Kristal Wick - Fabulous Fabric Beads: Create Custom Beads and Art Jewelry

Welcome

Thus Sassy Silkies, my original handpainted silk scrolls, were born. They were my first fabric bead babies, and since then they have been joined in my repertoire with lots of fun new beads! While youre exploring the projects and techniques in this book, have no fear of making mistakes when it comes to creating your own fabric beads. Many times a mistake has turned out to be hugely successful in ways Id never imagined or showed me a better way to do something. Plop that paintbrush on that silk and go with the flow! Always remember theres plenty of fabric available, so experiment all you want. Go outside the box and break the rules! I believe that when it comes to true art there arent any rules, just a whisper inside directing you to add a dab of this or that color and see what happens. You can always add another layer or paint over it! So many of us have stashes of our favorite fabrics, beads, buttons, and other materials.

Fabulous Fabric Beads are a great way to use your stash and scraps, since you need so little fabric to create these beauties. Whats important is to embrace the creative process and PLAY! My hope for this book is to act as your tour guide and provide endless inspiration along your creative path. Now, take a deep breath and go make cool stuff! Kristal

Smoother fabrics work better, but some nubby fabrics can result in rich textured treasures, so feel free to play. Ive had the most luck with silks and cottons. Theres no need to prewash your fabric, just use it as is. If youre not sure how a technique will turn out, practice on a small swatch first. Always trim your fabrics after you paint and embellish them.