Beading Projects

When it comes to creating beautiful, beaded projects, you don’t have to spend a fortune on supplies.  In fact, you most likely have a wealth of free items tucked away in drawers and boxes that you can use at your disposal.  These “freebies” add style and appeal to your beaded jewelry and apparel.  They are also easy to acquire which means you can spend less time in the arts and crafts store shopping and more time at home beading.

Here are five items that you can incorporate in your beading projects free of charge:

• Buttons.  These items are easy to come by.  Spare buttons are enclosed in a plastic bag and attached to new clothing in the off chance that one will fall off and need replacing.  Save these items for your beading projects.  You can also remove buttons from apparel that no long fits, flatters or is of use to another person.  Now, how’s that for being resourceful?
• Colored scrap paper and magazine advertisements.  Paper beads are incredibly beautiful and depending on what they are made from, they can add texture to your beading projects.  You can make larger beads to use as a focal point or smaller beads to use throughout your necklace, bracelet or earrings.  Just make sure to coat them with waterproof sealant to keep them looking new and to maintain their glossy appearance.
• Seashells and Sea Glass.  The next time you’re at the beach, think of the shells  and sea glass that you pick up as free craft supplies.  Gather a large quantity of them.  Be careful to select ones that are visually appealing and unusual.  Drill a hole in them and incorporate them into your beading projects.  This adds a natural element to your crafting.
• Flowers and Leaves.  Pressed between pieces of glass and made into charms, flowers and leaves are plentiful.  Simply walk out into your yard and select ones that interest you.  Pay special attention to colors and textures.  Mother Nature is very generous.  Preserve your beautiful roses and peonies this year by pressing a few to use in your beading projects.  These items make great focal points.
• Ribbon, Twine, and Various Types of Fibers.  How often do you buy something with a piece of ribbon, hemp or twine attached to it?   These items are usually too attractive to part with but too small to use in large scale projects.  Why not find a way to use them while you bead?  You can make embellished headbands, jewelry, journals, and even add them to pieces of clothing if you want.

Finding unique and free items to use in your beading is easy if you “think outside the box”.  Think about all of the things you have tucked away over the years and find new uses for them.  Not only is it economical, it’s also eco-friendly and that’s what we call creative and responsible!

For those of us who are passionate about seed bead weaving, we are always looking for ways to make our work more durable, secure, and efficient.  For smaller projects, try to avoid adding thread, as it creates efficiency and reduces your chances of a weak spot.  For larger projects, it is impossible to use just one thread for the whole piece.  If you used the cumbersome strategy of a single thread for a larger project, your thread would be too long, resulting in hours of thread pulling for each bead placed.  No matter how lubricated you got your stringing material or how careful you were to prevent tangles, you would generate plenty of experience untangling knots.

Because you are likely to have to end and begin a new thread multiple times in any one beading project, it is important to think about your strategy for doing so.  There are three major categories of ending or beginning a thread:  the weave in the tail strategy, the knot and weave tactic, and the knot weave knot weave maneuver.

Many end a thread by following the thread path of the stitch in a roundabout fashion with no beads on your thread, making sure the thread crosses over itself at least once.  This locks the thread into place and no thread shows.  This is the simple weave in the tail strategy.  Just weaving can be a tad less secure if you are using size 8/0 beads and/or larger, as it is easy for the woven thread to come out of these larger beads.  If you are using larger sized or larger holed beads, you may want to try one of the other strategies.  There are two reasons this strategy is great if you are working with size 15/0 beads and smaller: first, the bead holes may be too small for much roundabout weaving and you could risk breaking a bead; and second, this method creates the least amount of bulk in the finished beadwork.

Other beaders use the more intricate knot weave knot weave maneuver.  This procedure includes more work, yet creates a real sense of security when ending one thread and beginning another.  When you are ready to end your thread, make a knot (or two) between two beads.  Then weave your thread as described in the weave in the tail strategy.  Then make a knot (or two) between two other beads, and finish by weaving in your tail.  For this maneuver, you need to decide to end your thread sooner or you won’t have enough thread left to complete all the steps.  When creating more delicate beadwork, this can make your work a bit bulky, so stick with the weave in the tail method.

