Beading

There are so many varieties and styles of beading that it is difficult to write a comprehensive article about the craft. Beading has been done for thousands of years on every continent where people live, using such materials as shells, bone, precious gems, rocks, twigs, beads made of clay and eventually glass, plastic, polymer and just about anything else you can think of.

History of Beading

It’s said that man (and woman) began to decorate clothes with beads in the late Stone Age. These beads were often shell or ivory.

The Egyptians might have been the world’s first seed beaders, using faience beads more than 4,00 years ago. Beadwork has been found in the tomb of King Tut and an 8th century palace in Japan.

Beading is also found in Nigeria dating from between the 8th and 11th centuries, while the first beaded objects found in Spain seem to be from the 13th century. There are records of beadwork in India traced back to the 9th century B.C., and some of the earliest mass-produced beads come from this nation.

Italian glass beads are said to date back to the days of Marco Polo, and the seed bead market sustained the glass industry of Venice during the war years.

Of course there is also a great history of beading in North America, as the Native Americans used beading to decorate sacred articles of clothing and were important in all sorts of ceremonies. Today true Native American beadwork is a prized commodity (sometimes work produced in Asian factories is passed of as Native American, but it is far less beautiful).

Beading Today

It is a great time to be a beader. The numerous techniques that have flourished in different parts of the world are now available to everyone with an Internet connection or access to a good library or bookstore. Following are just a few examples of the wide range of beadwork options.

Seed Beading

Many people seem to start on the beading path by working with seed beads. That’s probably because these little charmers are available in a ton of different colors and can be really inexpensive (though there are seed beads, such as the precision-crafted Japanese, Czech and Delica beads that can be expensive for a large project or one that requires many colors).

Seed beads can be difficult to work with because they are small, but their size is part of their allure. Talented seed beaders can make intricate designs using a loom or stitches based on Native American beadwork, such as the peyote stitch and brick stitch.

Jewelry making

Perhaps the most popular type of beading is that done in the interest of making jewelry. From basic seed bead stings with cute little pendants to earrings made of gorgeous lampwork beads, the sky is really the limit when it comes to beading for jewelry.

Beads come in all shapes, sizes, colors, textures, materials, and all of these can be used singly or combined with other beads to make glorious wearable works of art. Beads can be wrapped with wire, set in metal clasps, made into pendants or anything else you want to do.

Home décor

Beads can also be used to decorate your home. Think about beaded Christmas ornaments, fringe on table runners and place mats, decorated glass votive cups, picture frames, mirrors, pillows and more.

If you can string or glue something to it, you can add beads to it! Stretch your imagination by checking out the articles and projects we offer, then add some of your own. .