Beading Basics: What you Need to Know to Get Started Beading

by bestselfhelp
Stringing beads is a fun way to reduce stress and explore your creative side. Put a colorful necklace together or create a beautiful matching set with a bracelet and a pair of earrings. Wear your creations, sell them, or wrap them in tissue paper and give them to your friends.

Basic beading is easy, fun, and relatively inexpensive. You will find beading supplies at most craft shops, art supply stores, and discount stores, in addition to the beading boutiques that often specialize in more expensive beads.

Here is a checklist of the basic tools and supplies you will need to begin working on your new hobby:

Beads
You will find an abundance of different sizes, shapes and styles to choose from. Start off with a few favorite colors using plastic beads so you can become familiar with color coordination and putting on the finishing touches. This way, mistakes will not be so costly. Work your way toward the finer glass, semiprecious, handpainted, wood and cloisonne beads.

Clasps
There is a wide variety of clamps, closures and clasps, also called findings. Again, do not be seduced into purchasing the best and the brightest in the beginning. Most products will have the instructions included on the front or back of the package, but if you run into a problem, consult a beading magazine or catalog, which you can find either online or at craft shops.

Containers
Depending on your budget and preference, you can use either the standard, flat containers or go up a notch to the drawer compartments that many people use in their workshops for nuts, bolts and screws. Any containers will do, but, while working, you will want your beads to be easily accessible. Storing beads in dark, confined areas makes them more difficult to work with and to color coordinate.

Crimping Beads
These are an important element in beadmaking. They are simply beads constructed of a flexible metal, which help keep the clasp attached to the necklace. Crimping beads come in gold and silver and in several different sizes.

Round Tipped Pliers
Invest in a good pair of round tipped pliers. You will need to use them often not only for picking up beads but also to hold the components while working with them. Flat nosed pliers also come in handy. Remember to select a pair that will allow you to crimp.

Trays or Boards
Using a beading tray is not mandatory but it makes it easier to preselect and measure your beads. Most trays are made of plastic and incorporate a measuring device either in inches, millimeters, or both.

Wire, Line or String
Again, depending on budget and preference, there is a wide variety of wire, line and string to choose from. Before purchasing, be sure that it is the correct size to fit the beads you have selected, or vice versa. Some beads have large holes to accommodate thick string while others, such as seed beads, have tiny holes that only thread or wire will fit through. You could even use fishing line to practice on, but beading wire is better it does not have a tendency to curl, shrink and distort the way plastic lines do. You could also use string, rawhide or thread. When beading with string or thread, use a special big eye or curved needle.

Children can also take part in stringing beads. Look for childrens beading supplies at most craft stores, generally alongside the adult supplies. Beading is a great way to teach children coordination skills, and to keep them happy and occupied while you are working on your beading projects. Keep in mind that many of these items should be kept away from babies and small toddlers.

Bead supply warehouses will often send color catalogs by request, listing hundreds of different products, along with accompanying images. Or you may want to subscribe to a beading magazine where you will learn different techniques and methods used by professionals.

Check online or at your local craft store for lots of great, free beading patterns and beading ideas. Once you have mastered the art of beading, you will be making attractive jewelry, and you will naturally gravitate to other beading projects. You may even start to decorate your handbags, create charming wall art, and make lovely bookmarks, suncatchers, key chains or plant holders. There are so many amazing things you can do with beads, you will wonder what ever took you so long to discover them.

The Joy Of Craft Bead Jewelry

by Samantha Davis
The latest rage sweeping the country is to have jewelry made from different types of beads in assorted sizes, colors and textures. The more beaded jewelry the better as you can change the appearance of your outfits to be more dress-up or causal.

You can purchase beaded jewelry from local stores or you can make your own by using craft beads. Local craft shops such as Michaels, AC Moore and others offer a wide selection, superb quality and low prices for the beads they sell. Whether you are a novice or experienced working with beads, you will find the beads, findings, wires, threads, tools and everything else you need to create stunning jewelry and decor pieces for your home.

