Glass Beads, Crystal, and Silver

Beadwork is the art of stringing beads next to one another or sewing beads to fabric. Beads have actually been around as long as 5,000 years ago. Ancient tribes used beads to create adornments and fashion jewelry. Sometimes the adornments were a form of identification or status level. Ancient beads made from seeds and shells have been found along the Nile River.

The truth is beading can be very enjoyable. Many people enjoy creating their own jewelry or adding sparkling beads to a great article of clothing. Beadwork techniques include loom weaving, off loom weaving, stringing, bead embroidery, bead crochet and bead knitting. You can find many styles of wholesale jewelry using beaded designs.

Creating beautiful pieces means intense concentration, which allows the bead worker to really enjoy the creative process. One form of stringing is the Asian art of 3D beading. The beads are strung on wire and- by using angle weaves and peyote stitch- artists actually make bead figurines.  Native Americans loom weave with glass seed beads to create bracelets, belts, purses and much more.

Beginners with beadwork can start easily with bead kits, or some may be able to save a buck or two by gathering the supplies up themselves. Here is a list of equipment artists will need:

·Beads- This will be the most fun purchase. Variety packages can be purchased full of a combination of beads. Beads can be made from many materials, there are glass beads, crystal beads, stone beads, gold and silver beads, even plastic beads.  It’s best to start with one really nice strand or package and then find the spacer beads from there. If the artist is buying semi-precious stone such as turquoise beads then they should check the   quality rating. Also make sure the holes on your beads are wide enough for your stringing material.

·Stringing Material- This material can be cord, wire, waxed thread, hemp, or even fishing line. Buy plenty of length for the project in mind- bead patterns will often tell you how much stringing material you need.

·Clasps or Earrings- With clasps look for the easy to use magnetic versions. For earrings get French ear wires (sterling silver is best for sensitive skin) and the desired length of eye pin or hoops can be made with jewelry wire.

·Crimp Beads- These beads are crimped into place with pliers and hold clasps in place and prevent beads from falling off the string.

·Pliers- Jeweler’s pliers or a good pair of needle nose pliers will make using crimp beads much easier. They can also be used to bend wire and pull thick stringing material through beads.

·Other Accessories- There are several accessories that can make beading a lot easier, like a beading mat that is light colored for visibility and lightly textured so beads don’t roll. Small scoops and needle cases keep tiny things under control and a good pair of scissors is also a must.

The products of beadwork can make great gifts; some artists are even talented enough to sell their wares on the World Wide Web. Native Americans often sell their work for family income. Family and friends will be touched by personally made jewelry and may even request for more!  Beginning bead workers can experiment with freestyle pieces or there are easy to follow bead patterns available on the internet- some even for free.

Catbeadmischief.com celebrates bead work and is here to provide information on the art of beading. We don’t sell or endorse any products, we just want give those who are interested a view into the world of bead weaving. Our learning center features articles that are informative and helpful. Refer your friends to catbeadmischief.com and be part of the online community of bead-ers!

If you are looking for cat supplies and toys, check out allthecats.com!

 

Glass Beads | Crystal Beads | Learning Center | Site Map | Contact | Home

©