Answers to FAQ
Caring for your Beaded Items
To clean, dust as you would other ornaments, use compressed air, or submerge in warm soapy water, rinse and allow to air dry. Opaque beads should be color-fast, but other finishes may fade in direct sunlight, with over-washing, with wear (too much reshaping) and/or over a very long time. I have not experienced French beaded items rusting, fading or changing color, but it can happen. Do not use any harsh chemicals.
Commissions and Custom Orders
See Guide to Custom and Commission Orders.
I am VERY interested in creating commissioned pieces for weddings and other events, for places of work, for your home, etc.
Feedback
Feedback on any aspect of this site or its products and services would be greatly appreciated. Contact Me to give me feedback, or view Customer Feedback and Action Shots to see what others have said.
History of French Beaded Flowers
French Beaded Flowers were originally made by French peasants who collected discarded beads otherwise used in embroidery and shaped wire and beads into flower wreaths for burial memorials and altar decorations.
My beading 'career'
I have been beading for 10 years and have relatively recently discovered French beaded flowers and greenery. Most of the patterns I use are taken and adapted from patterns devised by Virginia Nathanson. Credit is given where appropriate to Nathanson and any other designers' patterns I have used.
Along with the French wire bead-weaving technique, I am also familiar with Victorian wire bead-weaving and several thread bead-weaving stitches which I may incorporate into my work.
I have beaded for my whole family and am running out of birthdays and events for which I give away my creations as presents. So, that is why you are reading this: because you are interested in my work and may want a piece or pieces of it for yourself or to give away!
Ordering
You can order anytime by clicking Add to Cart, or emailing me at amy@sculpturalbeading.com or by using the contact form on the Contact Me page to ask for custom orders or to commission a piece not displayed. Commissions and Custom Orders will go up labelled "Reserved for (your name or email address)" when completed and hopefully no-one else will be rude and buy it before you do.
Postage and Delivery
Postage costs extra.
I will ship internationally.
Mailed items will be packed with all possible care, however may need reshaping, which can be done easily by gently shaping with your fingers. Postage is at the customer's own risk. Pickup or hand delivery by proxy is preferable. I will gift-pack in matching tissue paper and box (or cellophane and ribbon for pickup and hand delivery) upon request.
For cut flowers, it is recommended that a vase or container be ready to receive the item, as laying items down can misshape them.
Pricing
I reserve the right to change my prices on this site as I see fit. Once quoted to a customer though, I will, of course, stick to that price for that particular transaction. Premade or ordered-by-pattern items are priced per hour plus costs for materials. One piece may take anywhere between half an hour (daisy rings, for example) and over 100 hours (for an arrangement, for example), depending on size, complexity, etc. I have no specific formula that I can share, but there are many considerations.
Custom and commission orders are priced after completion and are negotiated between myself and the customer.
Technical Questions
All French Beaded Flowers and Foliage and other items are typically made with size 11 Czech seed beads, 26, 28 or 30 gauge Parawire, 14 gauge fencing wire, floral tape and/or jewellery and accessory findings. For specific materials used for an individual piece, Contact Me.
I am more than happy to answer any beading questions you may have.
“ Unphotographed"
Unphotographed items will be updated with descriptions when they are made and photographed, but are still available for order. I will add items from time to time as I aqcuire and/or learn new patterns. I am always looking to improve my work and better its presentation, so check back for new photos and webpage updates.
Your Specifications
If you have any specific alterations you'd like done to existing listings, please don't hesitate to ask. I can make stems longer or shorter, thicker or thinner, a different shade or color; I can make blooms with more or less petals, different colors; I can make leaves of a different type, size, shape, color... If you're making a bouquet of individual stems, I can make all items of the same height, or varying heights. I can also perhaps give you a discount for buying several items at once, or strike a deal for making up an arrangement. Give me a yell, and we'll see!
For color choices, please visit my bead supplier, Easy Beads, and let me know what you choose so I can order the color(s) I do not already have.
For wire colors and for findings choices, see Glossary, or please visit Empire Beads to view what is available and let me know what you choose so I may order items if I do not already have them.
