Description

French beaded flower pattern: Ruscus blossoms, berries and leaves

In flower arranging, ruscus leaves are normally used as filler. However, this unusual plant has a lot depth and can be a star on its own. Its flowers and berries grow directly on the leaves. In this tutorial, you will learn how to make the leaves as filler and make the blossoms and berries.
The blossoms and berries are completely optional.

Difficulty Level:
Leaves: Beginner Blossoms: Intermediate Berries: Advanced
You have the option of making just the leaves for a beginner level project. You can also make a combination of blossoms and berries.

Beads
You can use whatever beads you have on hand, but for your information, these are the beads I used:
Leaves:

• 11/0 Matsuno Dynamite Iris Green

Blossoms:

• 15/0 Miyuki opaque white luster pearl
• 15/0 Miyuki opaque luster yellow
• 15/0 Miyuki translucent gold luster cranberry

Berries:

• 11/0 Mastuno Dynamite transparent red

Wire

The wires recommended are the best for each unit. However, there are some suitable substitutions.
Leaf: 24 gauge green copper-core wire/ 30 gauge green copper-core wire- 22 gauge wire can be used if you’d like your leaves to feel more stable. Though 22 gauge could be hard to work with for some people. Lacing wire can be 30, 32, or 34 gauge. Using a thinner wire to lace may be harder to grasp or see. Thirty (30) gauge wire is thin enough and is easier to manage.
Blossoms: 28 gauge gold copper-core wire – 26 gauge wire can substituted. Some of the finer details may be harder to twist/wrap with 26 gauge wire.
Berries: 26 gauge red copper-core wire/ 30 gauge red copper-core wire – 26 gauge wire is the only recommendation for making the berries. Read above (Leaf) about lacing wire.

Stem wires
16 gauge galvanized steel wire – four (4) 18 to 22 inch (45.7 to 55.8 cm) lengths
18 gauge galvanized steel wire – four (4) 18 to 22 (45.7 to 55.8 cm) inch lengths

Finishing
The stems in this project are finished with floral tape. You can also wrap the stems with embroidery floss for a more polished look.