It's less than two weeks until the Christmas Show, and I'm feeling more comfortable with the number of pieces I've created. This project has really been fun for me, and I've been able to let my mind open up to all the opportunities for new designs and embellishments in my flowers.

Purple has always been my favorite color, and I probably use it too much, but I still had some of the lovely purple crystal teardrops so couldn't resist using them. This flower is just finished ... I used the crystals by surrounding them with silver boullion to make a pretty center, then made the petals with purple prepared thread. The first layer of petals are prepared thread with a few rows of wire at the outside. Before completing each petal in the second layer, I did a round with corrugated wire, then a few more rose of prepared thread, and finished with some rounds of purple wire. I love the contrast of the darker wire against the thread.

The mount is a candle plate, and I've used crushed sea shells to finish off the base.

I'm working at trying to find new ways to cover the stem where it attaches to the mount, and hope to have something new to share with you soon.

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Here it is mid-November, and only a few weeks remaining to create flowers for the Christmas show. I've had a wonderful time making these and sharing them with you.

Here's one I've just completed - it's made with silver wires and opal Swarovski crystals. The opal crystals make up the center of the flower ... each one is surrounded with Ganutell wire. This same wire is laid over the first row of petals which are made with prepared thread. The second row of petals, also from prepared thread, have little silver beads at the tips. On all the petals, I've used rows of silver wire on the outside.

The leaves are made with silver wire, and the stem is covered using silver wire as well. I'm using this technique more and more, rather than floral tape which has a more matte look. The completed flower is mounted in a crystal candle holder, which is then filled with small acrylic beads.

This flower is more contemporary in style than traditional Ganutell, and is also slightly larger.

I continue to work on the bead and wire fusion flowers where I'm combining the techniques of French beaded flowers and Ganutell, and will be sharing them with you soon. Have a great week!

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I love the look of Ganutell flowers created with lots of wire, but I think the use of prepared thread and wire together gives a wonderful texture and interest to the piece. Here's one created with both prepared thread and wire, and embellished with corrugated wire for even more texture. I've used metallic floss to prepare the thread ... it's slightly heavier than the plain rayon floss generally used for Ganutell.

The use of several materials in a single flower has made it possible to create flowers larger in size than those made with traditional prepared thread only. It also makes for a fun process and inspires unique and exciting finished work.

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I'm still working on Ganutell flowers for the Christmas show, and enjoying how this craft allows me to be creative with wires and embellishments. I'm finding I want to work with wire alone, and to create petals with different shapes and sizes. I have to say this is more of a contemporary style inspired by Ganutell, and not the traditional thread and wire flowers.

Here's one I just completed. I had some lovely seafoam green wire and some fiber optic beads in a similar color. Add some corrugated wire and the completed flower is quite whimsical. I've mounted the flower on a candle plate with crushed seashells.

I'm working now on a fusion of styles ... french beading and Ganutell ... a project I've wanted to work for a very long time. I'm quite excited with the finished piece. I'll share this one soon!

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I'm feeling really creative lately as I build my inventory for the Christmas show. I think I've mentioned I'm feeling inspired to make bead and wire flowers, and I'm having great fun using different wires and beads. I'm forever buying beads and wires for my stash, and I've accumulated some lovely items I can use in the flowers.

Here's a photo of a piece I've just completed. I used Swarovski crystals for the center of the flower and for the stylized flower 'buds' below it. The petals are made with gold boullion wire, often referred to as Ganutell. I used a tea light holder I couldn't resist buying.

After the rush of the holidays, I look forward to sharing with you all the different techniques for making these bead and wire flowers - they're totally fun!

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