Please visit our NEW Beadwax page

I am happy to introduce a product that I have created just for this type of artwork.  Beadswax is a high quality, buttery wax mixture with the pleasant smell of honey. Softer than pure beeswax, it will not dry out and reject the beads over time.  It works perfectly for long lasting inlaid bead art and is very easy to use. Beadswax can be applied to many different art surfaces, as long as there is sufficient "tooth" to hold the wax and the surface is not flexible. You may want to try Beadswax on gourd, clay, wood, or paper mache pieces. Consider making decorative masks, figurines, bowls or ornaments. Once you've chosen a piece you'd like to bead you're ready to begin.

Above left,  paper mache box, egg gourd, and gourd bowl ready for Beadswax.  On right,  waxed gourd egg  and gourd bowl.

Beadswax can be applied two different ways.

1. Melt the wax in a double boiler.* Using an old paint brush, paint the melted wax on the surface to be beaded. Once this solidifies follow with another coat or two....or,
2. Shave pieces from the bar and knead until workable. Then press the wax evenly over the surface to be beaded.
   The wax should be laid on thick enough to push the beads in to 2/3rd's of their depth.
    *beeswax is flammable, do not leave melting wax unattended
 

pressing kneaded Beadswax into bowl

outlining bead design

 

Once the wax is solidified on your art surface you can plan your design and start laying in beads.  Lightly scratch your design into the wax with a beading needle.  Pick up beads with your beading needle or tweezers and lay them onto the wax.  Press in gently to about 2/3rd's depth of the bead.                                  at right, design sketch, bead palate    and beginning bowl

Here are some helpful hints learned from my own work.
 * Sketch a design on paper.  My designs are more free form than geometric and I often change them
slightly as I work.
  *Work out a color scheme. Brightly colored beads show best.
  *Use whatever size bead you prefer.  I use 11/0.  High quality seed beads with a uniform shape and size will
give a beautiful finished surface.
  *Make a beading tool by adding a polymer clay handle to a bead needle.
  *Work from the center outward. I sometimes outline shapes of various colors.
  *If you need to fill in an odd shaped little space, lay a bead or two in sideways.
  *If you like to lay in several beads at once or are working on the outside of an object and the surface is not sticky enough, apply a THIN film of white petrolium jelly to the surface.
 

Finished bowl displayed in ivy candle ring             Once your art work is done, a little care will keep it a beautiful heirloom. Beadswax is mostly beeswax, so you should avoid displaying your work in overly warm or sunny places. If more than a light dusting is required, rinse the piece in cool, soapy water and air dry.