It’s as if Klimt’s golden world has slipped into your hands, reborn in beads.
The lovers still embrace, their faces tender, their robes flowing with spirals and jewels, but here they shimmer and sparkle with every tilt of the light.
The embroidery becomes more than a copy, it’s a living mosaic, carrying warmth, intimacy, and radiance that glass and thread alone can conjure.
Materials Needed
- Seed beads in gold, black, red, and multicolor (15-20 grams each)
- 70 bugle beads in gold and black
- 30 rhinestones or sequins for accents
- Metallic embroidery thread
- Canvas or linen backing fabric (6”×6” or larger)
- Beading needle and strong thread
- Embroidery hoop
- Scissors
Step-by-step Guide
Step 1: Print or sketch a simplified outline of Klimt’s “The Kiss” onto fabric, marking main sections like faces, robes, and background.
Step 2: Begin with the figures, using small beads to shade skin and hair. Remember to keep stitches tight for fine detail.
Step 3: Move to the robes, layering bugle beads, sequins, and seed beads to mimic Klimt’s geometric patterns and spirals.
Step 4: Fill the background with gold beads, arranging them densely to create a luminous, mosaic-like effect.
Step 5: Add finishing touches with rhinestones or metallic thread for sparkle, then secure and back the embroidery for protection.
Notes:
Projects inspired by famous art take time, but they’re worth the effort.
You can think of it as painting with beads as the more shades and textures you include, the richer and more lifelike the result becomes.