Bead ‘n Shop asked:


India has a vast diversity and abundance of handicraft source. It is one of the worlds biggest producer of handmade products, still India is a labour based country, and still Indian product has signature of its makers.

In the field of jewelry India has its own unique class. Its designs are magnificent and classical. Beads contribute a vital part of jewelry market in India and they are admired through out the world.

India produces variety of beads such as glass beads, wood beads, clay beads, horn beads, metal beads, ceramic beads, lac beads and many more. Crystal beads are very popular due to their transparent and clear nature which makes them shine with any type of accessories. Indian handmade beads are one of the most demanded beads in the world. The majestic handwork of the Indian expert craftsman has made these beads very popular all around. Lac beads are generally handmade and are greatly admired by people all over the world for its exclusive handwork.

Glass beads occupy the biggest bead market in India and are available in variety of colors, designs and shapes. Indian glass beads are exported in all countries as they are cheaper and have great finish. Wood beads are also available in abundance, carved wood beads and painted wood beads are the two main streams under which wood is processed to make beads. Although ceramic beads don’t have as big market as glass or wood beads but it has a great potential. The shiny finish of ceramic beads makes them very attractive.

The main thing which has lead to the extensive spread of the Indian bead market is the fact that every buyer (whether it be a small shopkeeper or a wholesale businessman) can satisfy his needs of beads through the Indian market. Normally people dealing in wholesale beads keep a great variety of beads under a single roof which makes it easy for the buyer.



Gertrude

Kathleen Gagne asked:


Making beaded jewelry can be a fun and even profitable hobby. However, nothing quite compares to the satisfaction and admiration that can come from making your own customized beads. But, exactly how do you make your own beads?

One of the most popular styles of beads today, is the fimo bead. Fimo beads are made from polymer clay that is molded and baked. With the right tools and techniques, you can create a large variety of shapes and designs for your beads. This article is going to focus on the basics steps needed for all fimo bead making.

• Prepare the Clay

Soften your clay by kneading small portions with your hands until it is warm, stretchy and moldable. This is also the right time to mix any colors together if you are trying to make a custom color or marbled effect. Make sure to work out any air bubbles. A good way to do this is to roll your clay flat using an acrylic rolling pin.

• Shape the Clay

Using your hands or a sheet of plexiglass, shape your beads. You can make them into balls, squares, logs of multiple colors rolled together and sliced, or any other shape you can think of. You are only limited by your imagination.

• Make the Hole

Assuming you plan on stringing your beads, you are going to have to make holes in them. You can do this before or after baking. The easier method is to make the hole beforehand. To do this, gentle twist a skewer back and forth into your beads. Place multiple beads on one skewer for baking and make sure they don’t touch one another. Alternately, you can drill holes in your beads after baking. Drilling is more difficult, but won’t distort the shape of your beads.

• Bake the Beads

Again, making sure that the beads don’t touch one another, suspend the beads on skewers over a metal pan or tray. If you are drilling holes afterwards, place the beads gently between two pieces of cardboard. Bake the beads according to the instructions for the type of polymer clay that you purchased. This usually takes about 30 minutes in your own oven.

• Finishing Touches

Once your beads have cooled, slowly remove the beads from the skewers and sand any rough spots that may have developed from making the holes. Spray them with a coat of varnish to make them shiny, if desired.

There you have it: the basics for making your own fimo beads. Have fun!



Henry

Bead ‘n Shop asked:


Lac beads are one of the rarest and most unique beads in the world. They are made from a natural and eco-friendly substance called lac. Lac is a resinous substance which is secreted by tiny lac insects (say beetle) which belong to bug family. The widely known lac insect in India is known as “kerria lac kerr”. Lac is safe to use as it is non-toxic and bio-degradable product.

Lac beads can be found in many colors and designs. They have a shiny luster which gives them an exotic look. Generally, lac beads are handmade and require an expert craftsmanship to give them an exclusive shape. These handmade beads are very famous and people prefer wearing lac worked jewelries than other jewelry as the products made up of lac are anti-allergic to skin as compared to other metal jewelry.

