Making the detailed beaded flowers that Hannah Bøgedal Olsen is known for is a slow and exacting process – one that demands an eye for detail, a steady hand, and the kind of patience that most people simply don't have. Her process is based on focus, creativity, and patience. Check out her floral art and be ready to be impressed.
The Start of Hannah Bøgedal Olsen in the World of Beaded Flowers
Hannah first noticed a beaded flower tucked into the background of a clothing sales ad. It caught her attention immediately. She had never seen anything like it before and found herself zooming in on the image, studying the details. The flower was a marguerite – simple, delicate, and eye-catching – and she felt an instant pull toward it, as if it aligned perfectly with her sensibilities.
The process behind the designs
A few days later, a family friend gave her a box of beads, and she decided to try making one herself. The technique, known as French beading, opened up a new world. With countless tutorials available for crafting different types of flowers, she began experimenting and teaching herself the process, one petal at a time.
The Love for Beaded Flowers and Floral Art
The Danish artist is attracted to handicrafts that require a lot of attention to detail. She says she frequently enters what she calls a sort of addiction when working on her beaded flowers, a deep, concentrated flow when hours go by without her realizing it as she weaves beads and listens to audiobooks or podcasts. Her identity is based on her creativity, and she truly enjoys creating something that is both realistic and beautiful.
She is also conscious of the technique's historical background. Hannah likes to picture the patterns and information that have been passed down through the generations from woman to woman through hands and shared experience, as French beading is an ancient craft.
She says:
"It fills me with pride that I can continue something that has been done for centuries. Especially since it has typically been women who have been making the beaded flowers. I think women traditionally have been overlooked in the arts. Luckily, that is starting to change. But previously, the arts and crafts of women have been viewed more like little cosy projects. One example is knitwear. Knitting is a craft that is both meditative and requires a lot from the brain. It has a lot of value. Doing crafts like knitting and beading flowers takes a lot of time. You have to respect something that requires so much time in a world that moves so fast."
Photos and videos by: @hannahthebeadedflorist.
