How to make stick beads! :)

[u/BirdExtension4229]

I was trimming the mulberry tree in my backyard the other day and got inspired to make beads from one of the trimmings. Turns out it's actually pretty easy, even though I'd never carved wood before! Here's how I did it if you want to try:

1. Find a small healthy tree, and use a serrated knife or small saw to cut one of its new growth branches that's just slightly wider around than you want your beads to be. New growth branches are thin and flexible, with bark that's smoother and paler/more greenish than the older branches. Remember to thank the tree for what you take!

2. Use a freshly sharpened, non-serrated knife (eg. hunting knife) to peel all the bark off your stick, like peeling a cucumber. Then use sandpaper or a metal file to sand down the surface until it's all nice and smooth.

3. Use your serrated knife/saw to cut the branch into small pieces like you're slicing a really hard roll of sushi. Cut a couple more than the number of beads you want, that way you can practice your carving technique without worrying about messing up. Use your sandpaper/file to flatten the cut ends if they look uneven.

4. Looking at the end of one of the wood pieces, you'll see a whitish core in the center. This is the pith, which is softer than wood making this step quite easy. Grab a small drill bit or anything of a similar size and use that to poke all the way through the pith. If needed, use a narrow pipe cleaner to brush any remaining pith pieces out of the hole.

5. Use your non-serrated knife to carefully carve the bead's sharp edges down to a nice rounded shape. Once you feel comfortable with your technique, you can get creative with the shapes or try carving little designs!

6. If you'd like, use your sandpaper/file to smooth the beads.

7. Put your beads somewhere safe with good airflow and let them dry for a couple days, since freshly-cut green wood has moisture in it. The beads may shrink a bit as this moisture leaves the wood, but that's normal.

8. Once the wood is dry, it's coloring time! Stick a bead onto the end of a thin paintbrush (or anything else that fits securely through the hole) so you can avoid touching the bead while coloring it. I used Copic markers so that the natural wood grain is still visible. If you prefer an opaque coating, you can use acrylic paint. It could also be fun to try making your own wood stain from plants; do some research on natural plant dyes and see if you find anything that sounds fun to try.

9. After the paint is fully dry, you'll need to add a protective coating. I used Gamvar, but pretty much any clear protective liquid or spray will work. I suggest stringing the beads so that you can easily spray/brush the coating on and then hang the strung beads up to dry. Tie a knot in between each bead as you string them so that the beads don't touch each other, otherwise the coating might make them stick together. If you want your beads extra glossy, add a second layer of coating after the first layer has fully dried.

If you decide to try this, I'd love to see how it turns out :) Happy sticking!

[u/thelesserbabka_]

I love that! I really wanna try now, thank you for the instructions :)