Lac beads can be found in varying shapes such as round beads, square beads, heart shaped beads, bell beads, and egg shaped beads and many other unusual shapes. Beaded lac beads with works of mirrors, cut-stones, metal rings, tiny small beads and other accessories give these lac beads a royal look. Many jewelries such as earrings, necklaces, bracelets, pendants can be made using lac beads. Apart from making jewelry, these lac beads can also be used to decorate homes. For example, during Christmas these beads can be used to decorate Christmas trees. Lac beads are very unique and different from other types of beads. For people who are in search of wholesale beads, lac beads can turn out to be a great choice.

Articles made up of lac beads give a graceful and tempting touch to the decor. Lac is delicately used to make beautiful lac beads which truly combine colors with superlative designs.



Joanne

Temp asked:


When learning to bead you will realize early on that you need more than just beading needles and some thread. There are hundreds of organizers and tools available for beading, and those tools have a direct impact on the look and style of any beading project. Yet there are five basic tools that will get you started:

Tool 1: Round Nose Pliers

While you can find round nose pliers at any hardware store, it is often better to buy them in a craft or beading store, because these are made especially for beading. Also, you should look for round nose pliers that have a spring in the handle, because they are more comfortable and convenient for beading. The round nose pliers are used for making round or circular pieces of wire.

Tool 2: Flat Nose Pliers

Again, you can find these tools in most hardware stores, as their uses range from beading to auto repair. Yet buying them in a craft or beading store will assure that they are made for jewelry. These pliers should be soft inside the nose, and they will be the primary pair of pliers with a flat nose used in jewelry making.

Tool 3: Wire Cutter

Wire cutters are an essential in jewelry making, because you will be using various kinds of wire. You will want to get a small pair of wire cutters that can cut through things like headpins. They should be small, because the work you will be doing is small. If the wire cutters are too big, you will not be able to cut the wire close to the project.

Tool 4: Glue

Many jewelry projects require that you use glue, but you want to make sure you purchase glue that is specially designed for jewelry making. White or craft glues will not adhere correctly, but beading glue often gets into the delicate details of a project.

Tool 5: Tweezers

As you continue beading, you will find that you are using very small, delicate beads. A pair of tweezers will help you pick up small objects that you just cannot do with your hands.

Tool 6: Scissors

You will need scissors for many beading projects, but be sure you purchase the kind that is specially created for jewelry making.

As you continue beading you will need other tools like Ez-Beaders and hand tube beaders. You will also find yourself in need of organizers for your beads.



Jimmy

Marcel Vigh asked:


Three or four years ago, I was a bead fanatic. I loved beading and I made bead animals all the time. After I had completed more than hundred bead animals and creatures, I gave it up. I got bored with. A few weeks ago, it came to my mind and I decided to start beading again. After I’ve made some animals, I noticed that I still love beading.

It’s just fantastic!

So, let’s get started!

First, you’ll need:



beads

wire (or nylon fishing line)

pattern

By the way, what do you use, wire or nylon fishing line? Formerly, I used fishing line, because I found it easier to use. And it’s easier to use indeed, because its end won’t kink. However, it has no definite shape. The animal won’t stand on its feet. The wired animals will stand. You can bend them as you like. And it’s a great advantage! So, I would suggest the wire, but very thin wire.

Important

if you’re making an animal that has to be round, 3D or plump (like a penguin), always use nylon fishing line, because the wire will be almost completely flat.

I have a good example to prove this:

Once, I decided to make a bead owl, which was rounded on the example picture.

After I finished it (using wire), it looked like a bat and not an owl. It was completely flat.

I was very angry and I scolded the book. Later, I read the text beside the owl which said, that use nylon fishing line.

The next day, I made the owl again, using nylon fishing line. When I finished, it looked like exactly on the picture. It was fully round.

So, use fishing line for rounded and 3D animals.

And what about beads? I’ve been using seed (small) beads for the body of the animals since I started beading. There are also long beads (I don’t know the proper name), use them for wings and sometimes for legs.

Seed Beads:

These are the basic beads that we use for beading. They usually make up the body of an animal. Nowadays, you can buy them in whatever color, size and shape you want. I use quiet small (I don’t know the exact size) and round seed beads.

Bigger Beads:

These are much bigger than the seed beads. I usually use them for the eyes of an animal. However, use them whenever you want to highlight something.

Long Beads:

The size of the long beads is between the seed beads and the ‘bigger beads’. I use them for wings, legs and sometimes for some other parts of the animal’s body.

