• Add some ornate cloisonne beads to your collection.jewlery beads and charms image by Ralph Petty from Fotolia.com
  
  Cloisonne beads feature intricate designs, often flowers, rendered in colored enamel, metal and wire. They are available in a range of shapes and designs, but all cloisonne beads have a distinctive, recognizable appearance. Use them to make jewelry and brooches, stitch them to other fabric projects as decorative embellishments and alongside other kinds of beads in any beading project.
  
  

Beaded Fabric Bowl Cover

• Because cloisonne beads are made from metal and enamel, they are relatively heavy compared to plastic and glass beads. This makes them an appropriate choice for a beaded fabric bowl cover—a useful item and easy handmade gift. A fabric bowl cover is essentially a circle of lightweight fabric with beads dangling at regular intervals around the edge. When you place the cover over the top of any bowl smaller than the fabric circle, the cloisonne beads will dangle over the sides of the bowl. The weight of the beads pulls the fabric down, forming a taut cover that is handy for keeping flies off food when dining outdoors. Simply cut a circle of lightweight fabric, fold and stitch a narrow hem around the edges, and choose a selection of cloisonne beads that compliment the fabric color. Mark the points where you will stitch the beads around the hem at around 1- to 2-inch intervals, then sew them in place.
  
  

Easy Cloisonne Brooch

• Some kinds of cloisonne beads are large enough to wear alone as a brooch. If you find such a bead, turning it into a brooch is quick and easy with the correct hardware. If you have several smaller cloisonne beads that would look good together as a brooch, there are many ways to achieve that, too. Buy a brooch back of an appropriate size and either some jewelry wire or super glue to attach the brooch back to the bead. If you use wire, anchor it through one of the holes on the brooch back, thread it through the bead or beads, then thread it back through the brooch back.
  
  

Cloisonne Jewelry

• There are many options for using cloisonne beads in jewelry-making. The simplest beaded jewelry you can make is a string of beads threaded together and joined in a loop to form a necklace or bracelet. Use just cloisonne beads or a selection of different kinds; vary the sizes of the beads or feature one large pendant flanked by smaller beads; fill the entire wire with beads or leave gaps. To make jewelry without the need for hardware and tools, thread the beads onto elastic, fishing line or nylon thread using a needle, then tie a secure knot to join the ends. Alternatively, use proper hardware such as jewelry wire and fastenings for a more professional finish.