On The Bench Today - Prepping Medicine Bottles to Bead

in beadwork •  7 years ago 

I just got in a half gross (72) 20 ml amber glass medicine bottles, so tonight I am prepping 12 for beading by adding the braintan leather. :)

Medicine Bottles 1l.jpg

First I make a paper pattern, and cut one in leather to be sure the size is right...

Medicine Bottles 1b.jpg

Next I make a card stock pattern, which will go in my pattern box for later, when I am done. And I cut 12 of each...Carefully making sure I do not waste any of this leather. The little pile there is all the scrap there is from this project, and they will be saved to use on other things.

Medicine Bottles 1d.jpg

All edges are saved to use on bags and other projects...

Medicine Bottles 1c.jpg

I add a few tack dots of e-6000 glue to tack the leather to the bottle and the cap. (it must be e-6000, or another comparable glue that will adhere to smooth non porous surfaces)

Medicine Bottles 1e.jpg

Then wrap the leather onto the bottle and hold for a minute while the e-6000 does it's thing.

Medicine Bottles 1f.jpg

Medicine Bottles 1g.jpg

I use beading thread and a beading needle to whip stitch the edges together. This is a nymo thread I have waxed, so nylon. Never use cotton thread with leather because the enzymes in the leather will eat through it.

Medicine Bottles 1h.jpg

Tuck the tail in after knotting, and trim the thread...

Medicine Bottles 1i.jpg

These bottles are quite a bit bigger than the little needle cases, but are perfect size for carrying daily meds. The opening is about 5/8" which will fit all sizes of meds and vitamins. I think they will be nice :)

Medicine Bottles 1j.jpg

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed :)

I am off to stitch all the rest, and hopefully I will get started beading them tomorrow!!

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Can't wait to see them all dressed in their finest with
your beautiful style of geometry, colors and knowledge!
I didn't know about the cotton and leather, if I did I forgot lol
I do use nylon with bee's wax, lots of wax down the road
from some bee folks. Years ago I got one them giant
spools of nylon thread, it's kinda a grey or light brown
color, will last me a lifetime I'm sure.
I looked up braintan leather wasn't sure what was the
softer looking leather was for easier to sew on :-)
I like how you lay out and show all the steps you take
making your awesome work! @elew
Take good care ❤

Thanks :) I like doing these posts...
Yeah, it is softer, and will last for hundreds of years. Completely different than a commercial tanned hide. This one I am using is buckskin from a friend who hunts and tans in Montana.

This is a good write-up
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/braintanning.html

If you ever want to trade some beeswax for something I make I would be up for that :) Not many bee keepers up here, because of bears.

I would be up for that :-)
How many would you like?
They are the long bar shaped
ones [🐝 🐝 🐝] lol

  ·  7 years ago (edited)

It depends, we will see what you want to trade for ;) You let me know what you would like that I make, and we'll go from there, okay?

Just as an idea, I can use anywhere from 10 to 50 of the little 1 oz bars, or more when I make candles every other year :)

Hmmmm I like all your work!!
I liked the shell wolf lady the you did, but I didn't see her on your
shop site, perhaps she already sold? I did see the little feather
which also tickles my fancy :-)

Yes, she sold. I am hoping to get some wampum carved this winter after the holidays though ;) You don't have to choose now, we can just leave it open until something fits you perfectly...

I just love seeing all your creations! I need to get some of the glue so I can put some leather on a few bottles I have and start practicing with my beading. Do you draw out your designs before you bead them?

Thanks <3
I will send you the graph paper so you can print some out to design on. Most things I just free form bead and let the design evolve as I go, but when I was just learning, or even now if I have a specific or very intricate design, I draw it out.

Ah ok! That's awesome. Thank you so much :).

Interesting that you do not use sinew but some great detail on how you do this, sharing for others to learn...

Thank you Weetree :)

I use sinew on some things, but not when I will be beading over it and want a smooth seam. I don't really know anyone who does. My grandmother taught me with dental floss, back before they made all the different beading threads...I used Tandy thread for years, but I am finding more and more that I like Nymo 0 and B.

Awesome to see how these are done step by step!

Thanks...yeah, they are not too difficult once one knows how. They just take practice and time :)

Nice work can't wait to see the beading

Thank you :) Beadwork coming soon! These are so much larger than the needle cases I have been working on, that the designs will be really fun.