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A world of jewelry beads for the artist in youJewelry beads can blow your mind. They can be tantalizingly beautiful, full of character and personality. Become adept at translating the beauty of stones and gems into metal or, better still, produce your own metal beads inspired on nature’s legacy. Jewelry beads have been used throughout jewelry history in the most amazing traditions and fashions. Its not just about stringing beads, it’s about using jewelry beads to consummate your jewelry designs.
Stretch your bead stringing skills, get into jewelry bead art and experiment with exotic possibilities. Make stunning jewelry using coral, lapis, amber, jade, silver, turquoise and more. There are many possibilities of color, shape, movement and styles.
While your busy learning all the metalsmithing techniques to design and make your unique handcrafted jewelry, there are some basic beading principles that may help you out. Here are most of the basic jewelry beads for you to use.Before buying any type of jewelry beads, but specially gemstone beads, watch out for the really good quality stones.Take them in your hands, feel their coolness (rocks and minerals are always cold, plastic is room temperature). Have a good look at the surface of your beads. Gemstones should be well polished and have a high luster; their surface should be even, shiny and soft when touched. Take a close look at each bead to find any fractures, bits chipped off, weak angles or any other imperfection. In hand painted or glass beads look out for faded parts, imperfect craftsmanship and rough edges. Whenever you can, buy beads in the store. Buying beads through the internet is very comfortable, but you never know how many beads will come broken. My advice is to carefully examine the beads you are buying. Think of it like when you’re buying fruits; you carefully choose only the well shaped, colorful, juicy, plump fruits not the old, lumpy, dry, bruised fruits found on the top of the pile. Gemstone beadsGemstone beads are your natural choice when making your jewelry. Because there are no two stones alike, your jewelry acquires the incomparable quality of nature’s patterns and colors.
The qualitative character of your jewelry design will depend on the kind of jewelry beads you choose.
For example, if you choose faceted amethyst beads, round peridot beads or flat oval jade beads, your jewelry may acquire an elegant, classy look. These beads can adorn a necklace with a fantastic silver pendant of your own design. If you choose to use matte onyx coins, lava stones or hematite chips you can dispose them in a modern, contemporary fashion. You can add interest with textured silver spacers or hollow forms. There are also the all-time favorites: turquoise nuggets, fancy jasper beads, lapis nuggets or agate chips to create lavish, ethnic jewelry pieces. Try combining them with your handmade silver components with an ethnic flare. Glass beadsSome glass beads are individually made, while others are pressed or molded in production lines. Extra pattern and texture may be created by incorporating metallic foils, by using blobs of colored glass within the bead or by adding trails and swirls of molten glass to the surface.
The way in which glass beads are finished will produce a great variety of shiny or frosted textures; while different coatings can give pearlized, iridescent or metallic finish. Lampwork glass beads are particularly colorful and come in every imaginable shape. The very best are individually crafted by skillful artisans. Hand-blown furnace glass beads are also a beautiful alternative. Fused dichroic glass beads are great for adding shine and sparkle. They are cool for daily use and you also can make a statement using one of these as a fantastic pendant for a night out.
Organic materialsOrganic materials have been used since the earliest times in jewelry making. Natural materials include coral, bone, amber, horn, wood, shells, seeds and the much loved pearl. Want to learn all about pearls? Visit a great site at
www.karipearls.com All Things Pearl -- Jewelry, Information, Images.
Ceramic beadsCeramic beads are made out of clay and other chemicals and then decorated. Their hardness, texture and weight vary. Because they are often hand painted in exquisite detailed patterns there will be differences from bead to bead. Some also come with puffed dots or colored waves. The most popular ones are highly valued for their intricate designs. They are best used in simple, bold jewelry designs. You can also play with the painted pattern to design and make an abstraction of it for a pendant or a box clasp. Metal beads
Handmade metal jewelry beads are widely used by all jewelers. They are best made with sterling silver or gold following a design in mind. To successfully use metal beads for jewelry its best to make them yourself, in the bench. Although it is tempting to use ready made wholesale metal beads its best to at least limit yourself to the ones made of silver or gold. Avoid metalized plastic, plated metal and other fake alternatives.
If you want to create one-of-a-kind jewelry, stay away from the mainstream. Create you own approach to using jewelry beads. Jewelry beads can complement your jewelry design in a wide scope. It’s up to you to experiment with jewelry beads in original combinations, integrating them with different metal techniques and designs. Jewelry beads are there to accentuate your jewelry designs.
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There’s an infinite choice of gemstones in any bead shop. They can range from bold and textured turquoise nuggets to transparent and faceted cherry quartz, just to name two different alternatives. 