Most of us use the middle of the road knot and weave technique.  One knot, one time, weave and you are done.  A great balance of security and efficiency.

To knot or not to knot.  That is the question.  What is your thread ending method of choice?

Karen Kubby co-owns Beadology Iowa, a full service bead store in Iowa City, Iowa. She can be reached at her contact page or through www.beadologyiowa.com.

Precious metals prices have been on the rise.  Who knows when it will peak?  Three years ago, silver was around $14 per ounce.  At the time of this writing, silver has gone down to just over $40 an ounce from a recent $49 high.  Gold has followed the same path, currently going for $1,541 per ounce.  OUCH.

Many are clamoring for affordable substitutes.  And there are alternatives out there of varying qualities and prices.  Contemporary jewelry is trending toward the 70’s bohemian styles.  You’ll see people using ribbon in combination with brass chain.  Leather is another stringing material gaining popularity.  Larger holed beads are more widely available to fit on both 1.5mm and 2mm leather diameter leather.

Copper is a lovely substitute.  I happen to have a fondness for oxidized copper. There has been a mini copper explosion with everything from thin crappy beads to beautiful genuine copper components and detailed Bali style cast pewter with copper plating.  Be sure to see if the copper chain you are purchasing has open or soldered links.  A chain with soldered links is a higher quality chain and will not catch on fabrics and cause snags like open linked chain.  Open linked chain brings with it a risk of opening up and causing a security problem.  This is especially important to know if you plan to add wire linked items to your chain.

For those who have metal allergies, try niobium.  Because niobium is chemically non-reactive, very few people are sensitive to this metal, even those folks who are bothered by 14K gold filled items.  Niobium findings, wire, and finished jewelry are found in a variety of vibrant colors created through an anodizing process.  This process involves submerging the metal into an electrolyte solution.  Voltage is then added to the mix and depending on the voltage applied you will get various color results.

Silver filled items are just coming on the market with mixed reviews.  Silver filled findings and wire are manufactured similarly to gold filled items and are designed to perform in a comparable manner.  Filled items are a base metal core, usually a copper-alloy that has sterling silver bonded to the outside of the core bead (.925/20).  The outside layer of a silver filled piece is a thicker layer than an item that is plated with silver.  Some manufacturers then add a layer of silver plating for uniformity of color and may add an anti-tarnish coating to prevent oxidation.  Silver filled items tend to be about one third the price of sterling pieces.  The jury is still out on silver filled items.  In a year, it will be a good topic to revisit.

The downside of the precious metals market for jewelry designers and makers is the increased price.  The upside is it may have us stretching our vision and skills to include new and different materials than we would otherwise incorporate into our work.  This kind of challenge creates an opportunity to turn that OUCH into a new A-HA moment.

Karen Kubby co-owns Beadology Iowa, a full service bead store in Iowa City, Iowa. She can be reached at her contact page or through www.beadologyiowa.com.

Beads are very versatile items.  They can be added to projects as a form of embellishment and can even be used as a focal point on earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.  In addition to having a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and styles to work with, beaders can create their own beads easily and affordably.  Beadmaking kits exist to help them do just that.  Ranging from pricey to inexpensive, each collection of supplies offers its fair share of equipment and potential.

If you’ve ever thought it would be cool to create your own beads from scratch, this blog is for you.  Sit back, relax, and learn more about the process.  In a matter of no time, you’ll go from novice to expert beadmaker.

Determine What Type of Beads to Make

Select what types of beads you would like to make.  Here are just a few of the kinds that are easy to create by hand:

• Glass beads
• Paper beads
• Polymer clay beads
• Ceramic beads
• Felted beads
• Wood beads
• Metal beads
• Pearls

Purchase Equipment or a Kit

There are two different ways to do this.  You can purchase a pre-assembled kit or you can buy each piece of equipment seperately.  Some people like to buy the kits because it cuts down on costs.  Others like to build their own kits because they can customize it with the items that appeal most to them.  Whatever you choose to do, the following items will be of interest to you as you make your very own beads:

