Show Us Your BEAD WORK, Pards

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Looks good, KT. Thanks for sharing the pic.

[KidTerico]

Thanks Marshal Will. KT

[Ben Beam]

I'm inspired by such beautiful work, and may give it a try myself. I noted that on close ups of many of the pieces that there's some staining to the beads that gives them a very aged/rustic appearance, and was curious if this is because they are vintage beads or if people are doing something to stain them?

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I believe the newer beads are brighter in color than the originals. Also, some people may soak them in something to stain them slightly. I wouldn't know what would stain a glass bead very well, though. If you look on ebay you may be able to find some of the vintage ones.

[Ben Beam]

This beautiful piece from the first page of this post shows what I'm talking about well: see on the beads that some have brown staining:

[CraigC]

I'm inspired by such beautiful work, and may give it a try myself. I noted that on close ups of many of the pieces that there's some staining to the beads that gives them a very aged/rustic appearance, and was curious if this is because they are vintage beads or if people are doing something to stain them?

You can't stain glass after-the-fact and it doesn't change color with age but I have been able to get some "crap" to stick to them and the leather they're sewn to to make it look more aged. Then it tends to wear off the high spots and the effect is really nice on an aged piece.

[Ben Beam]

Is this crap crap, or other crap? I'd rather not use crap crap if I don't have to.

[CraigC]

In this case the crap was Tandy's professional waterstain and/or antiquing gel. It's a little thicker than regular dye and has waxes in it.

I still want to experiment with other "crap" to see if it works better.

[1961MJS]

Very nice, KT. I have yet to do any bead work. It looks like it could be fun.

It looks EASY, but LOOKS ARE DECEIVING.  It was much easier to learn to carve the dang leather.  Line after line of seven beads, now hard can it be?  Well, them beads are small, they need to be purdy straight, using a beading needle to poke holes in the leather ain't gonna work, and the awl makes the hole too big.  Daughter didn't think much of the idea either and she was 26 at the time.

Later

[Marshal Will Wingam]

It looks EASY, but LOOKS ARE DECEIVING.  It was much easier to learn to carve the dang leather.  Line after line of seven beads, now hard can it be?  Well, them beads are small, they need to be purdy straight, using a beading needle to poke holes in the leather ain't gonna work, and the awl makes the hole too big.  Daughter didn't think much of the idea either and she was 26 at the time.

Later

Thanks for the input, there. I suspect that a specially made awl would be in order for that, then.

[1961MJS]

Thanks for the input, there. I suspect that a specially made awl would be in order for that, then.

That couldn't hurt, but I wouldn't know exactly what size to get right now.  I'd also get some magnification on the glasses.  When I tried beading it was TEDIOUS.  I did a good sized sheath in the last month and it wasn't' nearly as annoying.  NOTE that my work won't be mistaken for anyone else's here any time soon, but it looks much better than my beading.

Later

[GunClick Rick]

Finally done. I got it framed. KT

I knew ya couldn't stop!

[Wallace Foster]

From the Show your work thread, here is some of my very talented wife's Metis bead work.
The blue one is a finished barrette, for her hair and the green one is still a work in progress.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Your wife does nice beadwork. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with on a holster or other piece.