Red Man

As you make the figure, refer to our illustration. For the legs, torso, and head, refer to illustration A. When you create the arms, see illustration B. Some of the beads will vary from the illustration for the red man; refer to the photo as a guide. See a larger version of the finished red man.

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 an 8-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, an oval bead for a lower arm, 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. Do not loop end. Add a 1/2-inch silver bugle bead. Slide on a 4 mm silver bead and a twisted cone bead, and repeat sequence twice. Slide wire through a 1/2-inch sparkly bead (this will be the tree topper), and twist below it to secure. Trim wire. Bend wire to shape hands and arms as desired.

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

Sources
Wire for body: 26-gauge tinned copper, $2.99 for 15 yards, from Artistic Wire, 630-530-7567 or artisticwire.com. Feet: two 4 mm sterling disco beads, $3.60 for 10, from Fusion Beads, 888-781-3559 or fusionbeads.com. Hat: ruby bead (No. 9399GB), $3.30 for 10, from Ornamental Resources, ornabead.com. Waist ruffle: six 4 mm Czech machine-cut crystal beads in diamond cut in Siam Red (CZB-12, 5301C), $3.36, from Margola, 212-695-1115 or margola.com. Head: round silver bead (No. 1212), $27.50 for 12; tops of arms and legs: 4 small silver teardrops (L713NK), 30 cents each; forearms: 2 silver oval beads (No. 2275), $1.50 per pack; torso: silver bead (M813NK), 30 cents; hips: 6 mm silver ball, $4.80 per strand; bottom of legs: 2 thin silver beads (T415NK), 25 cents each; toes and hands: four 2 mm silver balls, $2.50 per strand; ankles, elbows, and top of hat: five 3 mm silver balls, $2.80 a strand; knees, neck, and between layers of tree: six 4 mm silver balls, $3.50 per strand; and tree: 3 silver cone beads (TN-89NK), 20 cents each; and tree stem: 12 mm silver bugle (132 Matsuno), $5 per bag; 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.