• Safety Glasses
• Glass Rods in Various Colors
• Glass Rod Cutter
• Kevlar Sleeves and Work Gloves
• Hand Torch for Glass Bead Blowing
• A Minor Bench Burner with Valves and Base for Making Glass Beads
• Twin Line Grade T Hose with B Fittings
• Oxygen and Propane Regulators
• Stainless Steel Bead Mandrel
• Diamond File for Filing Holes in Beads Smooth
• Sandpaper for Getting Rid of Rough Edges
• Magazines and Other Patterned Paper for Paper Beads
• Modge Podge for Sealing Paper Beads
• Pencil for Shaping Paper Beads
• Clay for Ceramic Beads
• Ceramic Stamps for Putting Patterns in Clay Beads
• Glaze for Coloring Ceramic Beads
• Kiln for Firing Beads

Practice Making Your First Beads

Practice makes perfect when it comes to making beads.  You will not go from being a novice to an expert in just a few days.  The point we’re making here is this.  Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.  Explore the different types of beads that you can make by hand.  Decide which ones appeal most to you.  Consider your budget and schedule.  Start the hobby that best fits your lifestyle.

Once you have carved out a window of time to make your first set of beads, think about what you are trying to accomplish.  Are you looking to master the instructions or are you more concerned with your final project?  Do you require a larger space for beadmaking or are you just fine where you are at?

Knowing what types of options are available to you in terms of beadmaking is very important.  Tutorials, books, and videos can help you improve your skills and become a masterful beadmaker.  Proven technique with your creative vision equals beautiful handmade beads.

Use Your Beads In Your Projects

It’s not enough to make your own beads.  You’ll want to share them with others.  You can do this in a number of ways.  For example, you can obviously add them to your projects.  You can use them to accentuate various areas of the jewelry that your make or sew them onto a garment.  You can also sell your handmade beads to others.  There are a number of places you can do just that online.

Experiment With Different Types of Bead Making

Beadmaking offers plenty of room for self-expression.  Once you have mastered one technique, you’ll most likely want to try making other types of beads.  This will allow you to further explore the world of beadmaking without investing too much time or money into the process.

Imagine the frustration of walking into an arts and crafts store and not finding the beads that you wanted for your creative project.  Then, picture this.  You walk into your home office or workspace and have the perfect handmade bead needed to pull your jewelry piece together.  It’s really that simple.  If you haven’t thought about beadmaking as a hobby, you most certainly should today.

Photo Credit: BEADS
© Sufi70 | Dreamstime.com

Glass beads are a beautiful way to enhance your projects.  In addition to looking regal, they also complement other types of beads like pearls and seed beads.  You can find many varieties of glass beads in your local arts and crafts store as well as through online retailers.  If you’re really ambitious, you can create your own beads made from glass using a blowtorch.

Here are some of the different types of glass beads that you may want to acquaint yourself with:

• Lampwork beads.  Perhaps one of the most intricately designed beads, it is created by hand using a flametorch.  The molten glass is then shaped on a mandrel. Getting the shape right takes a lot of skill so be appreciative each time you hold a lampwork bead in your hand.  Lampwork bead artists use many colors of glass that they apply to the bead to create a geometric or floral design. The surface can either be raised or smooth depending on the beadblower’s preference.

• Wedding cake beads.  This type of lampwork bead was made popular in Venus.  It is characterized by its swirls, dots, flowers, and  metallic colored aventurine.  Attractive and sparkly, they make the perfect addition to a variety of jewelry making projects including earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.  It also has been known to accent keychains and other accessories.

• Millefiori beads.  Millefiori means a thousand flowers and that is exactly what this type of bead represents.  It’s background dates back to 1800s Venice.  These beads are created when thin rods of different colors of glass are bundled together with the ends forming a design like flowers. The bundle is then fused together and cut into sections.  They are then applied and melted over a glass core.  The end result is a 3D design that is unique and rich in detail.

• Pressed glass beads.  Pressed into a mold, this type of bead is extremely realistic.  From the lines in a leaf bead to each individual petal on a flower bead, pressed glass beads can be used in a variety of creative projects and can even be imprinted with other details.