To clean, dust as you would other ornaments, use compressed air, or submerge in warm soapy water, rinse and allow to air dry. Opaque beads should be color-fast, but other finishes may fade in direct sunlight, with over-washing, with wear (too much reshaping) and/or over a very long time. I have not experienced French beaded items rusting, fading or changing color, but it can happen. Do not use any harsh chemicals.
Commissions and Custom Orders
See Guide to Custom and Commission Orders.
I am VERY interested in creating commissioned pieces for weddings and other events, for places of work, for your home, etc.
Feedback
Feedback on any aspect of this site or its products and services would be greatly appreciated. Contact Me to give me feedback, or view Customer Feedback and Action Shots to see what others have said.
History of French Beaded Flowers
French Beaded Flowers were originally made by French peasants who collected discarded beads otherwise used in embroidery and shaped wire and beads into flower wreaths for burial memorials and altar decorations.
My beading 'career'
I have been beading for 10 years and have relatively recently discovered French beaded flowers and greenery. Most of the patterns I use are taken and adapted from patterns devised by Virginia Nathanson. Credit is given where appropriate to Nathanson and any other designers' patterns I have used.
Along with the French wire bead-weaving technique, I am also familiar with Victorian wire bead-weaving and several thread bead-weaving stitches which I may incorporate into my work.
I have beaded for my whole family and am running out of birthdays and events for which I give away my creations as presents. So, that is why you are reading this: because you are interested in my work and may want a piece or pieces of it for yourself or to give away!
Ordering
You can order anytime by clicking Add to Cart, or emailing me at amy@sculpturalbeading.com or by using the contact form on the Contact Me page to ask for custom orders or to commission a piece not displayed. Commissions and Custom Orders will go up labelled "Reserved for (your name or email address)" when completed and hopefully no-one else will be rude and buy it before you do.
Postage and Delivery
Postage costs extra.
I will ship internationally.
Mailed items will be packed with all possible care, however may need reshaping, which can be done easily by gently shaping with your fingers. Postage is at the customer's own risk. Pickup or hand delivery by proxy is preferable. I will gift-pack in matching tissue paper and box (or cellophane and ribbon for pickup and hand delivery) upon request.
For cut flowers, it is recommended that a vase or container be ready to receive the item, as laying items down can misshape them.
Pricing
I reserve the right to change my prices on this site as I see fit. Once quoted to a customer though, I will, of course, stick to that price for that particular transaction. Premade or ordered-by-pattern items are priced per hour plus costs for materials. One piece may take anywhere between half an hour (daisy rings, for example) and over 100 hours (for an arrangement, for example), depending on size, complexity, etc. I have no specific formula that I can share, but there are many considerations.
Custom and commission orders are priced after completion and are negotiated between myself and the customer.
Technical Questions
All French Beaded Flowers and Foliage and other items are typically made with size 11 Czech seed beads, 26, 28 or 30 gauge Parawire, 14 gauge fencing wire, floral tape and/or jewellery and accessory findings. For specific materials used for an individual piece, Contact Me.
I am more than happy to answer any beading questions you may have.
“ Unphotographed"
Unphotographed items will be updated with descriptions when they are made and photographed, but are still available for order. I will add items from time to time as I aqcuire and/or learn new patterns. I am always looking to improve my work and better its presentation, so check back for new photos and webpage updates.
Your Specifications
If you have any specific alterations you'd like done to existing listings, please don't hesitate to ask. I can make stems longer or shorter, thicker or thinner, a different shade or color; I can make blooms with more or less petals, different colors; I can make leaves of a different type, size, shape, color... If you're making a bouquet of individual stems, I can make all items of the same height, or varying heights. I can also perhaps give you a discount for buying several items at once, or strike a deal for making up an arrangement. Give me a yell, and we'll see!
For color choices, please visit my bead supplier, Easy Beads, and let me know what you choose so I can order the color(s) I do not already have.
For wire colors and for findings choices, see Glossary, or please visit Empire Beads to view what is available and let me know what you choose so I may order items if I do not already have them.