That cluster of beading I showed you, from the Cork workshop – what did I do with it next?
It became the lid of a little box, which holds some earrings I made for my mother’s birthday.
The outer part is made of high-moral-fibre organic fair-trade cotton velvet, and the box is lined with some silk that I bought at that same event in Cork. I used two weights of card for the structure: some thicker stuff from the box our new router came in, and some thinner stuff from a cereal packet. Each piece is separately padded and glued, and they’re then sewn together.
It’s been more than twenty years since I last made a box, but it was just as much fun as I remembered.
I’ve been noodling around with various grandiose pattern ideas lately, and this is definitely one of the pieces that I’m going to write up.
If you’re interested, I’d love your help.
What aspects of this little project seem like they might be trickiest?
Is there anything you’d particularly look for in a pattern for this box?
Tell me all!
Truly stunning! I’m sure your Mum was (or will be) delighted to receive these as a birthday gift!
I love the contrasting black with silver lined seed bead eding , and of course the bead cluster sewn on the lid works beautifully!
I guess what seems the hardest would be constructing the box pieces so the lining and outer edges are sewn in neatly showing no raw edges. I think I would have to have a go at making one to see how it would be. A pattern would be great!
Love the earrings too!
I love your box . It brings back memories of making one for my City & Guilds – we were required to make ours without glue! Reason being that glue will deteriorate over time and even in the short term might – and it is only a “might” start to seep through and damage those lovely silks. So we used a combination of lacing across the back of the individual panels and stitch tohold the whole thing together. Curved needle, patience and lots of time required.
As well as the beautiful lid, I *love* the beads around the rim of the main box. It’s altogether gorgeous!
You made a treasure box! Oh! The little beads around the rim, how did you get them on there so straight?! (signed, the person who can’t ever do anything all in a straight line)
ps and the moral fiber, still laughing
I just want all the other commenters to know that *I* got to see the box in progress and saw the internal stitches in all their straight, fine glory, and now they can all be jealous. It’s even more gorgeous finished than it was halfway through though.
[...] Revolution makes a beaded box and talks about [...]