Everything You Want to Know About Beading Projects Can Be Yours!
The Complete Bead Guide is not like any other book about beading you've ever read!
Here are some of the things you will learn:
Bead Projects
Ideas to inspire your bead projects
Bead Projects
Author: admin
Working on bead projects is both relaxing and rewarding. The activity can be done as part of a group or alone, each just as enjoyable as the other.
Bead projects can be as simple or as magnificently complex as you care to make it. The use of your imagination is the key to a personally satisfying work of bead art. You can look at the work of others for inspiration, or let your own imagination flow, depending on your ability.
If you are new to beading it is best to start on simple projects such as a pair of earrings or a bracelet. Making small pieces of beadwork is also great for those who like instant gratification.
Beads come in a variety of materials, such as metal, glass, clay, plastic, and even wood. If you enjoy working with polymer clay you can also make your own beads. A little more complicated is the making your own glass beads. When shopping for your bead selection, look for a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors which will give your bead project a special touch. Colors can be as vibrant as want, it’s up to you.
Some of the stitches of beading are peyote, ladder stitch, brick stitch, square stitch and Ndebele stitch (also known as herringbone).
When you have made several unique pieces, show them to your colleagues, friends and family. You will be surprised at how many will want you to make pieces for them. What a great way to start your own business – doing something you enjoy with a variety of different bead projects!
read comments (48)Bead Weaving
Author: admin
Bead weaving can be used for many different projects such as bracelets, necklaces, key chains and much more. I searched out a few videos on the technique of bead weaving. There are so many that this is just a small selection of this bead instruction.
Here we have bead weaving with a flat even count peyote stitch.
The following is an excellent video on odd-count peyote stitch.
While the lady in this video is a bit nervous I liked the bracelet that she put together.
All of these bead weaving techniques are known as “off loom” techniques or “needle weaving”.
Bead Project: Beaded Clutch Purse
Author: admin
It was my best friend’s birthday (one with a zero in it) looming and I felt stuck on what to give her as I wanted a bead project to be the ultimate gift of love for her. As her daughter does beading I did not want to be seen to be competing in any way. I know Jackie doesn’t do sewing projects so when I came up with the idea of a beaded clutch purse I was sold. After all I know Joss just loves nice bags.
With limited time to get it done I searched for a pattern and ended up with a simple design of stitching oblong pieces of fabric together…well here’s the link to the original basic pattern at J Caroline Creative.
I did not bead the whole bag but only the flap. I highlighted the flowers in the pattern but what do you know I forgot to take photos as I was short on time! So there’s no final picture to show…sorry. I’ll have to sneak a photo at some time.
We travelled to Auckland for the party and Joss’ sisters were all there…three of them, plus her daughters. They all wanted to borrow the bag on different occasions so I was pleased with the outcome.
Making your bead projects into special gifts is so satisfying. And now I’ve got orders for making more clutch purses. They’ll all be different, if similar, but perhaps not as special as the first beaded clutch purse I made.
Bracelets and Bangles — What is the Difference?
Author: admin
Both bracelets and bangles are worn on the arm and many confuse the terms. So what is the difference? Well, bangles are rings that fit on the arm and can be beaded or plain. They are non-bending and always in the shape of a ring. Bracelets on the other hand are more flexible and the term tends to be more generic.
Bracelet comes from French ‘brachialle’ which means armlet and bangle is from a Hindi word ‘bangri’ meaning ring shaped bracelet or anklet.
Both accessories are easily worn as an attractive accessory day or night. And they make a stylish statement.
Decorating a bangle will entail attaching your chosen beads and charms to the bangle with a large open jumpring. Because of the non-flexible nature of bangles they tend to be made from gold, silver, wood, bone and other non-flexing materials.
Most necklace designs will work for your bracelet piece by just reducing the length of the piece. Materials used for bracelets is more varied than the bangle and can be hemp, cotton, leather, silk and well as gold and silver.
Making Jewelry
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When you start making jewelry the best investment you can make is to buy a jewelry kit. The kit will help you to make some great pieces and will give you confidence. Kits include most of the tools you need to get started such as needle-nosed pliers and clasps. Beads are only one of the important supplies that you need. You will find that the kit will come with the tools to get you started on chains and necklaces or even bracelets and earrings.
You’ll also need chains for necklaces and bracelets, backings for earrings, posts to create anything that dangles, and supplies to link them all together. You will find that this can be expensive so you need to watch the craft stores for sales and then stock up. The advantage is that the kits come with everything included.
The fun of making jewelry is to purchase all of the beads that you need for your designs. Beads are made from a variety of things, such as metal, glass, clay, plastic, and even wood. You can make your own beads too, if you enjoy working with polymer clay. They also come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors so that you can make a number of different designs with your jewelry.
I have also found that searching costume jewelry stores can be a haven for buying a supply of beads at reasonable cost. There may be a sale and you can buy beaded necklaces with rows of beads to get you started. I was lucky enough to find three necklaces for $9 but each of those necklaces had rows and rows of lovely color beads. And when you are getting started with making jewelry it makes a really good purchase – plus your jewelry kit!
