Forbidden Beauty Toadstool Brooch Bead Embroidery Kit by Abris Art AD-241

Bead Forbidden Beauty, a beaded brooch kit by Abris Art — a bright red toadstool dotted with white pearls, on a sparkling silver stem above a tuft of sequin-flecked grass. Worked with over 524 Preciosa Ornela Czech glass beads in 20 colours, plus microbeads and rondelle stones.

A little stitcher's folklore: in German and Central European tradition the red-and-white fly agaric is a lucky charm — a "Glückspilz", a lucky mushroom — and it appears on New Year cards for good fortune. Stitchers say a toadstool brooch brings its wearer a little magic and a lot of luck.

Why this kit: if you love cottage-core and fairy-tale style, this mushroom brooch is cheerful and quick to make. Great for beginners and a charming gift.

Kit includes: art canvas with the full-colour design printed on it, about 524 Preciosa Czech glass beads in 20 colours, Preciosa No. 13 microbeads in 4 colours, 10 larger Preciosa No. 6 beads, a microbead embroidery needle, decorative glass stones and accents (rondelles, bicones, bugle beads, half-round stones, pearls and sequins), beading thread, a decorative brooch clasp, and step-by-step illustrated instructions for the embroidery and finishing.

Each bead is sewn onto its colour-marked spot on the printed canvas. Then add the glass stones, cut the piece out along the outline and assemble it with the decorative clasp from the kit, following the illustrated instructions.

Finished size: 5.3×6 cm (2.09×2.36 in). A cheerful handmade brooch.