subject: Jewelry Making Beads Come In All Sizes Shapes And Materials [print this page] You need only search online once for jewelry making beads to discover just how many you have to choose from. When an artisan makes a piece of jewelry, their selections affect the look and design of their final product. Choosing specific beads is part art, part magic, and while for some it requires little thought, for others the process involves a great deal more work and finesse.
Which Beads are Best?
There is a lot of debate over which beads are best for a particular project. With beads available from around the world, arguments can get rather heated. The truth is that as long as you select beads of high quality, you cant really go wrong; it comes down to a matter of taste and the final goal. For example, some beads are available only in a particular shape, others in certain colors and so forth. Frequently, a single item will contain several types of beads.
3 Different Sources for your Beads
Beads are made from just about anything. They all fall into a few basic categories.
1. Natural sources these are beads that are made from plant seeds, wood, shell, or bone. They may be polished, painted, or altered in some fashion, but they are essentially natural substances. For those with strong allergies, these beads may not be an ideal choice, but for people interested in an ecological connection they are perfect.
2. Metals beads are made from both precious metals, such as gold or silver, as well as less valuable metals such as brass, copper, or pewter. Pewter is frequently used in the making of charms. Metal beads can be quite intricate, as evidenced by silver Bali beads or Hill Tribes beads. Others are simple balls or squares. Used on their own or in combination with other beads, metal beads add a certain panache.
3. Man Made many of the crystal beads available today are man made. Swarovski crystals are a prime resource for man made beads, although there are plenty of other sources as well. Lamp work glass beads are incredible works of art; dichroic glass involves fusing several pieces of glass with light reflecting metal sheets inside. Polymer glass is another material frequently used in making beads as well.
4. Stones and Crystals Natural crystals are also very popular as centerpieces in jewelry making, and they can be used whole or as part of a larger piece. Additionally, there are a variety of semi-precious gemstones that are brought from all over the world, carved, shaped, polished, and drilled, ready for use in jewelry making. Different stones evoke different meanings making such jewelry more significant for some.
It doesnt take much to realize just how diverse the world of jewelry making beads is. Just the supplies alone could take you a lifetime to acquire. If you are inclined to try out jewelry making, there are many wonderful resources for you to access, both online and off. Of course, you can also contact an artisan who makes pieces you like and enjoy a necklace or bracelet that has been custom made for you from any of the wonderful beads currently available.