• Blown glass beads.  Hollow beads that are formed by blowing through a glass tube into melted glass.  The bead shape is achieved when the tube is turned over a fire several times.  Blown glass bead makers are very skilled individuals.  In fact, that’s why these beads are harder to find.

• Crystal glass beads.  Crystal is leaded glass that was invented in England in the 1600s.  Lead oxide was added to glass, which made it stronger so that it could be manipulated in various ways including being cut and engraved. Crystal consists of 6% to 33% lead depending on how it is made.  Swarovski crystals are among the most popular style of glass beads.

• Glass and crystal pearls.  A pearlized coating makes glass and crystal pearls stand up to everyday wear and tear.  Elegant yet very simple, they can be added to different pieces of jewelry for a regal look worthy of the Queen herself.  Who doesn’t like to wear beautiful beads?

As you can see here, glass beads vary in size, shape, appearance, and material.  Each bead is created in its own special way and used in a variety of projects ranging from jewelry making to sewing.  It is up to you to decide which types of glass beads to use in your creative projects.  Consider this as a guide to help you narrow down your choices.

WEDDING RING
© Amaviael | Dreamstime.com

When people come into my bead store for the first time, they seem surprised by the organized and clean atmosphere.  This is funny to me, because many beaders are just as thrilled organizing their personal bead and findings inventory as they are working with beads in the creation of a finished product.  There are distinct choices for organizing a bead collection.

The Bead Taxonomy Method: This method utilizes the strategy of organizing beads by type. All glass beads are together, organics are stockpiled, metals are separated out, and pearls are jointly placed.  Within each category, you may then utilize one or more of the other methods.  The advantage of this strategy is that when you are looking for a piece of mother of pearl (MOP), you know just where to go to get it (unless you can’t remember if MOP is under “pearl” or “organics” or “shell”.  The disadvantage is if want to see what you have in red tones, you have to look in all categories to find design options.

The Color Wheel Method: This method has all your beads organized by color, no matter what the material.  In one place, you can find all your blue beads.  Now, you may decide to grade all your blue hues, so that you can see the spectrum from light powder blue to dark ink blue and everything in between.  The beauty of this method is that when you are designing, you can see your entire blue inventory in one place. The down side is that if you are looking for an idea for glass beads, you have to look in every color category to find your options.

The Bead Size/Shape Method: This strategy has you putting all your size 15/0 seed beads together and all your 3mm beads are stashed in one location no matter what the material.  If a pattern calls for 4mm spacers, you can look in one place to see all your Swarovski crystals, pearls, metals, glass, and every other 4mm choice in your stock.  For those who use other people’s patterns for personal adornment making, this can be a very functional bead organizational strategy.  For those who design their own patterns, it can make the hunt for the perfect combination a bit thorny.

The Complicated, Need Many Containers and Lots of Space Method: This approach is a hybrid system that happens to be the most functional for me personally.  All my Swarovski crystal is in one area, separated by size, shape, and color.  My floral/leaf Czech Republic pressed glass beads are in a location separated by color.  When my green drawer gets too full to close, I separate my greens into light and dark green.  When those are full the division becomes refined into light, medium, and dark greens.

There is immense interest by beaders to discuss the kinds of containers (bags, tubes, boxes, drawers) to use within your bead organization of choice.  We’ll have to organize time for that conversation another day.

Karen Kubby co-owns Beadology Iowa, a full service bead store in Iowa City, Iowa. She can be reached at her contact page or through www.beadologyiowa.com.

Making your own clay and ceramic beads can be very gratifying.  In fact, how else can you create custom designed jewelry that is 100% you?  Although the process can be a little overwhelming to a beginning beader, creating beads by hand is a bit addictive.  Here is a step-by-step guide to get you started.

Choose What Type of Beads You Want to Create

Working with two different materials will require two completely different processes.  With that being said, it may be in your best interest to start out working with either clay or ceramic not both initially.  Master one style of bead before moving onto another.  This will ensure that you don’t have to buy a bunch of costly supplies that never get used.

