstick in the air to let the paint dry.
   
5. Take a break.  If you're doing this at a meeting, this is a good time for Show 'n' Share.
6. Squeeze out a little Fabri-Tac onto the back of a small paper plate.  Roll a bead in the Fabri-Tac to get a light coating.  Roll fiber around bead, leaving a tail.
7. Coil a tiny spiral on one end of wire to hold beads.  Stringing beads as you go, wrap the wire around the bead.
   

Completed Beads by Candy The green beads at left are coated with embossing powder.

Completed Beads by Marilyn

Completed Beads by Barbara

Ensemble by Amy

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