Inside the Studio with Humblebeads: Rustic Bird Ornament Tutorial

Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Linda Landig is our very lucky winner this week and will receive a Peace Bird Pendant from Gaea.  Linda send Gaea an email and she will get that right out to you!

Inside the Humblebeads Studio:

Welcome, welcome - please ignore the beads scattered over all the table from late night creative sessions, the pile of containers and boxes from my recent shows and that mound of paper work surrounding my desk that needs to be filed away and taken care of before the New Year.  It's a few days before Christmas and like most creatives who own their own business, it gets a little hairy trying to juggle business, celebrating the holidays and making time for family.

I have had a few things happen this year that have made me slow down.  It's been a year of trials.  And right looking at my self-imposed to do list and what is really important to me, I'd decided to stop right now with unrealistic expectations.  And I give you permission to do the same.  Take a few days off, enjoy the sights and sounds of the season.  Spend time with family and not making things.  You can do it.  Put down those pliers and step away from the table.

Here on the ABS we are going to take a break for a few days and offer you a review of the Best of the ABS from 2013.  This is my last holiday tutorial, the 12 Days of Christmas have become a scant 6 Days of Christmas.  But I know you'd rather see me spending time with my family than toiling away at tutorials, because I'd wish the same for you!

Rustic Bird Ornament

Supplies:
Bird Pendant - Lipstick Ranch
Tree House Bead - Humblebeads
Waxed Irish Linen
8 glass size 11/0 seed beads
6mm brass spacer

(Resources: Bird, linen and seed beads: Lima Beads. House: Humblebeads. Spacer: Hobby Lobby.)

Directions:

1. Cut a two 10" pieces of linen cord, string the cords through the pendant to the center of the cord and tie a knot.

1. One one strand of the cord, string on the spacer and house bead.  Tie a large knot with all four strands above the bead. 

3. One on strand leave a 1/4" gap and tie a knot, slide on a seed bead and tie another knot. Repeat with two seed beads on each strand, staggering the knots and beads.

4. Tie all four strands in a large knot at the top, trim cord if needed.

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The Art Bead Scene is planning out 2014 - tell me what would you like to see on the ABS in the coming year?  We'll choose one commenter next week to win a $25 gift certificate from Humblebeads.com.