Shine with Crystal Beads

Friday, February 18th, 2011

If you randomly asked a group of people what came to mind when they thought of crystal, you’d probably get a lot of varied an interesting responses. Chandeliers, candle sticks, cheesy figurines, crystal balls, encrusted purses – the list might go on and on. However, if there was a beader in this group, when thinking of crystal, he or she would probably think of crystal beads.

Crystal Beads

Crystal is formed from natural elements and requires just the right conditions to take shape.  It has been mined and used for thousands of years. You will see crystal in everything from ancient royal crowns to modern day jewelry. Some people even believe that crystal has powers, and it is often associated with increasing energy and encouraging healing.

As for jewelry, crystal has long been recognized as a sign of elegance.  It has a way of catching light and tends to sparkle. For beaders, crystal beads come in a variety of styles:  Barrel, Bicone, Disc, Oval, Round, Rectangle, and more. We offer a wide selection of crystal beads on our website for beaders to browse.

Crystal beads are great for necklaces, bracelets, and all kinds of handmade jewelry. So, for your next beading project, try using crystal beads – they’ll make you shine!

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February’s Birthstone Rocks

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

The month of February got the short end of the stick when it came to getting extra days. However, February sure lucked out when it came to being assigned a birthstone. Amethyst is quite the versatile stone.

It’s color can be described as deep, vibrant, royal, and pastel. And no matter what shade of purple it is, it always looks exquisite.

Amethyst

Brazos Collection has many different options when it comes to selecting the right amethyst beads. Whether they are teardrop, tooth, nugget, or disk shaped – you can find it all at on brazoscollection.com.

Are you looking to create a new piece of handmade jewelry with your birthstone? The color of Amethyst really seems to couple well with crystal clear glass beads. You could create a necklace or bracelet alternating the two colors. It also seems to pair very well with turquoise.

Perhaps you’re not making new jewelry, but trying to incorporate your birthstone in your existing jewelry collection. Amethyst can go well with both silver or gold jewelry. Pairing it with gold would give a more warm, traditional feel – seeing how these are the colors of royalty! Pairing it with silver might offer a more chic look. It can portray a cool, modern, and even wintry vibe.

Either way, the beauty and versatility of amethyst shouldn’t be hidden, especially as the short month of February passes!

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Exploring the History of Jewelry

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Humans have been decorating themselves with jewelry for thousands of years, and apparently the preference for using beads goes way back. In fact, according to the National Geographic, people may have been wearing ornaments as far back as a hundred thousand years ago, with evidence of ancient seashells being used as beads.

Throughout the histories of many communities and cultures, jewelry has been used to adorn and symbolize. From bones being strung on fiber to ward off spirits – to – royal families wearing glass beads to symbolize strength and power, jewelry has played a pivotal role in many cultures. People have worn jewelry with a variety of intentions, and the styles and trends of jewelry have been through many transformations.

Woman with Jewelry

Every piece of jewelry and every bead has its own unique story. While some date back thousands of years, others have more recent stories. For example, relatively recent technology in industrial processes and factories allow us to make beads from recycled glass. Recycled glass beads would not have been possible thousands of years ago. As technology develops and we continue to improve our craft, it’s incredible to think about what is possible for the world of beading.

It seems that it might be human nature to decorate ourselves, or celebrate the latest advance by drilling a hole in it and wearing it on beaded necklace. The history of beads is so closely related to the history of many cultures, that it must be a topic worth exploring. Do any of you have recommendations on where to look for information on the history of beads or beading? Perhaps you have a story to tell, or have recently contributed to a new way of making jewelry? We would love to hear from you, and welcome your comments below!

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Beading Reading

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

The holiday season is a wonderful time to slow down, get organized, and most importantly – catch up on some leisurely reading! Reading a sci-fi thriller or a romance novel can be fun, but we suggest you to take this extra time to read up about your work and/or hobby.  Whether you are new to working with beads or a jewelry making professional, you will benefit from staying up-to-date on the latest industry news.  Reading about your craft can provide you with tips to make your work more efficient, and may even inspire your next big jewelry making project.

There are a number of diffeBeadwork Magazine Coverrent sources that you could go to in order to learn more about beading and the jewelry making industry. However, one of the greatest resources that you might consider is  magazines. There are a lot of advantages to reading industry magazines. Once you are familiar with them, you might consider a subscription and incorporating them into your schedule. After all, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the latest beading happenings!

To help you get started in your search for resources, we have put together a list of several magazines we find beneficial to those interested in beading and jewelry making.

Bead & Button Magazine offers a variety of beautiful jewelry projects for every skill level. This is a good resource for those of you who love stringing, bead weaving, wirework, polymer clay, bead crochet, and other unique jewelry-making techniques. This magazine is published 6 times a year, and has some really useful online components as well, including: tutorials, videos, blogs, forums, and newsletters.

Stringing Magazine provides stylish and intriguing jewelry designs for the fashion conscious beader. Creative inspiration for fashion jewelry, and  beading your own earrings, bracelets and necklaces. This magazine is published 4 times a year.

Bead Unique Magazine showcases how beads can accent every aspect of life. Each includes projects with easy-to-follow step-by-step photos and well written instruction, as well as an explanation of the creative inspiration behind the featured beadwork. There is lots of useful information about working with crystal beads and glass beads. There are also many member exclusive online resources. This magazine is published 6 times a year.

Art Jewelry Magazine presents today’s most unique and distinctive jewelry, along with concise step-by-step how-to instructions. This magazine has a strong focus on education. It also showcases a wide variety of materials including wire, metal, metal clay, gemstones, and other media. Subscriptions are available for 6, 12, and 18 months.

We hope these suggestions help you get started in your quest for reading material to match your interests. When you find something you like, sit back,  have a cup of hot chocolate, and savor the free time the holiday season has allowed you by enjoying some good beading reading. Don’t forget, most magazines let you purchase gift subscriptions. So, if you know someone with an interest in any of these topics, a magazine subscription makes a great holiday gift!

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