Conquer small-scale sculptural techniques with fun peyote stitch to make a sweet life-size bumblebee, complete with a fluffy body, legs, and a stinger. Attach it to anything or wear as earrings. Use 24k gold-plated beads in place of yellow to make an elegantly sophisticated bee! For that little extra kick, make a queen bee by adding a seed-bead crown.

Required Materials: 2 g 24k gold-plated size 15" Japanese seed beads, 1 g 24k gold-lined clear size 15" Japanese seed beads, 3 g black shiny size 15" Japanese seed beads, 1 g black matter size 11" Japanese seed beads, 2 gold-lined clear 4mm fire-polished rounds, Nylon beading thread in black and gold, 1x2" piece of black Ultrasuede cut into small strips. See project for complete list.

Tools Needed: Size 12 needles, scissors, awl, drinking straw (optional). See project for complete list

Originally Published: BeadworkApril/May 2010