Della Robbia Glass Bead Fruit Garland with Leaves and Tendrils

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Della Robbia Glass Bead Fruit Garland with Leaves and Tendrils

Supplies: Large Fancy and Round Glass Beads, 1/8" wide Velvet Ribbon, Mixed Small Millinery Leaves, Skewer or Narrow Paint Brush, Ruler, Scissors, 6" Piece of Fine Wire (26 or 28 Gauge)

Step 1: Prepare your supplies: separate leaves, cut length of velvet ribbon (for a 6 ft. garland we used 10 ft. of ribbon), choose a pattern for your beads (we arranged our beads fancy--round--fancy--round...). Decide on your bead spacing (we placed ours 3-1/2" apart).

Step 2: Use the 6" piece of wire to make a "needle" by folding the ribbon in half about 3" from the end and looping the wire through. Make sure the ribbon is as flat as possible and twist the wire close to the fold of ribbon to secure. The goal is to make the ribbon and wire as small and streamlined as possible so it will pass through bead holes. You will remove the wire later.

Step 3: At the end opposite your needle, tie a knot 8" to 9" from the end of the ribbon. Add your first bead. Tie a knot to secure the bead in place.

Step 4: Measure 3-1/2" and tie another knot. Add another bead and tie another knot. Repeat until desired beads are added to ribbon, leaving 8" to 9" free at ribbon end. Remove wire "needle."

Step 5: Add leaves by wrapping wired stem around velvet ribbon two or three times between knot and bead.

Step 6: Create tendril by wrapping wire around skewer or tip of narrow paint brush. Continue adding leaves and making tendrils for all beads.

Step 7: Tie a slip knot at ribbon ends to make loops for hanging your garland.

Tips: Not all glass beads are suitable for stringing on velvet ribbon. Smaller beads have smaller holes and the ribbon will not pass through. Beads linked below are suitable choices. Please note that due the the handmade nature of the beads, each is slightly different with a slightly different hole.

For round beads, we used 18 mm. Holes on 14 mm may allow the ribbon through, but without the needle, and it's possible not every bead will fit.

Velvet leaves look especially beautiful paired with the velvet ribbon. We used a mix of both velvet and fabric.

If bead hole is large, tie two knots -- one on top of the other -- so the knot is thicker and won't pull through.

A green ribbon imitates a green vine, but unexpected colors look fantastic paired together -- let your imagination guide you!