by 2 people |
If you're a distractable person and you work at home, beading is a sure-fire activity that can keep you as preoccupied as you'd like. No matter how you get started (as I said in my bio, I got inspired by a beading friend), you can pretty much get everything you need online, delivered right to the doorstep of your humble abode.
Why beading? As an activity, it's a lot like meditation: it looks like you're just sitting there, but concentration and focus is required. Thus it's very centering and relaxing at the same time. And bead shopping is a sensual delight -- with the bonus of being inexpensive enough that you can indulge in building inventory without guilt.
However, I cannot promise you will be as guilt-free about the amount of time you spend, either on the hunt or creating. Heh.
Basic beading arsenal
You can always use more tools, but these got me started
- Three types of pliers: round-nose, for making round loops (also known as rosary pliers); snipe-nose (with flat inner surface and round outer edge), for opening jump rings and crimping; and flat-nose, for holding work in place and crimping.
- Wire cutters
- Scissors (embroidery scissors and curved manicure scissors are both useful)
- Glue and nail polish, to secure knots and stiffen thread to go through beads without a needle
- Stringing wire (flexible, twisted strands coated with nylon) or thread
- Findings and fasteners (including crimp beads, earring hooks and mounts, jump rings and triangles)
- A bead board of some type. I have both a plain velvet one and the kind that's shaped like a necklace with grooves so you can lay out a basic design.
- And, of course, beads, beads, beads!
I pretty much taught myself to bead, but this is a great book for beginners
(It's also inspirational in terms of taking on new challenges.)
Instant Expert: Beading is both comprehensive and simple enough for someone with virtually no experience. The author, Lucinda Ganderton, has published a number of books on needlecraft-type arts. This one covers bead weaving, embroidery, wire work and crochet, but it also covers basic techniques very well; you don't have to get that fancy until and unless you want to. (I'm going to try bead weaving next, myself.)
Instant Expert: Beading
Amazon Price: (as of 12/06/2009) 
eBay is a treasure-trove for beaders
... and it's open 24/7, both good and bad news for those of us who don't bead for a living!
This list is by no means definitive, but it's a selection of the eBay sellers whose selection I've found to be consistently terrific. The descriptions below are provided by the sellers at their store sites.
- Vintage Beads at Laramie Studios
- ellielantern says: I love shopping for beads in the old closeout mills of Rhode Island! Weekly shopping trips turn up all sorts of interesting beads and baubles. Check often as I list new items almost everyday!
- Bead It Beadstore
- sigco says: Specializing in unique, rare, discontinued high quality beads from around the world. We focus on vintage and contemporary beads, including Glass Beads, Crystal Beads, Stone Beads, Findings and Supplies.
- The Butler Did It Beads
- thebutlerdidit says: We have a great collection of beads; many are vintage beads and some are new. We can work with you if you need more of anything or are looking for colors or shapes please just ask you never know what we can find! Happy Beading
- Stone Age Hardware
- stoneagehardware says: Unique Designer Semi-precious & precious GEMSTONE BEADS: apatite, aquamarine, amethyst, tanzanite, emerald, ruby, sapphire, peruvian & fire opal, amazonite, citrine, garnet, grossular green garnet, lapis, sugilite, sodalite, iolite, turquoise, rhodonite, malachite, mookaite, & more!
- Wildwildness
- wildness4u says: Vintage Japan plastic charms ~ Rare Haskell beads, trims ~ Vintage guilloche enamel sew ons, doll buttons ~ Couture antique & vintage sequins ~ Antique & vintage Beads ~ Antique mercury blown glass beads, garland ~ Vintage Swarovski 2hole rhinestones slides ~ Vintage charms pendants ~ Antique rose montees
- KBKSales Vintage Beads
- kbksales says: Antique/Vintage Beads and other Jewelry Components
some vintage glass beads for sale today ...
i'm only searching the 'crafts' category here, otherwise you can get a lot of vintage bead jewelry that's already made. you can also search 'antiques and collectibles,' and include the word 'loose' -- as in 'loose beads.'
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
a few of today's Czech glass beads ...
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bya few of today's gemstone beads ...
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand bytoday's lampwork beads ...
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byby DeniseCaruso
I used to make stuff when I was in junior high and loved it, and I've
always loved beads and beaded jewelry. I picked it up again a couple of
years ag... (more)
always loved beads and beaded jewelry. I picked it up again a couple of
years ag... (more)
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