Paper Beaded Burlap Messenger Bag
I am always in the look out for great projects involving paper beads. I found this great burlap messenger bag made from recycled coffee bags made by women from Guatemala in a store called Heavenly Treasures, they are a great organization who is also helping disadvantaged men and women in other countries. When I saw this bag, I thought what a great way to showcase all the beautiful paper bead tubes in my stash.
Paper Beaded Messenger Bag
I think you will be able to sew the beads directly onto the flap of the bag and embellish it with seed beads, you have a lot of possibilities here. What I did is sew the beads first together in ladder stitch using 28 gauge wire and made several strips enough to fill up the bag and then sewed the strips onto the bag. The bag is lined so the stitches do not show in the other side.
Strips of paper bead tubes
I find that it is easier to use 28 gauge wire instead of thread or beading wire to whip up a ladder stitch. I finished it off by adding paper bead tassels along the edge of the flap of the bag.
Paper bead tassels using round beads and seed beads
And, here is the finished messenger bag. The paper bead tubes is easy enough to make, you can make them using toothpick or babecue skewers. We also sell the bamboo paper bead roller which make the paper easier to come off from the stick. The smaller rounder beads can also be purchased at www.aubreysbeads.com
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