Guest Post - The Beaded Pillow

Today I'd like to introduce Karen from "The Beaded Pillow."  She does beautiful and unique work with fabric and beads. Come on, take a closer look...  Take it away Karen....

Several years ago I bought some beads to make a necklace. I enjoyed creating something pretty and useful with my own hands and started making jewelry to sell at craft fairs. Then a friend, who also made custom drapes, asked me if I would have a use for her fabric sample books. I love to recycle and reuse so I said yes and shortly after started The Beaded Pillow.

My one-of-a-kind pillows are mainly embellished with seed beads and the occasional faux pearl, but I like to use vintage buttons and glass beads as well. 

Heavier fabrics work best to better “seat” the beads. Bold colors and fun prints are fun to work with but I try to offer neutral pillows as well. I have my personal favorites – they seem to dominate in my Etsy shop – but I also try to consider all tastes and décor options for my customers and do my best to offer a variety.

I work alone and since I create each item by hand, from selecting the fabric and beads, to sewing and beading, it is often a slow process to list a new pillow for sale. Sometimes I can finish a small pillow in a day, but a pillow like Orange Octopus may take up to two weeks. I’ve never actually counted how many beads go onto such a detailed beaded pillow – best guess would be hundreds!

Besides pillows, I create beaded coasters, ornaments/hangers, caps and pendants. I find myself getting too comfortable doing the same thing and remind myself to be open to new ideas.

What I can’t live (well, work) without: a foam work pad, straw needles (the only needles that work with seed beads!) and my MP3 player loaded with good stories.

This bead rack on my work table holds the tubes of beads I use the most...

A typical pillow kit includes fabric, backing, threads and beads....

I use a small piece of foam to keep seed beads from rolling away...

Naming a pillow happens while I work.  This is Spring Birds.....

One completed Spring Birds.....

Seed beads and small faux pearls.....

This butterfly is small so I've only beaded its wings with transparent orange and  mango seed beads...

Spring Birds is complete!

Thanks Karen.  I really enjoyed seeing how you work your magic with beads.  Your rack of bead tubes is colorful eye candy.  Who wouldn't be happy sitting and working with such colors? It was a real treat to get to see a work in progress.    Please visit Karen's blog and her Etsy Shop!