Beautiful Bead Stitching On Canvas
By Ann Benson

     I bought a book by Ann Benson some years ago, which detailed her techniques of bead card stitching and bead weaving by hand to make jewelry and accessories. I had many happy hours making items using these techniques, and was impressed by the clear instructions and diagrams as well as the lush photography. This book covers the stitching of seed beads to canvas, reviving a technique popular with the Victorians. Make pillows, purses, pictures, holiday ornaments and wearable items using this method; your imagination is the limit. Start with something small and simple (a button cover) and progress to larger, more complex items.

     First you learn all about seed beads, and there is a lovely photograph of these little darlings, looking good enough to eat. This book goes into the subject in some detail, talking about sizes, storage, origins and how many you get per gram. Then there is canvas and how it differs, and how to read a chart to do beadpoint, add odd shaped beads and prepare the canvas and threads. It is an easy technique to master if you have done any tapestry, cross-stitch or other counted thread work before. Each project has large colored diagrams and helpful instructions on making up the item. My favorite part though is at the reverse of the book where there are several blank shaped charts for designing one's own beadwork projects. Sadly they aren't all covered (I looked for a blank evening collar template in vain) but the patterns are so large that a little effort and a scanner or photocopier plus the rectangle of blank squared paper helpfully provided ought to produce this and many other items. This is a beautifully produced book that is easy to understand and a whole lot of fun. Just the book in fact to convert a tapestry or cross stitch fan into a beader!

If you cannot find the materials locally try www.searchpress.com for a list of suppliers.

In the UK: G J Beads
Spellbound Bead Co