Handmade beads have a way of capturing your imagination like
no other. There's just something about the way a handmade bead looks and the
way it feels in your hand that connects with you on a very deep level. The very
first beads were all handmade, of course: in ancient times, there were no large
machines that could churn out hundreds and thousands of beads. The very first
beads were made from nuts, seeds, and shells with small holes drilled into
them. Later, as human culture developed and technological advances were made, beads
were created one at a time by skilled artisans and stone carvers, and these
beads were valued as currency in many cultures around the world. People
attached mystical significance to some of these handmade beads, believing that
they would protect against evil spirits or bring good fortune to the person who
wore them. So we're very excited to offer a new free eBook:
Your Guide to Handmade Beads.
Everyone knows that handmade beads can be made from glass
and ceramic, but they can also be made from fabric, wood, or even stitched
together from other beads! It seems that the range of materials that can be
used to create beads is only limited by our imaginations and our desire to
create these tiny treasures that can be used in so many different ways. In a
way, handmade beads embody the creative spirit of the human race in a way
unlike any other.
If you're ready to dive into the world of handmade beads, Jean
Campbell, founding
editor of
Beadwork magazine, has some very
useful advice for buying handmade beads. Once you've read her Buyers' Guide to Handmade Beads, it's
time to start your journey into making and using handmade beads. Pam East shows
us how to create unique filigree enameled beads without the use of a kiln in
her Enameled Filigree Beads project. Next, the fabulous Kristal Wick shows us
how to make a Sassy Silky Bead Angel Dangle using her handmade silk fabric
beads. Dabble in a little bit of mixed-media bead making with Belinda Spiwak's
Text Beads project using pre-made stoneware beads and old pages from a book.
Take a break and whip up a fabulous necklace using more fabric beads and fun eyelash yarn with Jamie Hogsett's Firecracker Necklace. And finally, use
your polymer clay to create Debbie Blair's Bella Hope angel project.
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However you decide to use them, handmade beads will always
have a special place in the history of humankind and the development of so many
different cultures around the world. I hope you enjoy these free beading
projects using handmade beads and that they inspire you to make a little
history of your own with handmade beads in your beading projects.
Download your free copy of Your Guide to Handmade Beads and discover how much fun it can be to make your own beads!
Bead Happy,
Jennifer