Beaded Utensils

 
Beaded Silverware and Serving Utensils makes a great gift.  My friend, Barb Jahn, taught me how to do this.  

You will need:

• 20 gauge copper wire (silver colored).  Typically 20 gauge wire is found separately from the beading and jewelry area in craft stores.  So you may need to ask for assistance in finding it in a store.
• Silverware or Serving Utensils.  Beginners will probably want to get the serving utensils with a hole on the top.  This will provide for a better anchor for the wire.  You can find these at Target, as well as other stores.
• Glass beads
• Tool to bend wire and tool to cut wire.  (These will be in jewelry and bead isle of craft store).

To make:

• Cut roughly 12 inches of wire.  Grasp wire with wire tool and curl one end of wire so it makes a spiral (see photo below).  Place curl next to handle and wrap wire around hole several times (or handle if no hole).  You will need to hold curl tight against handle while you do this.  Add a bead (or two or three depending on size of bead) and wrap wire around handle a couple of more times.  Add more bead(s). Continue until you like the look.  Finish by wrapping wire around handle and again making a spiral curl near the base of the stem.  You may want to avoid getting too close to base of stem to avoid wire and beads getting full of mashed potatoes or whatever food is being served.