Determine What Type of Supplies You Will Need

Here are a few of the supplies you want to have on hand when making clay beads:

• An acrylic rod
• Clay cutter
• Bead rack
• Clay extruder caulk gun
• Ruler/Measuring guide
• Polymer clay

Here are a few of the supplies you want to have on hand when making ceramic beads:

• Needle Tool, Bamboo Skewer or Toothpick
• Glaze and Paintbrushes
• Earthenware, Stoneware, and Porcelain Ceramic Bead Making
• Damp Cloth For Wiping Beads
• Bead Tree For Drying Beads
• Kiln

Get All of Your Tools Ready

The right tools can make bead making even easier.  You should always have your tools organized and stored in a place where they are easily accessible.  This will give you greater control over the process and will eliminate the likelihood of accidents.

When your tools and equipment are not in use, they should be put away for safekeeping.  You don’t want small children to harm themselves because you forgot to put your polymer clay or glaze away.

Follow the Instructions

Using directions that you find online or on the package of the clay can help you master the technique quickly and with ease.  Just remember that if it doesn’t turn out right the first time, you can try the project all over again.  Patience and practice is what makes novice beaders into skilled professionals.

Don’t forget to add your own personal touches to the beads that you make.  Because they are custom, they will reflect your personality.  You can choose the size, shape, and colors that appeal to you most.  You can also select stamps that show off your likes and interests.  This is a fun way to add something extra special to all of your beading projects.  That’s because handmade clay and ceramic beads never go out of style!

No matter what your skill level may be, creating beads by hand is a very gratifying activity.  From idea to creation, you get to infuse your own personal style into the process.

Photo Credit: COLORFUL CLAY FOR CHILDREN
© Iloveotto | Dreamstime.com

Knitting wire and using it in craft projects is all of the rage these days.  That’s because bold beaders want new ways to create beautiful necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and earrings.  The Wyr Knittr by Bond America comes to creative people’s aid by knitting perfectly formed stitches in a matter of minutes.  Beaders that know little about knitting and purling can still enjoy the beautiful look of linked metal.

Things the Wyr Knittr Can Do

In addition to being lightweight and flexible which makes it easy-to-use in a variety of projects, the Wyr Knittr can create knitted wire that can be:

• Threaded
• Stitched
• Stuffed
• Beaded
• Pressed Flat
• Wrapped
• Compressed

This gives beaders of all skill levels a variety of options to choose from.  Because the needles included in the kit have sharp points, the tool is not recommended for children under eight years of age.

What’s Included In Each Kit

Each Wyr Knittr kit contains:

• Five patterns- You can master each one and achieve different looks for all of your projects.

• Wyr Knittr body and handle- This machine is small and portable which makes it possible for you to take your beading projects with you wherever you go.

• Three Weighted Clips- Helps you keep the wire under control as you are knitting it.

• Twenty yards of 30-gauge wire- Plenty of material to get you started making beautiful knitted jewelry.

Additional patterns are available by visiting the company’s website located at www.bond-america.com.

Benefits of the Wyr Knittr

Some of the benefits of the Wyr Knittr include:

• It’s small and portable design allows you to take it with you wherever you go. Who doesn’t love the idea of packing the Wyr Knittr in their purse or suitcase?  Never be without your beading projects again!

• It cuts down on the time it takes to knit wire by hand. Not everyone is patient enough to learn a new skill.  The Wyr Knittr makes it possible to have the same beautiful knitted effect with very little effort.

• It can be used for jewelry making and beading, scrapbooking, home decor projects as well as elegant ornaments. The versatility of the Wyr Knittr is one of its most attractive features.  You get a whole lot of bang for your buck with one simple machine.

• It is easy-to-use and fun for beaders of all skill levels. You can be an inexperienced beader and still have the ability to use the Wyr Knittr.  Its simple design makes it very user-friendly.

Different tools make it possible for beaders to get their projects done in half the time.  Rather than have to knit wire by hand, Bond America’s Wyr Knittr does it for you which saves you both time and energy.

Sterling silver beads go a long way in enhancing your projects.  That is because they are carefully handcrafted and selected by you.  Like any other type of bead, they range in size and shape which makes them the perfect addition to necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.

