Ideas & Opportunities

People, especially those who have new homes, are now into home decorating and are really spending good money on home décor.

Materials needed:

With only your creativity and patience as main capital, you can get started on this beaded home accent project.

You will need the following materials:

Tassel cord (around P30 to P40 depending on the brand)

Assorted beads (different material, colors, shapes and sizes)

Nylon strings (size 10 or 11)

Metal wires and metal cones

Measuring tape

Scissors and pliers

You can buy these items at the Wellmanson’s store in Quiapo or in Divisoria, Manila.

1. First, choose a design. Then decide on the beads that you will use. For this project, we will make a curtain tassel with beaded butterfly.

2. Prepare the tassel cord by laying it down on a table or flat surface. Cut it into 8-inch long cords.Fold it in the middle. Cut a 35-inch long nylon string and use it to tie the cut cords in place. Make sure that the nylon cord’s middle part is the one tied to the tassel’s midsection and that it is knotted tightly. Insert both ends of the string into a metal cone, then set the material aside.

3. Make the beaded butterfly by cutting two pieces of metal wires each 15 inches long. Then, first make the lower wings by folding one end of the string and, before folding the wings to form, insert your preferred beads on the wing surfaces in equal numbers. Make the upper wings following the same process. Connect the upper and lower wings using a piece of metal wire, then attach them to a cylindrical bead to form the butterfly’s body. Insert the wire onto the bead’s hole, then loop to tighten. Make sure the body and wings are aligned properly.

4. Attach the butterfly’s head and antenna by inserting a wire onto a round bead, then twist the wire until it is secure. Allow 2.5 inches for the antenna, then curl its ends with a pair of pliers.

5. When the butterfly is done, insert the nylon strings into the butterfly’s body. Start beading the string. Decide on your desired pattern. A pattern can be established by varying the colors, sizes, and shapes of the beads. You can make short sequences of symmetrical patterns with larger beads at the center, you can alternate the beads, or you can incorporate semi-precious stones into your design.

6. Do the beading alternately from one end of the string to the other. This is to make sure that the design will be symmetrical. Decide on the length, then tie the end of the strings to fi nish.