Craft beads can be plastic pony beads, fabric beads, paper beads, pearl, glass, to Swarovski crystals and everything in between. Stores that carry beads usually carry a wide selection of literally thousands of different types and sizes of beads.

Some of the more popular types of craft beads include Bead Heaven, Elegance Collections, Crystal Innovations, Better Beads, Elite Better Beads, Fancy Finery, Westrim, Blue Moon and Bead Gallery assortments. There is also a wide selection of Bead and Jewelry Making Kits that are perfect for people just starting to work with craft beads. These kits provide everything you need along with detailed instructions to get help you start and complete your project.

As with any craft, you will need to purchase the proper tools and equipment. These can be purchased individually or in sets. If you are not sure you want to invest this much money on a craft that you are not sure you will want to continue doing, you may want to take a special training class offered at your local craft store. They will have tools available for you to use and if you decide to continue working with craft beads, you can then purchase the extra supplies needed for your new hobby.

Your craft store will also be able to provide you with great ideas on bead projects. Whether you take their in-store classes, work independently with a prearranged kit, or if you buy a book, the ideas for your own craft bead jewelry will be unlimited. You can make sets that include your necklace, bracelet, earrings, and pin and each set will be uniquely yours, which is a one-of-a-kind jewelry set.

You may think that you do not have the talent to create your own jewelry or home décor items using craft beads, but you will never know unless you try. Sign up for a class and start out small. As your skills develop, you can advance to more complicated projects.

Before you know it, you will be an expert at making your own jewelry using craft beads and your friends and family will be asking you where you bought your jewelry. And, who knows, you may want to start your own home business making jewelry for other people to purchase. The opportunities are endless and you are only limited by your own imagination when it comes to using craft beads.

Craft Beads, Old And New

by Candice Sabrina
Craft beads have been used to create jewelry and other decorative pieces for hundreds of years. In ancient times, stone, turtle shells, animal horns and hooves, and fresh water clams were used to make decorations. Now, beads can be made from semi-precious stones, wood, glass, and plastic â?? just to name a few. The possibilities with craft beads are endless.

Craft bead projects range from beginner to advanced, complicated designs. You can purchase craft bead kits at your local craft store or online. If you already have a supply of craft beads, you can find free patterns and designs online. There are even kits and patterns available for children.

By far, the most popular use for craft beads is creating jewelry. They aren't limited to use in jewelry, however. You can make holiday decorations, like beaded Christmas trees, or you can put beads on household items to give them a new flare. Another interesting project to try is to weave small beads together in intricate patterns to create stunning flowers.

Craft beads are made out of a variety of materials including glass, metal, terracotta, wood, plastic, stone, bone, horn, ivory, wood, ceramic, fiber, shell, pearl, coral, gemstones, seeds, resin, and clay. Beads can also be fashioned into many shapes including melon, oval, barrel, cylindrical, round, square, star, butterfly, heart, and flower.

When you consider the vast number of beads available, the possibilities are endless. The cost of individual beads will be determined by what they are made of, their use, and their age. You can even take beads from an old necklace or other piece of jewelry and craft them into a new piece that you will love.

You can create unique jewelry for yourself or create decorative gifts for loved ones. If you are going to create your own design, be sure that you have all the craft beads and other supplies you will need. You can do this by drawing out a detailed plan or diagram of the piece you want to create.

To complete a project, you will need craft beads, wire, wire cutters, and crimp beads. Crimp beads are soft metal and are used to complete a strand of beads. If you are creating jewelry, you will need the appropriate clasp also. If you would rather follow a pattern, there are books available at your local craft store, or you can find hundreds of free patterns online. Those instructions should give you a list of needed supplies.

You can purchase craft bead projects that are already completed at craft shows, stores, and online. The price of these items will depend on the type of beads used and the intricacy of the piece. You may also be able to find older beaded pieces or ethnic pieces. Native American, Mexican, and African bead craft are beautiful and unique.

