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Bead Jewelry - It's Universal Appeal From The Eye Of The Designer
Bead jewelry is everywhere, it has universal appeal. It is something that many little girls fall in love with when they see their mothers wearing a pretty necklace. Little girls love to play dress up with their mother’s jewelry, and usually it’s their beaded jewelry that fascinates the most.
It doesn’t matter whether it is mom’s pearls or a pretty strand of costume beads, they are fascinating, and moms seem to instinctively know that their little girls will take good care of their treasures, otherwise they wouldn’t be allowed to play with these precious commodities in the first place.
Moms know that they are passing along their fascination to their daughters, the next generation.
I realized that at an early age I was no different than most little girls; I was fascinated by beads, fascinated by all jewelry really, pearls, gold, silver, but especially jewelry made from these round colorful objects.
Why are women and many men so fascinated by beads? Is it the symmetry, since most are round (although today they come in other shapes as well) or is it the pretty colors? Or is it something else entirely?
So, as a bead jewelry designer and maker, I decided to embark on my own study of these fascinating objects. To truly be a good jewelry designer and maker, it is not enough to just make these pretty objects, but you must view your creations with the eye of a designer.
Jewelry, especially beaded jewelry has symbolism and meaning. It means different things to different people, and throughout history, it has been more than just wearable art, so I wanted to find out about the different symbolism that beads have, across time and across cultures.
To find out why I’m so fascinated by these objects and most importantly why other people are fascinated by them too. Just why are beads so fascinating to so many, in so many time periods and so many cultures?
I invite you to join me on this journey and maybe find out for yourself why you are so fascinated by beads and bead jewelry.
Come with me and find out about the history of beads, the tools used to create delightful concoctions from these objects, how to make lovely creations from these objects yourself and much, much more.
Bead Jewelry Blog - Eye Of The Designer
Bead jewelry blog about the universal appeal of bead jewelry, with discussions of bead history, bead culture, bead symbolism, beading tools, bead jewelry design, and bead jewelry making techniques.
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Bead History – Why Is It Important To Know?
About bead history, why it is important, and exploration of this history in various cultures in Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe, North America and the Pacific in these cultures.
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African Bead History – The Culture Of Unity With The Environment
About African bead history and its influence on and contribution to jewelry making, a story of the influence of the many contrasting lifestyles of the African peoples, both in the past and now.
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Central Asia Beads – Contributions From The Great Melting Pot
About the history of Central Asia beads, which are a product of the great overland trade routes of the region and their influence on bead history and jewelry making now and in the past.
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European Bead History – The Cultural Significance of Beads
About European bead history and its contribution to bead jewelry culture, with the development of permanent settlements, the establishment of wealth began, with the creations of crafts using beads.
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Far East Beads – China, Korea, and Japan’s Cultural Influence
Far East beads influence on bead history through the cultures of China, Japan, and Korea, with some surprising facts such as beads not being worn initally as jewelry or used in worship in the region.
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India Beads History – Contributions From The Indus Valley
The contribution to India beads history of the Indus valley civilization and the importance of the industry today, an exciting story of the rich, the poor, the secular and the sacred in bead making.
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North America Beads – Synonymous With Native American Culture
North America beads contribution by Native American culture to bead history, the Native peoples of the continent view beads as more than just art, therefore bead making is an integral part of life.
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Central and South America Beads – Precious Jade and Gold
Central and South America beads contributions in jade and gold to bead history, with some of the greatest contributions to bead culture being from the Aztec, Inca, and Mayan civilizations.
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South Pacific Beads – Their Use During Interisland Trade
The influence of South Pacific Beads on bead history, and their importance to the social and political interisland relationships of the Pacific people and the influence on jewelry making today.
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Southeast Asia Beads – Seaborne Trade Contributes To Bead History
The influence of Southeast Asia beads on bead history and bead jewelry creation, with fascinating facts such as the importance of individual beads and bead colors imbued with male and female traits.
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Types of Beads – An Endless Variety of Jewelry Making Materials
The 10 different types of beads categories used in jewelry making are explored, such as base metal beads, bone beads, the large category of semiprecious stones, and more.
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Base Metal Beads – Inexpensive and Elegant Jewelry Making Bling
Base metal beads are loosely referred to as non-precious metal beads which are plated to make them resistent to corrosion, more about them, their role in bead jewelry making.
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Bone Beads – A Natural Choice For Stringing Beads
Bone beads can seem like a creepy material as a bead material, information about where the idea of making beads came from, and their uses in bead jewelry making.
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Clay Beads - You Can Even Make Your Own
Information about clay beads, often thought of as fun materials for children, and the different types such as ceramic, porcelain and polymer clay and their uses in bead jewelry.
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Crystal Beads – A Higher Standard Of Glass Beads
Information about crystal beads are the highest quality of glass beads that exist, what makes them crystal versus just plain glass beads, and their uses in bead jewelry making.
