Beads have been made in Africa for thousands of years - they show wealth, culture, tradition amongst tribes, they give protection against bad spirits and bless the owner with good luck. They reflect the beauty of the sweeping landscape, its colours, and the wild animals of a great continent rich in diversity.
The beads you are about to make bear a significant and symbolic message of hope for Africa's giant of the plains...the elephant.
You will need....
- Air drying clay
- Bamboo kebab skewers
- Acrylic paint
- Brushes (fine, medium and a few square end)
- Jute twine
- PVA glue
- White paper or card
Creating The Beads
Let's get started.....
- Cut a slice of clay for each child.
- Divide the slice into equal parts …….bearing in mind that each bead should be approximately the diameter of a pound coin or a large marble.
- Roll each cube of clay into balls then pierce with a wooden kebab skewer.
- Set the beads aside to dry on a board or tray. Handle them with care. Try not to distort the shape of them.
There is no short cut to making these beautiful beads. Remember that you want to sell them and just think of the reason why you are making them. Put as much care as you can into each and every one.
That's the first stage done. Now onto Painting the beads.