Whether you are a beginner or an advance crafter, try doing some bead work. You will come to love using craft beads for their versatility and beauty. You will also love the jewelry and other decorative pieces you are able to create!

5 Things You Must Know When Using Beads in Cross Stitch

by Geordiejohnny
Beads can add a wonderful touch to your cross-stitch project. They bring dimension and beauty to any needlework. However, there are some things you need to know about beads so you can make sure they are appropriate for your project. There are also some tips you can use to ensure that cross stitching with beads is fun rather than frustrating.

1. Keep the Color Consistent
When working with beads you may wonder which floss to use, and you actually have a number of options depending on your design. You can match the floss to the color of the bead. You can also match the floss to the color of the fabric. Your third option is to purchase a special thread that is clear and designed specifically for attaching beads.

2. Use the Right Needle
Most of the beads you will use in your cross-stitch project are seed beads. These beads are very tiny and require a thinner needle. If your needle is too thick you will probably break a number of the glass beads. If you are using longer, bugle beads you can use a size10 beading needle.

These are long needles that allow you to string a number of beads on the needle at once. However, if poking yourself is an issue, use a size 10 tapestry needle. The ball-point will not stab you, but the needle is best for stitching on one bead at a time.

3. Use the Stitch That Works Best
When you stitch your bead on your fabric, you actually have a number of ways to stitch the bead depending on how you want it to lay on the fabric. For instance, if you want your bead to lie diagonally, you should use a half stitch. You would come up from the back of the fabric in the bottom, left corner, slip on the bead, and then bring the needle down through the top right corner.

However, you may also want your bead to lie vertically, so you would use a full cross-stitch. For a full stitch you will start like you would for beading on diagonal, but once you complete the half stitch, you bring the needle back up through the bottom, right corner, slip the needle through the bead again, and bring the needle down through the top, left corner.

4. Test Your Beads
Most of the beads you will use for your cross-stitch projects are glass beads where the color goes through the glass. Once in a while, though, you may like the look of another bead. You will need to check that bead to see if the color is in the glass or if it just has a coating on the outside of the bead. While the coating may look nice, it is not meant to last, and the color could chip off and ruin the effect of your project. Also, if you plan to wash your project, the beads will definitely lose the coating.

You can test the beads by putting them in your hands and rubbing your hands together. Check for flakes or pieces of color that come off. You can also put them into acid to see if the color comes off.

5. Check the Manufacturer 's advice
For the most part, the glass beads you use can be washed and ironed. However, you should always check with the manufacturer first. Still, if you do choose to iron your project, remember that glass can get very hot. So you should always use a thick towel under the project. Put your cross-stitch face down on the towel and cover it with a cloth. Make sure your iron is set correctly for your fabric.

About the Author

John Wigham has been a professional author and editor for 20 years and is a co-founder of Patterns Patch an online cross stitch club dedicated to counted cross stitch. The website has a small team of writers who are devoted to our cross stitch club and enjoy writing about their hobby.

 

Some nice BLOWN GLASS samples...

Below are some beautiful blown glass locket designs . Hope you all would like them. Please don't forget to give some suggestions.

Importance of Jewelery

Since time began jewelry has been used either for ornamental or for functional reasons, but always as a mark of distinction. The shape, dimension, complexity and richness of jewelry are important features which characterize the person who wears it. In ancient times, objects made of gold were nearly exclusively worn by the upper classes because of the high cost of material and labor - a worker had to work hard and for a long time to make objects of such great complexity. Those who could not afford such costs sought poorer materials such as bronze, a viable chromatic alternative to gold. In the course of time imitation became a productive reality, so that, by the end of the 19th and in the early 20th century, imitation jewelry was being produced in a large scale . In the beginning they used marcasite, synthetics and rhinestones as substitutes for precious stones, and not precious or semi-precious stones such as crystals, lapis lazuli, mother of pearl and others to create color effects. The use of all these colored materials, including ebony, plexiglas and above all silver, has been of great importance for the art of the modern goldsmith's. Between 1940 and 1960, first in America and later in Europe, a sort of competition took place: everyone wanted to try to eliminate a certain formal rigidity in the art of making jewelry and give a new identity to the design of jewelry, which was becoming more and more creative an innovative. It was prevalently during these decades that so many workshops were founded, and that the various artists who worked in them, at first in a experimental way and then with convincement and for stylistic reasons, managed to achieve fame and notoriety, finding their own role in the world

Swarosvky.....................the magnificient cut!!

