Such an amazing decorative material, like beads, impresses not only with its history, but also with the variety of applications. We bring to your attention some facts from the history of beadwork and a master class on making sunflower.
Bead History
Beads in ancient times attracted the attention of craftsmen around the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that his story begins even before the birth of Christ. Even then, the Egyptians wore clothes decorated with similar beads. In Russia, this art appeared in the IX century. Shirts, harem pants, belts and even shoes were decorated with beads.
For a long time, only Venetian craftsmen, who received the secrets of art from Byzantium, were engaged in the manufacture of beads in Europe. On the Italian island of Murano, along with various vessels, mirrors and buttons, glass beads were born, which were sold throughout Europe, in the countries of East Africa and America.
Today, the most famous beads are Czech, German, Japanese and Russian.
Types of Beads in Beadwork
Beadwork uses beads of various types. Depending on the material of manufacture of beads is divided into:
- plastic;
- glass;
- stone;
- made of bone;
- metal;
- from shells;
- from pearls;
- from coral;
- from precious stones;
- from synthetic materials;
- wooden;
- paper;
- from plants and their grains.
The size of the diameter of the beads varies from a millimeter to several centimeters. But plastic or glass beads of a few millimeters are considered traditional.
The art of beadwork
For a period of time, the art of beading was forgotten a bit. But today, this craft is again gaining popularity as needlework. Now, not only elements of clothes and shoes are decorated with beads, but household items, as well as wonderful things, are made from this material. For example, you can find sheathed chests and boxes, combs, wallets, various crafts and interior decorations, whole paintings. Bead jewelry also becomes popular again: necklaces and necklaces, bracelets and baubles, women's ties, earrings, and so on.
Used materials and tools
What is needed for beadwork? Of course, today there is a huge variety of both the materials used and the tools. Even experienced craftsmen do not always have time to follow the latest in this area. But still, a basic list of necessary things exists.
Beading materials and toolsMaterials | Instruments |
Beads | Nippers |
Beads | Narrow pliers |
Bugles | Scissors |
Sequins | Needles (ordinary, gypsy, arcuate) |
Wire (elastic metal with a diameter of 0.5-0.6 mm for the base and soft with a diameter of 0.2-0.4 mm for small parts) | Thimble |
Threads (floss, sewing, for knitting) | Small containers (to sort out the beads by type for convenience) |
Colorless varnish | Round pliers |
Beadwork
Flowers from beads (sunflower, chamomile, hyacinths, tulips, poppies, lilies of the valley, lilac and many others) are the most popular type of crafts. They can be used as female jewelry (for example, a brooch), decorative elements of the interior, such as figurines or paintings.
In care, such products are very simple: they can be wiped, washed, washed. The undoubted advantage of flowers from beads is that they do not fade.
The process of creating crafts can involve children and friends. Beginning masters should practice making single flowers, and only then proceed to create entire compositions. Advanced craftsmen can even weave wedding bouquets.
Mosaic Beadwork: Sunflower
The mosaic technique is pretty simple. Especially in order to make a sunflower from beads. The scheme of work is not difficult for beginners. As a result, you will get a very bright and cute flower.
Necessary materials:
- czech beads opaque yellow No. 10;
- czech beads opaque black No. 10;
- Czech beads opaque green and light green No. 10;
- Atlas beads yellow;
- needle for beads No. 12;
- wire or thread.
If you decide to make a sunflower from beads, the weaving scheme presented below will help you with this.
Sunflower from beads: master class
It will take a little effort to create this flower, but it's worth it. First you need to string 10 meters of beads on the wire, preparing a few low. In this case, the middle of the sunflower is performed by the method of crossed axes. Now you can directly begin to make a beautiful sunflower from beads.
Master class :
- Twist together the ends of four pieces of wire (galvanized) and connect with a string of beads. Create rounded arcs between the axes, while increasing the number of beads until the arc is six centimeters. Cut the wire of the thread, but not the ends of the axles.
- Make forty pairs of petals for the corolla. Given that each has two petals of different sizes - one large, the other smaller.
- Connect all the petals in pairs by twisting the wire. In this case, the sequence must be observed - the smaller petals are attached by three pairs of arcs on the central axis two centimeters long, the larger petals - also by three pairs on the axis three centimeters long. Connect the ends of the wire, leaving five centimeters.
- Wrap the second string of beads around the axis to form a petal.
- Mark three centimeters from one end of the string of beads necessary for weaving a large petal for the central axis; do the work with the other end, remembering to round the arcs.
- Fasten both petals at the base after making the fifth revolution.
- Place the petals in a circle.
- Weave the flower stalk in the same way as the center, giving it the shape of a funnel; the nodules that formed during work are hidden on the wrong side.
- Connect the extreme petals, make a whisk and tightly wrap a thread around its inner circumference. Place the central part of the flower in the middle and fix it with a wire.
- At the back, attach the flower stalk, resort to the help of pliers, which together fasten the ends of the wire of the top and bottom of the sunflower.
- Assembly: qualitatively fix the four ends of the wire so that the finished product does not crumble, bite off the excess part of the wire and give the petals a shape. Fix the sunflower to the top of the hard rod and wrap it with silk thread, oiled with glue. Step back ten centimeters and attach to the stalk the first of two leaves, which is made by stringing loops. Then wrap the finished stalk with thread, preferably silk, attaching the second leaf as well. Naturalize the petals and tilt the flower head slightly.
Your beautiful sunflower is ready!