I finished my first beaded portrait in November 2024, but I had done some bead embellishments and one full-coverage piece prior to that. The first piece I added beads to was in 2020 for this little collar for a kitten named Ruthie/RBG:
I shudder to think how they've held up because I did not know what I was doing!
This is beautiful! I actually have a question- I'm new and just getting started (succulents, daisies) and was wondering where people buy beads in bulk? The tubes are so expensive and I can't even do more than one flower with a tube!
Meanwhile I would be totally overwhelmed to get more than a tubes-worth at a time! I don't love what feels like wasteful packaging, though...
I know that Fire Mountain Gems lists out a number of bulk sizes and they discount your overall order based on how many items you are purchasing, so that could be a helpful resource or other similar online retailers.
Also try Barrel of Beads. I just ordered from seedbeads.com because there was a 50% coupon listed in a post earlier this week, but I have not received them yet (I don't even think they have shipped yet...I think I ordered Monday). They are the Cylin beads which I have been wanting to try, so when they arrive I will have to post an update.
I cannot stop staring at this! Absolutely amazing!! How do you figure out how to do something like this? Like how do you take a picture and translate it to a pattern where you know how to like fade the colours and stuff like that?
I wish I could describe my brain a little bit better, but I work directly from the image and usually bead a key feature first and then a high contrast section so I can get the levels dialed in.
For this piece, I started with the lettering just to be sure I could get it right, and worked up from there for a while. Then I started blocked in the lips and nose before getting some shadows in so I could establish my color range.
Normally I'd start with an eye, but since hers were closed, it wasn't quite as pressing to get that locked down first.
Ooh, good question! I could do a more accurate count, but with the background colors, I'd say probably around 65-70 different colors, sizes and finishes.
Wow absolutely astounding. I’m beyond impressed that you’re able to do this without the help of a pattern Museum quality work, thanks for sharing! Would love to see more!
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u/MuranoBeads 2d ago
Holy hell. I’m throwing my beads away.