sewme47
 
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Date: 1/27/12 7:29 AM I am beginning the process of making my dd's wedding gown. We have purchased a lovely ivory Alencon lace, which we would like to adorn with hand beading. I have never worked with beads before and don't know where to begin....which beads are appropriate? what kind of thread to use? Is there a special technique for knotting each beaad? Where on the lace should I place the beads?
I'm not finding any information on how to properly approach this task! Does anyone know of a helpful website or book? ------
A balanced diet is a cupcake in each hand. |
ConnieBJ
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Date: 1/27/12 10:07 AM When we (and by "we" I mean mostly my mother!) beaded my daughters alencon lace, we went mostly by instinct. We used iridescent cup sequins, small pearl beads and swarovski beads. We embellished flowers, and did stems of the sequins. Just so you know, we used about 10000 of the beads etc, and it took months!
I have a few photos of us doing the beading, but they don't really show the technique. Basically we knotted after every "flower", so every 10 beads/sequins or so. Here is a link to the photo album- the beading photos are near the end. beading
We didn't find any good literature about this kind of beading- luckily my mom was schooled in a a convent school in Holland in the 40's and 50's and she learned so much about fine hand sewing that she (thankfully) passed along to me!
-- Edited on 1/27/12 10:14 AM -- ------
Connie Bontje
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sewme47
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IL USA
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In reply to ConnieBJ
Date: 1/27/12 10:59 AM Thank you so much for your comments! Just hearing about your experience is very reassuring. Maybe I'm over-thinking the whole thing...I have a tendency to do that.  ------
A balanced diet is a cupcake in each hand. |
sewme47
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IL USA
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In reply to ConnieBJ
Date: 1/27/12 11:04 AM Oh, and your daughter's gown is absolutey gorgeous!!! ------
A balanced diet is a cupcake in each hand. |
Luckylibbet
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Date: 1/27/12 1:46 PM Fine Embellishment Techniques by Jane Conlon has en excellent section on beading. ------
Suo ergo maledicto
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. - Steve Jobs |
sewme47
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IL USA
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In reply to Luckylibbet
Date: 1/27/12 6:25 PM Thanks! I'll try to get this through inter library loan. ------
A balanced diet is a cupcake in each hand. |
Rose Linda
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Date: 2/11/12 1:05 PM I work in a Bridal salon part-time. I get requests to bead gowns frequently. At first, I was at a loss too - because there just isn't a lot of information around, or examples of actual patterns or designs. The best way I have found, is to duplicate Wedding gown designer's beading patterns and techniques. In between my work, I check out beading designs that I like - and, draw them. Taking extra care to describe size of beads, sequins and Crystals. And, take photos close up. |
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