I've not heard the index card trick before -- sounds interesting.

I can't run down either ultrasuede or Lacy's Stiff Stuff locally, although
I've got my eye on some ultrasuede scraps on eBay.

Thanks for the tips --

Elise


"Kandice Seeber" wrote in message
...
Here's what I have done in the past -
With e6000 glue, attach some fusible interfacing fuse side up onto an
index
card. Then glue your cabochon onto the interfacing side of the card.
Using
a number 11 or 12 English long beading needle, sew your beads (I use a
back
stitch, 4-6 beads at a time, weaving through my work on occasion to secure
it) on around the cabochon (or in whatever design you wish) using
conditioned Nymo or Silamide (I use Thread Heaven to condition). Then
take
some Ultrasuede (polyester, very durable, get it at fabric stores) and
glue
a piece a little larger than your design to the back of the paper,
covering
all stitches.
Then snip the paper/suede backing close to your design, without
accidentally
snipping your stitches. (Fingernail clippers work great, getting close to
the design without ruining it.) Then do a picot stitch (or whatever you
prefer) around the edges, catching both the suede and the paper, weaving
through your work to attach all the elements of the design.
This I learned a long time ago in a book, but I can't remember the book.

Hard to describe without pics, but I hope it helps a little!

--
Kandice Seeber
Air & Earth Designs
http://www.lampwork.net

I just took a class on beading cabochons. It was not, I fear, very well
taught, and left me with a bunch of questions.

Question 1 is about backing. The directions I have always read said to
glue
your cab to Lacy's Stiff Stuff. We just glued ours to leather, which
was
a
bit hard to sew through, then just glued another scrap of leather on top
of
that to cover up the stitch lines. This resulted in a fairly thick,
fairly
bumpy back since the leather had been wadded up in a bag. I'm assuming
Lacy's Stiff Stuff would have been easier and neater for the first
layer,
but I'm also wondering if any non-wover interfacing would do as well?

Question 2 is about making a bale. We peyote'd a bail directly off the
top
of the cab, which I didn't much like. I've taken my off, put a picot
around
the edge of the whole thing (and peyote'd around much of the back to
cover
up most of the bumpy ugly leather). I'm probably going to reinforce the
two
top picots and come off them to attach to a necklace. How do you attach
a
beaded cab?

Question 3 is about thread. This is the second class I've taken where
the
teacher didn't bother to either condition or stretch her thread (Nymo --
sorry, Sooz) before beginning. I am pretty compulsive about
conditioning
and stretching. Is this just a matter of preference? Or is there a
reason
I go through my stretching and conditioning rituals?

Question 4 is for the Grammar Curmudgeons amongst us: Can I use peyote
as
a
verb?

Inquiring stitchers want to know ...

Elise