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Glass Beads – The Universal Bead
Information about glass beads the most common beads on earth, the characteristics that make them so popular and widely used, and their broad appeal for bead jewelry makers.
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Plastic Beads – A Worthy Alternative To Other Materials
Plastic beads are a popular form of bead made of petroleum based syntthetic material, very durable, more about what they are and how they compare to other beading materials for bead jewelry making.
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Precious Metals Beads – Gold, Silver and Precious Metal Clay
Precious metals beads are those made from pure gold or pure silver and used in more costly jewelry pieces, a term also used for precious metal clay, more about this material and how it is created.
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Semi-precious Beads – More Than What The Name Implies
There are 36 semi-precious beads discussed, their characteristics and families, as well as their usage in bead jewelry making, especially when combined with each other.
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Shell Beads – Natural Gems From The Sea
Shell beads ae the earliest beading materials used by man often having natural wholes, information about the use of mollusks as beads and the different types of shells used in bead jewelry making.
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Wood Beads – Light Weight And Natural Materials
Wood beads are natural, lightweight, abundant materials that are easy to work with, some of the most distinctive carved beads are Netsuke, more about the characteristics, origins, and uses in jewelry.
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Bead Shapes Provide An Endless Palette For Creative Jewelry Design
There are a variety of bead shapes to choose from, here are 28 of the most common shapes that are used to create stunning bead jewelry, such endless variety means there is something for every taste.
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Bead Size – Just One Element In Creating An Accurate Design
Bead size measurement principles and tools to assist the bead jewelry maker in creating accurate designs, especially when patterns are used to create the piece.
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Bead Jewelry Findings – The Materials That Hold Jewelry Together
Bead jewelry findings are discussed, with information about what they are and how they are used, especially clasps, jump rings, crimp tubes, crimp covers, and pendant bails.
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Bead Stringing Materials – The Jewelry Making Foundation
Bead stringing materials discussion, with information about seven different types of materials used for making beaded jewelry, such as flexible beading wire, cords, ribbon, and using chains.
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Bead Jewelry Tools – Choosing Equipment That Is Just Right
About bead jewelry tools such as beading pliers, beading wire cutters, and other beading tools as essential pieces of equipment for making bead jewelry using wire.
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Beading Work Area – Setting Up A Functional Space
The beading work area whether it is a dedicated room or space must be set up for functionality and comfort in order to produce quality bead jewelry, what does setting up the space involve?
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Bead Stringing Technique – Working With Flexible Beading Wire
Bead stringing technique generally involves the use of flexible beading wire but can refer to the use of cords, ribbons, yarn and beading thread, learn the technique with wire.
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Bead Jewelry Projects – Easy Do It Yourself (DIY) Projects To Make
Free bead jewelry projects allow you to DIY by making an easy bracelet for beginners and practice a key element of bead jewelry making, crimp, download the project and do it yourself.
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Bead Jewelry Cleaning – Maintaining Designs In Peak Condition
Bead jewelry cleaning and maintenance will keep jewelry that is created to be worn personally or by others in great shape for years to come. What are some of the options available?
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Bead Jewelry Supplies – Some Options For Purchasing Supplies
About bead jewelry supplies, and information about what to consider when purchasing supplies whether online or in local craft stores, some places to purchase these supplies online.
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Bead Jewelry Design – The Principles Of Design
Bead jewelry design discusses the principles of design, which consist of technique, stype and function what they are and how they work in harmony to help create a great bead jewelry piece.
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Bead Color Combinations – Color Theory And Jewelry Design
Bead color combinations result from proper knowledge of and use of color theory using the color wheel, and information about what primary, secondary, and tertiary colors are.
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Bead Jewelry Creation – Setting The Mood Of The Piece
Bead jewelry creation must consider the mood that the piece seeks to convey, what the color scheme, texture, and shape of the beads will be, and what the style will be.
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Bead Jewelry Business – The Art Of Selling Your Designs
Creating a bead jewelry business can be rewarding, but requires a lot of work. There are some questions that you must ask yourself before you get started, what are they?
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Photographing Bead Jewelry – Making Your Designs Look Good
Photographing bead jewelry is key to being able to sell your jewelry designs on the internet, and requires good camera equipment, proper lighting, and a good layout.
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Bead Jewelry Gallery – Putting Jewelry Making Skills Into Action
Bead jewelry gallery just for fun to showcase some of the finished pieces from my jewelry shop joyfulpearl2010 on Etsy, highlighting the different uses of semiprecious beads in my work.
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Bead Jewelry Resources – Finding Training and Other Information
Bead jewelry resources is a treasure trove of information for the beginning and experienced jewelry maker, with a listing of schools and other resources.
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Bead Jewelry Site Map
Site map for bead jewelry partner.com with listing of all of the most common jewelry making topics on the site.
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