| Could French bead flowers have anything in | | | | or petal as you wrap the spool wire around the |
| common with ballet? | | | | top basic wire. 2 - As you are about to wrap the |
| If you wanted to be a tap dancer, jazz dancer, | | | | spool wire around the top basic wire, tug on the |
| Irish-step dancer, gymnast, or even a | | | | top basic wire. Wrap the spool wire, and tug the |
| modern-dance dancer - you must learn excellent | | | | top wire again. Turn the piece over to check if |
| technique before anything else. For all these kinds | | | | the wire is bending in either direction. 3 - Learn to |
| of dance, the best place to develop superior | | | | work with the beads and wire a little bit on their |
| technique is in ballet class. There, you will learn to | | | | terms. If you can't fit another bead in the row |
| point your feet, stretch your back as long and | | | | that you're about to wrap, the top wire can bend |
| supple as it can be, the right way to carry your | | | | to one side just a little bit on that row, as long as |
| head and how to make your arms move as | | | | you straighten it back up the next time you |
| gracefully as the neck of a swan. After you have | | | | come up to the top basic wire, and if the overall |
| mastered this, you can then modify a classic ballet | | | | look of the petal or leaf is straight. |
| move into a wild jazz leap - because you now | | | | Once you have finished a few rows on your |
| know how to do it correctly. | | | | piece, turn it over and see if the wire is looking |
| For the construction of French bead flowers, you | | | | straight. If it isn't, the best solution is to take it |
| also must learn excellent technique. And, in my | | | | out and try it again. Try it a few times without |
| opinion, what is the one most important technique | | | | trying pressuring yourself too much. Don't worry |
| for this art? | | | | about making a misstep; that's the best way to |
| Rule # 1 - Keep a straight basic wire. | | | | learn. It's only little glass beads and metal wire - |
| It sounds so easy. Naturally you will keep a | | | | they are gentle teachers. This is a whole new |
| straight basic wire, you say. Easiest thing in the | | | | project for your mind, your heart and your hands. |
| world, isn't it? For someone who has never done | | | | Give yourself a chance and plenty of time, and |
| French bead flowers before, this can be a | | | | before you know it you'll be making perfectly |
| stumbling-block. | | | | straight basic rows. After that - If you want to |
| How do you stop a basic wire from going wrong | | | | make a flower with petals that curve in unusual |
| in the first place? Here are a few hints. 1 - Have a | | | | directions, you will be able to control it and get the |
| tack or nail fastened into a cutting board for a | | | | look you want. |
| working surface. Wrap the top of a very long | | | | Happy beading! |
| basic wire around that. Keep tension on the leaf | | | | |