Beads Strand

How to Get Started Making Glass Bead Jewelry

To start creating your glass bead jewelry first setup a proper workstation. A proper workstation is one that will allow you to be both creative and productive. Glass bead jewelry making is meticulous, yet fun and enjoyable work, so you will spend many wonderful hours designing your creations. Therefore it is important that your workstation provides you with proper lighting and comfortable seating. 

Next, you will need to have lots of handmade glass beads, so you won’t run out of beads in the middle of designing a piece of jewelry. Handmade glass beads are more uniquely design and finer in quality than cheap machine made beads. The best place to get handmade glass beads is directly from an experienced glass bead jewelry artist, such as DK Designs.biz. An experienced glass bead jewelry artist saves you both time and money by creating the unique glass beads for you. So you don’t have to worry about learning the art of making glass beads or incurring the extra cost for the required equipment.

Finally you will need to have the following materials if you don’t already:

Heavyweight flexible beading wire – for stringing your glass beads. For maximum flexibility a 49 strand beading wire works best.

Sterling silver clasps either lobster or toggle clasp – to securely fasten your glass bead necklaces or bracelets. For earrings you will need sterling silver or gold earwire.

Sterling silver is recommended so you don’t have to worry about tarnishing.

Swarovski crystals – in a variety of colors to place between beads and help create unique designs. Swarovski crystals add sparkle power and value to your handmade jewelry.

A variety of pliers – round nose, chain nose, flat nose, a good pair of nippers, and a cripper. If you are just starting out as a jewelry artist and you are not able to obtain all of the needed pliers at once then you can initially get by with just the round nose and chain nose pliers.

Now that you have the minimum supplies and tools you need to get started creating your handmade glass bead jewelry, it is time to start designing. If you are finding it rather difficult to create your first jewelry pattern, it is a good idea to attend a class about making glass bead jewelry. The best classes are those taught by actual jewelry artists. If you would like to attend such a class, visit DK Designs.biz.

About the Author

Diane has been beading for over 15 years, and has traveled and attended many beading conferences and workshop learning many different beading techniques. She has learned the art of Lamp Working 9 years ago creating glass beads with glass rods and a torch which sparked her creativity to produce varied and unique jewelry designs. Diane’s creations can be seen on her DK Designs.biz and at art and craft shows throughout the southeast.

What are Liberian Hip beads called?

I volunteered at a Refugee center, and the Liberian girls all wore multiple strands of beads around their hips and waist, i was wondering what they were called. I think it begins with a ‘B’

It depends on what the beads are made of. Some are made of glass, clay or wood and still others are made of precious gems.
Beads are often used as currency in many parts of Africa and each Country has a different name for each type of bead.
They probrably wear them around their waste instead of using purses or pockets.
.

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