adding beads

[simplynaturalfarm]

I have never done anything with beads, but love the embelishment on crater bag and really would like to do a felted birdhouse similar to this for my mom in miniature. 

www.google.com/search?q=felted+birdhouse&espv=2&rlz=1C1RNNN_enUS367&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjGsvqcj6zSAhUs5IMKHfasD4oQ_AUICSgC&biw=1280&bih=929#imgrc=kiCwR8V89UwTVM:

what kind of beads are these and do you guys have a favorite source for them? I am going to ask my MIL to watch the thrift stores as I am more rural than thrift stores are

[lyn]

(Sorry but the link takes me to a whole page of bird houses so I don't know which one you mean.)

You can use any kind of bead to embellish felt and it's great to have a stash from which to choose. An economical way of buying beads is to buy jewellery or beaded clothes/bags/belts from boot sales/charity shops then carefully remove the beads.

As your stash builds you will need to invest in a storage solution so that you can keep and view your beads easily. Zippy pouches are a cheap and satisfying answer.
For example:
www.amazon.co.uk/Outus-Zipper-Mixed-Sizes-Pieces/dp/B01M0V0IHL/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1488057314&sr=8-4&keywords=zip+lock+bags+small

[Pandagirl]

It's all about preference. Plastic divider trays or or old medicine bottle with a bead on top to show color and size. Some craft stores sell a variety pack which might be a good start if your MIL can find something like that for you.

[simplynaturalfarm]

I'm not sure why the link doesn't work - when I click on it, a lot show up but there is one highlighted that is green and has beaded decorations all around it I've not seen a lot of beads, I don't have a hobby lobby, michaels etc around so I was trying to figure out if I could purchase something online easily - when I go to the bead websites they are overwhelming with how many things they have available and I had no idea how different they all were. Let alone figure out what size!

[MTRuth]

Those could possibly be E beads. Hard to tell though.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Thanks, I had not heard of e beads!
I found some pearlescent metallic that might be what I want. It is always hard to tell how big they are from pictures

[Shepherdess]

I would call them seed beads. They are the small ones. You can get them in the dollar stores. They usually have bigger ones too. I use a beading needle. My son sharpened one end so I could get it through the felt. the little beads do not like to got over the eye of a regular needle.  they look like this

www.amazon.ca/Housweety-Curved-Beading-Needles-125x0-6mm/dp/B00MP417X8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1488146641&sr=8-3&keywords=big+eye+beading+needle

[simplynaturalfarm]

I never would have had any idea how to do that - thank you!!!

[chookie2]

We recently watched someone thread beads onto mohair wool then attach mohair to felt with wisps of fleece and full it - worked well but beads need to have a decent hole to thread mohair through.I suspect cotton or rayon thread would work too and be thinner but may need more wisps of fleece to hold it down while fulling.

[halay]

Sue, I'm sure you an thread your beads onto cotton thread and make sure you leave some space in between and then put some wisps of wool on top. Mind though that if your beads are too small they may be eaten by wool during fulling.

[tracey]

I have noticed that some seed beads I have bought say 'non washable' on the container. I assumed this meant the colour would wash out, so I tested them by putting a few into a bowl of water for about an hour. They didn't change in any way but this may be something to bare in mind if adding beads before felting.  I agree with Nada, I think a lot a beads could disappear this way .

[lyn]

I hadn't thought of that - all my beading has been done on felt that wouldn't be washed.