How to Buy Beads

Tips for buying beads

1. Beads can be strung together in any number of combinations to create different objects. Most of the time we create ornamental items like bracelets, earrings, and so on. Accomplished beaders are known to create highly complex bead items like multi-strand necklaces and complete ornament sets. A good way to start is to buy a book of patterns or designs complete with instructions and pictures. Basically ornamental in nature, beading has its own logic of aesthetics which you will discover as you create more and more of bead items.
2. Once you have figured out the object or item that you want to create and are clear on the required quantities and types of beads, you can start to acquire the beads. Beads can be bought from hobby stores, bead shops and design shops, both offline and online. It may be a good idea to first visit some neighborhood bead stores and simply see what they have to offer. There is nothing like actually touching and handling beads of various sizes and types to get a feel for the medium. You can also learn some basic tips and tricks of the trade from the salesperson!
3. Unless you have extensive experience at stringing beads or are simply a ‘natural’ at the craft, you will do well to buy some pattern books. A good instructional book should ideally have step-by-step instructions, a number of photographs showing various stages of the production and images of the final completed item.
4. Beads come in a huge variety of shapes and sizes and styles. Some well known types include: Delica beads (cylindrical and very symmetric), opaque beads (non-transparent, single color), donut beads (donut-shaped beads in various colors), Aurora Borealis beads (multicolored, also clear or opaque), galvanized beads (with a metal coating), seed beads (small beads that make the body of the ornament or that fill the spaces between the bigger beads), transparent beads, silver lined or gold lined beads, matte finish (dull coating) beads and more.
5. Beads are made from almost any possible material including stone, glass, metal, wood, semi-precious and precious stones. Select the materials based upon the design and the item that you are planning to make. When selecting beads, look for uniformity in the finishing and the ease of stringing them together as the main factors in your purchase.

Caution

Do not go for very expensive varieties of beads in your first project. Start small and start with something that is manageable like a set of earrings. Be modest until you have learnt some of the basics and can make informed decisions regarding your purchase.

Where to buy beads

Beads are available from a number of manufacturers and hobby resource websites online. Try these places for some good selections--

• The Beadery has a wide selection of beads of all types, along with project ideas and photographs of finished projects.

• Jules Gems has a vast range of beads made form semi-precious stones as well as from New

Age ceramics.

• Genbead is a good place to find all types of beads and bead projects.