All About Beads

History

Beading may be described to be as old as man himself.  Some of the earliest beadworks found (which were made of shell and ivory) date back to the Stone Age and might have been used by early man to decorate their body coverings or as necklaces, bracelets, or anklets.  The Egyptians are thought to be the first people who crafted seed beads using faience seeds over 4,000 years ago.  A manifest to this are the beadworks found by archeologists in the tomb of King Tut.  In Japan, beadworks were discovered inside an 8th century palace.

Elsewhere in the world such as in Nigeria were found beadworks that date to the 8th to 11th centuries.  There were also unearthed beads in Italy that came from the days of Marco Polo.  The history of beadworks in North America can be attributed to the Native Americans who made use of beading to decorate sacred manuscripts.

Types of Beads

Beading can be quite easy but crafting them to a work of art takes creativeness and patience.  The following types should guide you on what to choose for a particular use.

Seed Beads are typically used in loom work and bead weaving.  Most people start their beadworks using these since it can be inexpensive and offers an array of colors.  However, you may face difficulty with them due to their small sizes, but it's a great first step to experimentation.  "H" (cut beads) has six sizes but is commonly as small as the former.  The cut may be hexagonal or lopsided, while the shine reflected often comes from the flat surface.

Cut Beads come in similar sizes as the round standard seed beads although the most popular ones are: two-cut (have rounded bodies and cuts are at the top and bottom), three-cut look like gemstones and has surfaces on every side, the charlotte cuts are cut on one side and have rounded shapes.

"Bugles" have a tube shape, which may be smooth or hexagonal.  "Roundels" have the shape of a donut and can be smooth or multi-faceted.  Faceted beads have flat surfaces made by cutting or molding them to a standard shape.  They come in a multitude of sizes and shapes.  "Drops" are those with the shape of a pear and are holed either lengthwise or at the narrow end.

"Delicas" are cylinder shaped and perfectly tiles together when beaded.  The '"Roundeds" are the most widespread and you can always choose from their extensive colors and varieties.

Beading is an enjoyable endeavor.  Today, beading is used as part of embroidery, home decor or in the interest of jewelry making.  The nature of beads makes them glamorous works of art, and is a profitable hobby as well.