Beading Instruction / Reviews | Eva Barkman Designs

Using Odd and Ends for the Cabochon in Bead Embroidery

Sometimes you want to do bead embroidery, but you don’t have a gemstone cabochon…or maybe, supplies didn’t come up in the financial lottery this month, LOL. With a little imagination, you can find things to use. Buttons of many types can be used…like a regular button, vintage button, fabric button and Czech glass buttons. I’ve been keeping in the back of my mind that stash of polymer clay that I have put up for a rainy day. You can make your own cabochons out of polymer clay. I’m sure that you can find other things to use.

Using Odd and Ends for the Cabochon in Bead Embroidery

I made this embroidered pendant (fabric button) and right angle weave necklace. I have a few really nice fabric buttons and this one got picked first. I decided to use shades of purple (my favorite color) and I had a few ideas to embellish it. I was able to get the needle through the material at the dome of the button to add pretty little #15’s (tiny gold seed beads). They add a little sparkle to the pendant. Then I used different shades of purple to embroider around the button. I also used pretty navy colored seed beads.

You can see more photos in my Amazon Handmade shop. http://www.amazon.com/Beadwork-Embroidery-Bohemian-Necklace-Pendant/dp/B016FHNXAA?ref=hnd_adp_ap_10

Did you know that beading can become addictive? Most beaders have first hand knowledge of this.

Besides the beadwork and beadweaving that I have loved doing for some time now, I have fallen in love with bead embroidery. There’s something about finding the perfect cabochon…the perfect backing material…adding any combination of different colors, finishes, sizes of seed beads and cylinder beads (Delica) to embellish the cabochon…to tell a story with your beading or to create a gorgeous design.

There are many ways to bead embroider…bead artists have their own style, their own use of materials, their use of certain stitches. I have read several books on this and the different authors have their own particular style, but this is part of the fun…to try out these different instructions…experiment with all…develop your own style.

In my next few posts, I will provide you with some ideas and some instruction (book reviews) and tutorials. If you’re a beginner of beading, don’t feel overwhelmed…just take it step by step. Before you know it, you’ll be beading like crazy 🙂

In closing, I have posted a photo of my purple onyx agate cabochon and amethyst necklace listed in my Etsy shop, BohemianIce Artisan Jewelry. You can see the specifics of this necklace in the listing.

See ya’ soon 🙂