Green Man

See a larger version of the finished green man.

As you make the figure, refer to the illustration. For the legs, torso, and head, refer to illustration A. When you create the arms, see illustration B.

1. Cut two 8-inch lengths of 26-gauge wire. Using round-nose pliers, make a loop at one end of each wire. Make legs: Slide a 2 mm bead onto one wire for toes, securing it against the loop. Add a faceted oval bead for a foot, a 3 mm bead for an ankle, a long bead for lower leg, a 4 mm bead for knee, and a teardrop bead for thigh. Repeat process to make the other leg.

2. Thread wires horizontally through a 6 mm bead, as shown. Bring the wire ends over the top of the bead, and twist to secure. Bend wires to shape feet and legs as desired.

3. Place torso bead over twisted portion of wire. Add a 4 mm bead for the neck; twist the two wires together. Add a 12 mm round bead for the head; cut one wire so that the trimmed end is covered by head. Slide a glass flower bead and a 3 mm bead onto remaining wire end for hat. Using round-nose pliers, make a loop at end of wire. Fit end into top of bead to secure.

4. Make arms: Cut a 6-inch length of 26-gauge wire. Using round-nose pliers, make a loop at one end. Slide a 2 mm bead onto the wire for a hand, a 3 mm bead for wrist, an oval twist for a forearm, a 3 mm bead for an elbow, and a teardrop bead for an upper arm.

5. Twist open end of wire tightly around body, just under neck bead; continue in reverse order to make other arm. Trim wire, and make a loop at end to secure beads. Bend wire to shape hands and arms as desired.

6. Slide six 4 mm green glass beads onto a length of wire. Wrap wire around waist, twist ends, and trim.

Sources
Wire for body: 26-gauge tinned copper (TC), $2.99 for 15 yards, from Artistic Wire, 630-530-7567 or artisticwire.com. Hat: 16 mm Olivine bead (No. 9399GB), $3.30 for 10, from Ornamental Resources, ornabead.com. Head: 12 mm round silver bead (No. 1212), $27.50 for 12; tops of arms and legs: 4 small silver teardrops (L713NK), 30 cents each; forearms: 2 twisted silver beads (TS514NK), 35 cents each; torso: oval silver (M813NK), 30 cents; hips: 6 mm silver ball, $4.80 per strand; bottom of legs: 2 thin silver beads (T415NK), 25 cents each; hands and toes: four 2 mm silver beads, $2.50 per strand; elbows, wrists, ankles, and top of hat: seven 3 mm silver beads, $2.80 per strand; and neck and knees: three 4 mm silver beads, $3.50 per strand; from Toho Shoji, 212-868-7465 or tohoshoji-ny.com. Feet: two 4 mm sterling disco beads (SS0504), $3.60 for 10, from Fusion Beads, 888-781-3559 or fusionbeads.com. Waist ruffle: six 4 mm peridot Czech machine-cut crystal beads in diamond cut (CZB12), $3.36 for 12, from Margola, 212-695-1115 or margola.com.