HOW WE DO IT

What you'll need to get started:

1)  ?? Gauge wire to use for your Bead-Elle framework

2)  ?? Gauge wire to thread with beads and wrap the framework

3)  Wire cutters

4)  Needle nose pliers

5)  Plenty of seed beads and complementary accent beads

Tip:  Try to use tools that are easy to hold and use with one hand.

The first thing you need to do is find an image you like. It's best if the image is clearly defined.  Sometimes children's activity books, story books, or colouring books can be great sources for images. Remember those days of colouring books and crayons?  As we got better at colouring, we discovered that if we outlined the image in black all our "colourings" looked, well - awesome! 

In our example, the outline of the "dragon" is clear and easy to follow.

To start our project, outline your choosen image using the ?? gauge wire.  It's great if you can use on long, single strand of wire so there is only one join.  You want to plan your join in an area of the outline that will not affect the over all design.   Use the needle nose pliers to bend the wire for small details (i.e.: the toes of our dragon).

You may find that the outline feels somewhat "flimsy".  If so add a few support wires across the piece, making sure you snip off and tuck in any wire ends.  These ends will later be buried in beads so there'll be very little chance of anyone getting accidentally poked by a snipped wire.

Cut about an 8" sting of the ?? gauge wire.  Twist and wrap one end to the framework you've just created. 

Tip:  It really doesn't matter where you start... but if usually at the widest area.