Swarovski crystal was first created when Daniel Swarovski invented an automatic cutting machine in 1892. In 1895 the Swarovski company was founded when he established a crystal cutting factory in Wattens. Here he could take advantage of local hydroelectricity for the energy-intensive grinding processes he had patented.Swarovski crystal contains approximately 32% lead to maximize refraction. The Swarovski Crystal range includes crystal sculptures and miniatures, jewelry and couture, home decor and chandeliers.Swarovski Crystals are high quality Austrian cut glass crystals that are expertly faceted and polished to produce the finest quality crystals available. The reason for their popularity is that they sparkle & shine like diamonds. Swarovski pearl beads are beautiful, versatile and expertly crafted, and now they are available at CRYSTAL HOUSE ! We’re sure you’ll love using these coated crystal pearls along with other Swarovski beads, pendants and components for stunning results.

Evil eye bead.............protect yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today, the real Turkish glass evil eye beads ( nazar boncugu ) are produced only in Görece and Kurudere villages near Izmir, by a handful of craftsmen that have devoted their lives to this art. The roots of the very few glass masters that still practice this age old tradition goes back to the Arabian artisans who settled in Izmir and its towns during the decline of the Ottoman Empire by the end of 19 Th century.
These masters of glass produce the magic objects of a universal belief with an amazing technique. This art has changed very little since thousands of years. These masters of glass produce the magic objects of a universal belief with an amazing technique. The 3000 years old antique Mediterranean glass art lives in these eye bead furnaces with its every detail.After so many years in front of the gleaming fire, the masters turn into suffering dervishes.In the compartments of the furnace, there is liquid glass that has taken the colour of the fire. Soon this liquid will be enlivened by the skilled hands of the evil eye bead masters.

Blue glass evil eye bead amulets are the most common talisman in Anatolia to stop the evil eye. It’s believed that there are three types of evil eyes: The first are unconscious evil eyes. These harm people and things, without intending to. The second type intends to harm. The third one is unseen, hidden evil which is the most scared one. In daily life you can find glass evil eye charms almost everywhere. People donate everything they love or appreciate with these blue evil eye charms. They attach an eye bead to the clothes of a new-born baby. They buy gifts with an eye bead for their sweethearts. They bring gifts with eye bead for a new office or a new car . Almost everywhere you see thousands of blue eyes, that aim to stop the evil eyes with an eye amulet. We offer a large selection of evil eye beads from old furnaces.The evil eye bead gives protection and brings luck to all.Have you just had a new child? Bought a new car? Built a new office building? Worried that your "friends" and others are filled with envy about your good fortune? The bead reflects the evil intent back to the onlooker. It somewhat resembles an eye and it is said the typical blue color is a factor in protecting the user. Glass evil eyes are worn, in the form of jewelry; evil eye bracelets, evil eye home protectors, gold or silver evil eye charms and pendants, blue evil eye talismans, evil eye earrings - rings and plenty of evil eye ethnic jewelry.

Blue glass evil eye bead amulets are the most common talisman in Anatolia to stop the evil eye. It’s believed that there are three types of evil eyes: The first are unconscious evil eyes. These harm people and things, without intending to. The second type intends to harm. The third one is unseen, hidden evil which is the most scared one. In daily life you can find glass evil eye charms almost everywhere. People donate everything they love or appreciate with these blue evil eye charms. They attach an eye bead to the clothes of a new-born baby. They buy gifts with an eye bead for their sweethearts. They bring gifts with eye bead for a new office or a new car . Almost everywhere you see thousands of blue eyes, that aim to stop the evil eyes with an eye amulet.