Sterling Silver Beads As Accents

Look through any beading magazine and you will find a number of projects that feature sterling silver beads.  They are routinely used to accent certain areas of a piece.  For example, a mermaid shaped silver bead can be combined with freshwater pearls and turquoise or green seed beads for a truly exquisite look.

Sterling Silver Beads As Spacers

Other beaders opt to use sterling silver beads as spacers.  The patterns that they work on call for several different types of materials.  In addition to using different sizes of beads and crystals, they often gravitate to sterling silver because it doesn’t tarnish and it adds a special element to one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry.  Who doesn’t like standing out?

Different Types of Sterling Silver Beads

Here are some of the more popular types of sterling silver beads:

• Round beads- The most typical type used by beaders, round beads come in a variety of sizes and can be fluted, seamless, and twisted.

• Spacer beads- From flat to corrugated rondelles, spacer beads can be placed in between crystals, pearls, and other types of beads as a way of enhancing the beauty of a particular piece.

• Silver Bali beads- Among the most ornate out of the bunch, Bali beads can have flowers, spirals, and circles on the side of them.

• Silver alphabet beads- Block and round letter beads make it possible for you to spell out names and phrases easily and affordably.

• Stardust beads- Complete with a pebbled finish, stardust beads can be round, rondelle or saucer shaped.

• Design beads- Sterling silver beads in whatever shape that you can imagine.  Butterflies, puffy hearts, and fairies are just a few of the different types of design beads you can find.

• Silver tubes- Great for necklace and earring projects, silver tubes can be curved, twisted, and “S” shaped.

• Message beads- Simple but powerful words and phrases like “Hope,” “Dream,” “Cherish,” and “Love” are engraved into these beads and used to convey a message to anyone that takes a look at them.

Sterling silver beads are easy-to-use, readily available, and add an element of sophistication to any jewelry project that you are working on.  Ranging from the common round bead to something a little more unique–a miniature Eiffel Tower, this craft supply is one you should add to your list the next chance you get.

It’s a common misconception that all seed beads look alike.  Just like any other type of craft supply, they have their own unique size, shape, and appearance.  Each variety of seed bead also has its own use.  Some are perfect for embellishing artwork while others add a special touch to jewelry projects like earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.

Here is a guide to help you determine which types of seed beads to use in your creative projects: 

• Rocailles- Round seed beads made of hard, non-lead glass that originated from France.

• Bugles- Tubular seed beads consisting of soft lead glass that is usually not rounded.

• Charlottes- Rocailles with ground facets that were especially popular with Europeans in the 17th Century.

• Macas- Bugle with hexagonal section that originated in Venice and is usually black in color.

• Two-Cuts- Short segments cut from maccas used in Bohemia in the early 1900s.

• Three-Cuts- Two-cuts faceted by grinding originating in Czech in the 1900s.

• Ceylon Pearls- Made of alabaster glass that is either lined or dyed then lustered.

• Delicas- Most uniform type of short cylindritical seed bead that is manufactured by computers.

Seed Bead Finishes

Here are some of the finishes you can choose from when you select seed beads to work with:

• AB, Irridescent, Iris, Rainbow, and Aurora Borealis. Shiny like an oil slick.

• Luster. A transparent glaze that gives the beads extra sparkle.

• Matte.  A frosted appearance.

• Matte AB.  A matte finish with AB coating.

• Semi-Matte.  A slightly etched surface that looks silky and similar to a frosted surface.

Seed Beads Are Stylish

Seed beads are great to use by themselves as well as coupled with other types of materials.  They’re easy to find online or at your local craft store and they give your sewing and beading projects something extra in terms of style and appeal.

Seed Beads Have a Variety of Uses

Ranging in size from under a millimeter to several millimeters, seed beads can serve as spacers for larger beads or added into a crocheted or knitted rope necklace.  They can be sewn onto fabric or glued down to a variety of surfaces to give objects depth and a lustrous quality.

Whatever style of seed beads you choose to purchase, remember this.  The more you start to use them in the various projects that you create, the more you will find them to be a valuable resource as you bead, knit, crochet, and embroider your days away.