|
The Beaded Gift: Ornament the Holidays in Bead Style |
|
|
|
|
Written by Dara Spiotto
|
|
Monday, 03 December 2007 |
THE BEADED GIFT
Ornament the Holidays in Bead Style
Everyone sing with me…
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful…
and since we’ve no place to go…
...let me bead, let me bead, let me bead!!
I live for the holidays! I think about them every day of the year, no joke, and start planning in January. It could be Christmas brimming in the stores year round and I’d be the happiest person ever! Being an organized planner kind of person, I love to savor the countdown to when the hustle and bustle of holiday time begins. It pays for me to do it early since I’ve got family and friends on both coasts and I need time to mail packages and cards, and so good thing I never get tired of it.
 Dazzling Decorations
Are you thinking about your decorating and gift giving yet? Well, I hope so. It’s the first of December, for Pete’s sake. Time to get a move on! I’ve got a couple of ideas for you to help you make some hand made gifts, or decorations for your home, or both.
My Mom visited me for a month this past fall, and I gathered up supplies onto the dining room table and she helped me make some ornaments. It was really fun sitting with her and being creative, something that I wish I had more time for. Since we live on opposite coasts it makes it hard to have those simple times to spend together.
Snowflakes
I’m sure you’ve seen the beautiful snowflake ornaments that have been out for a few years now. They’re really fun to do, and easy since the frame comes readily made and all you have to do is design beads. I love when the hardware is a no-brainer. I had some pearls in a couple of sizes, and I got out my sequin trays. I have 4 clear plastic containers with snap lids that have an assortment of sequins in them, antique, unusual and contemporary. I especially like flowers, leaves and stars. We put the sequins in between pearls, sometimes with two back to back in different colors. The pearls have a nice finish on them and the color of the sequins is reflected there, sort of making them glow. They came out so pretty and light weight. These would make fantastic gifts in a set of 3 or 4, or they’d make a cute package tie-on.
 To make one, begin with a tiny bead for the center, and then design bigger as you go. You can make each spine the same, or different. Sometimes I like to alternate every other one, since there are 6 spines and the pattern is unusual but balanced. Leave a small amount of wire at the tip so you have enough to bend it over. A loop can be made at the end of every wire and then cut a piece of ribbon about 6 inches to tie from one of the loops as a hanger. Remember that you’re going to have to use STRONG pliers to trim any wire tips. This wire is so strong that  it will ruin jewelry pliers. Better get out those Home Depot ones from your hubby’s tool box, or use wire cutters that were meant for memory wire.
Twinkling Chrismas Balls
From all the ones we made this year, I must say these were my favorite. I would wake up in the morning and my first thought would be, “Oh, I get to work on my sequin ornament today!” I picked up some small Styrofoam balls and pins from a craft store, as well as some thin ribbon in colors that would go well with my vintage sequins. I bought the normal pins that are suggested for these balls, which are tiny pins in either silver plate or gold plate. But then I decided to pick up some pins that have colored balls at the top. These worked great, since I could use them to pick up the sequins easily, and then they added a little touch of color and texture with the ball tip. They came out really pretty. I thought about painting the Styrofoam first, which is easy to do by sticking the ball on a wooden skewer to hold it, then paint. But in the end I decided to leave them white.
I began with a small piece of thin ribbon that I attached to the ball using a few flat headpins. I cut the ribbon so that it would be a loop about 5 inches off the top of the ball,  and left a small tail of an inch so that I could secure it with a few pins. Then I began right at the top most point and added sequins in spiraling rows around until I reached the bottom of the ball. It's nice to overlap them so there isn’t any Styrofoam showing. You can stack different sizes of sequins on top of each other to make it even more multi-colored. They come out so pretty. You can do different sizes of balls and stack them together like a snowman, using white sequins and then use beads to make eyes, nose, mouth and buttons. You can use wire for little arms. Or you can do other shapes to make decorations, like a cone form would make a great sequin holiday tree. Just a little imagination and ZOOM you’ll be decorating in style!
Spiraling Crystals
This is a trusty old stand by that I make every year for someone as a gift, and each person I’ve given them to finds a way to incorporate them into their every day décor. :-) They’re too pretty to pack away! Start with an 18 gauge of wire in either silver or gold. It can be plated wire since these won’t be getting much wear and tear. Sterling would be too expensive for this, in my opinion. Make a spiral at the bottom of one wire so that it's about the size of a dime or penny. You can flatten it if you wish, but I usually don’t. Then stack an assortment of large Swarovski crystals on it, using spacers if you wish. I like to vary the shape or colors to make them festive. I love either making a set of identical ones, or a set where everyone has a different bead set on it, but in a similar color pallet. Large beads are like chunky ornaments, small beads come out like icicles. When you’re   done stacking crystals, use round nosed pliers to make a loop at the top. Then use a piece of organza ribbon to tie a loop on, so that it can be hung. Give them as a set of 3 or 4 or 5 (or more!) and wrap them in a box carefully so they won’t scratch each other.
My friend Dolores has a bead store in San Diego. She lost her home in the fires of 2003 in which a tremendous amount of Southern California burned. Her family lost almost all of their belongings. I decided to make her a set of these ornaments so that she could have something beautiful to help her begin over again. And they’re so pretty that they’d be cheerful to look at. She said she’s had them hanging out all year round because they’re too pretty to only enjoy at holiday time.
Santa Claus is coming to town
This simple Santa is made from size 6.0 seed beads, faux pearls in size 6 mm, 8 mm, and 10 mm using thin wire. They're easy to make and would be a great project for children to do. They make cute package tie ons or ornaments. Just start at the tip of the hat and ho ho ho your way down to the curly tips of the beard.
Party Favors
If you’re planning to host a dinner party for some friends, an ornament would be great to put at each place setting. Or you could wrap each one and then every guest would have a gift to open. Are you part of a group, such as a Mommy group, secret pal, bunco players or a sport? A handmade ornament would be a great way to share some holiday spirit with your groupies!
 Now, if you’re like me, you’ll start making these oh, let's say, in March. HA! I’m not kidding. I told you I love Christmas all year round! Who wants to wait until the last minute to do EVERYTHING and then grumble about the cost and the time and lack of sleep to get it all done? Not me. Pace yourself. It’s a fun rainy day project, or snowy day project, depending on where you live. And at holiday time it will be a relief to you when someone shows up unexpectedly at your home, and you want to make sure you can share some holiday cheer with them. Hang them on your neighbor's door knob. Spread the spirit! If you start now, you’ll have some done for this year, but time’s a-ticking! What are you waiting for? Go get out some sparklies and get busy! You heard me! Go!
PS…
Happy Hanukkah to you! Hanukkah begins on December 4th this year, and hopefully at least one of your gifts will be beads!!! |
|
|