Beading projects can be as intricate or simple as you like. When learning to bead keep it simple.
Your project can include embroidery, knitting, crochet or plain beading. I’ve recently seen some lovely work done with felt and as i’ve always enjoyed the end look of felt projects this really caught my eye.
Brooches, earrings, necklaces, chokers, bags and clothing. Felting of course is a craft in itself and certainly too advanced for a new comer. if you already are a felt maker you can add beads for a new dimension, look and feel.
One of the best books I’ve seen on this is “Hand Felted Jewelry and Beads” by Carol Huber Cypher. She includes the process of felting and gives instruction on how to use beads.
What I love about both beading and felt work is the colors and how they can be blended together for the most beautiful effects. While some of the designs look clumpy this is not always necessarily the case and there are many stunning delicate pieces.
Color Your Bead Project
Author: admin
Use the seasons to inspire the color of your bead projects. Think of shades of the seasonal palette. Autumn with its burnt orange, rusty colors, russet red, yellows these will make beautiful items whether you make a necklace, bracelet or earrings
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Winter brings thoughts of the colors of white and silver or even the bright col ors of Christmas with its reds and greens, gold and more. Spring evokes thoughts of fresh colors of green for the new grass, yellow for the daffodils, pinks and white represent the new blossoms and all manner of colors. New beginnings! Summer means sunshine and all that conjures up, bright colors mixed together.
There are so many patterns you can use but by using your special seasonal color palette combination you can make the design truly your own creation.
I love colors and think nature is a great inspiration to make any bead project yours to treasure.
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A Basic Start to Bead Instructions
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Before starting with bead instructions there are some basics to get sorted. Stringing is the first technique to master. While you may have done stringing as a child you will now be looking for a more sophisticated finish and you still need some basics. Stringing materials you will need are needle and beading thread, beading wire, elastic or leather to pass through the holes in your beads. You can even use fine silk or organza ribbon.
Once again beads come in different sizes, shapes and materials, as well as varying in price. And you can also include buttons in your design as they tend to be a natural partner to beads.
When beading’ scoop up the beads on the needle using a non-roll surface. This is particularly important if you have had an earthquake like we experienced in Christchurch on 4 September 2010. You don’t want your beads falling everywhere in the aftershocks!
You can secure your string beads using a tension bead. This will stop the beads falling off the end. To make a tension bead pass the thread through the bead again. This can be removed later. If you are using bead wire the tension bead won’t work well so use an alligator clip or transparent tape to secure your end.
As I said this is just a basic start to bead instructions.
Bead Project - Memory Board
Author: admin
The other day I was wearing a necklace that my brother gave me many years ago. The necklace broke and I felt rather sad. I could get it fixed, but then it occurred to me that I could use it and the other bits of broken jewelery and all the bits of memories that I have to make a beaded memory board for my next bead project.
You see I’m a bit of a hoarder and don’t like to throw things away especially those that have memories for me. There’s the bit of coral from a wonderful holiday spent with our best friends in Vanuatu, the lone earring from the last pair my Mom bought for me before she passed away. There’s the friendship ring from my youth. The first bracelet made for me by my Goddaughter, but which broke the on the first wearing. (I never did tell her) And the beads my mom and I used to make Christmas decorations one year. These are are tucked away, sight unseen. What about bringing everything together in my newly revived love of beading?
Not only do l have lots of bits and pieces for my memory board but I have some lovely fabrics that will make a great background. I’ve even found a mat I made many years ago from my own design. I think I’ll use that! I’ll use the art boards to attach everything to and then I can hang it on the wall. My imagination is running wild as I think of all the things I could include in my new bead project - my memory board for all to see.
Bead Projects and Nostalgia
Author: admin
WWhen I write about bead projects it takes me back to my youth. Yes, I was young once 
I remember the African women in the markets making bead work to sell. I was always so impressed with their work, their talent and their patience. Now in my adulthood I’m taken back in time as my interest in beading develops. I also found that there is actually a stitch that is named after those very African women that I remember watching. Yes, it’s the Ndebele stitch. This is also known as the herringbone stitch.
When thinking of the bead projects they made, it gives me ideas for today. Although I’m sure that not many people these days use beaded covers for their sugar bowl it is a nice idea – nostalgia galore! I know that afternoon teas are coming back in vogue and that is a pastime from the past…make a lovely cover for the sugar bowl for your afternoon tea.
Imagine…cucumber sandwiches, scones jam and cream, cupcakes and slices all on a special tiered cake stand and served with cups of tea from your best china - your sugar bowl covered with its new beaded doily.
Afternoon teas remind me of some of the weekends I’d spend with my Mom before she passed away. I’d visit her and we would go off to a five star hotel that served afternoon teas and “play ladies”. I’d even get the doorman to park the car for us so my Mom didn’t need to walk too far. I’d roll up in my Ford Anglia requesting it to be parked just like the Beamers (BMW) and Mercs. We’d then spend a magical afternoon
chatting and sipping cups of tea.
Yes, those little beaded doily covers certainly conjure up nostalgia for me.