So, in the next part, I’m going to write about the basic beading techniques.

To learn more about it click here!

For other kid craft ideas visit: Marcel’s Kid Crafts.com



Holly

Ariana Cherry asked:


Jewelry makers and hobbyists love beads. Without beads, designs just can’t be put to the test or created. Of course, while we can draw pictures on paper, or come up with hopeful dreams in our heads, beads is a must for all jewelry makers. While money may be tight at times, there are ways to purchase beads even if money is tight. There are even ways to make your own beads too. If your wallet has a hole, or the well is running dry in your home, read on to find out some easy ways to save money to keep up with your growing bead collection.

Are there magazines in your home or colorful pieces of paper? If you own a bottle of glue, a bottle of some type of clear gloss, or even clear finger nail polish, you can create your own set of paper beads. Recycle your old magazines by finding color patterns in some of your old magazines. Tear out pages and measure out small long triangle like strips of paper. Cut them out and roll each strip onto a toothpick. Glue the point of the strip to the other point of the bead and let it dry. Clear coat it with some gloss or clear finger nail polish, and you can have your own set of paper beads. There are plenty of ideas for making paper beads all over the internet. By searching for “how to make paper beads” on internet search engines such as Google, you can create paper beads. You can also make your own beads with femo or baking play. Form the clay into the shape of bead you want, create a hole with a toothpick, bake it, and then paint it the colors of your choice. There are many ways to create your own beads without breaking the budget, or hardly spending a penny. With supplies around the home, you can be as creative as you want.

A great place to find old beads and findings is antique and thrift shops. Look for old jewelry that can be taken apart easily. Most of these stores have old pearl jewelry, jewelry with unique and unusual glass beads, and perhaps styles that haven’t been seen anywhere else. Bring in the old, to create new designs that may have not even been thought of. By using old jewelry, your jewelry pieces can have a little piece of history to tell a story. While looking for old pieces of jewelry, check out the buttons in the store if they sell them. Old buttons can make great center pieces in any jewelry design. If you have buttons in your home, see what kinds of creations you can make using them. Visit your local sewing store, and buy unusual beads to make your designs. Buttons are also great to use for charm bracelets too or even a unique pair of earrings.

If you are a sucker for online purchases, you can still save money by shopping for wholesale bead lots on websites such as Ebay or Artbeads. Log onto Ebay, and type in “wholesale beads,” or “beads” to see what kinds of deals you can find. Sometimes you can buy larger collections in bulk and save money where you may spend more just purchasing a couple of designer named beads. Artbeads offers free first class shipping in the United States. There Swarovski crystals are affordable, and can be purchased for as little as 0.10 each. Just by searching for wholesale beads or discount beads online, its possible to come around to some great deals. Ebay and Artbeads just happen to be a couple of the best places online to buy.

So if your cash is low and the economy has been taking its toll on your household budget, it is still possible to enjoy your hobby without spending much money. Use your imagination, and look beyond the items that may be available in your home to create your designs. By using unique and odd items, you might just come up with one of the best designs to be sold on the market yet.



Lillie

Bead ‘n Shop asked:


Learn to make earrings, necklaces, purses, ornaments and more with detailed photographs and step-by-step instructions.

You may find plenty of beads and jewelry making information online.

# But do you know if they are current and up-to-date?

# Do they help you in your bead and pattern designing?

# Do they provide new beading techniques?

# Are they written by professional and experienced people?

If all these questions comes to your mind and if you are serious about your beads and jewelry making projects and patterns, then you should read bead & button magazines.

Beads and Button Magazines are up-to-date with all new information and current trend. To say in a simple word, they are just awesome.

Whether you are a fresher or an expert, you could find plenty of useful information with all new patterns and techniques in this magazine. You will also find plenty of ideas and new beading-techniques from highly rated professionals on beads and jewelry making.

Learn about the unique beading techniques and designing with Beads & Button Magazine. There are plenty of more useful magazines – “BeadStyle Magazine” by Bead and Button. Read them all for full-proof complete beading information. You will also find reputed traders and wholesalers from all around the world from where you can find new products, accessories, etc. – all the way increasing pennies in your pocket.

The fairly priced “Bead and Button Magazine” is an affordable guide and source to get information on new beading patterns, beading techniques and jewelry designing. . Subscribe to Bead and Button Magazine now!



Vera