As soon as the blue wax had cooled, without hardening, I splashed on some of the gold, and, turning the bead rapidly in the flame itself, the gold mingled with the blue, so forming a sort of marbled effect. This I also plunged into the cold water.
Then I chose a brilliant yellow wax, and, heating it in the candle flame, I squeezed the tip into a sharp point.
This, in turn, I heated, and dabbed it in regular intervals round the bead to form spots. While the spots were still soft, I pushed into the centre of each one a tiny piece of broken china, in a pure turquoise shade, pinching the wax to cover the rough edge.
Do not use the fingers to the sealing-wax more than can be possibly helped, as touching it takes away the glaze.
I made three beads similar to this design, and three in a paler shade of blue, with the same yellow spots, but using pieces of dark red china instead of the turquoise. These I strung with a three-inch length of small yellow beads (which I bought at the same shop as the box of beads came from, and which were also sold for children’s kindergarten work) between each large one, and the chain, when finished, looked truly beautiful. It certainly enhanced the beauty and value of the frock for which it was made.
Making Fancy Buttons.
To match the chain I made four buttons, used to fasten the shoulder-pieces of the bodice, in the same colours and the same design.
To make these, any old buttons that have shanks to them will do, but have shanks they must, as there is no other means of fastening them. I had four old brass buttons, with flat, shiny tops. With an old knife I scraped the face of each so as to make it rough, as the wax adheres better to a rough surface.
Pretty Uses for Beads.
I used a piece of cardboard—piece of an old box—and cut four small slits in it large enough to slip the button-shanks through. On the other side I slipped a burnt match into the shank of each, and by this means the buttons were quite firm and did not wobble about.