There are some really great complete beading books out there that you can choose from, and regardless of whether you are a novice or experienced beader, these complete beading books can be very helpful. A good beading book will not only teach you about things that you already know, but will enhance on these factors, making you as knowledgeable as possible. As well, it should offer at least a few different beading patterns that you can try out, with easy step by step instructions that you can follow.
Although of course the complete beading books that you choose should suit you and work for the type of beading that you are interested in, however if you are just looking for a couple of complete beading books to get you started, then there are a few in particular you should be interested in.
The Best Little Beading Book
This is a book written by Wendy Simpson Conner, this is not only an excellent book for the beginner beader but for the seasoned professional as well. It covers nearly every single aspect of beadwork, and this includes Peyote stitch, leather stitching, and working with wire issues. There are great graphics for each of the patterns in the book, and there are 24 full color pages of finished work. Techniques for making necklaces and earrings are great basics and are included in the book, as is lots of other valuable information, such as stone lore, symbolism, and color and design basics.
The Encyclopedia of Beading Techniques
This is definitely one of the most popular and complete beading books on the market today and one whose title truly explains everything. It offers a wealth of beading information, everything from basic threading and knotting to elaborate bead weaving and wire work. For each technique being taught in the book there are about four or five pictures to a page to illustrate how it is done, thus allowing for a better understanding for you.
Simply Beautiful Beaded Jewelry
This is another one of the great complete beading books, one which is perfect for anyone who enjoys crafting jewelry. It provides patterns for a whopping 50 different projects, everything from hair accessories and bracelets to necklaces and earrings. The projects cover a wide and varied range of styles and beads, and so you are sure to be able to find lots that you love.
One of the best things about this particular book is that it makes sure that all the beads, wire and other beading materials that you need for the patterns is easily accessible anywhere in the world, meaning that this is one book that you will actually be able to recreate the patterns from.
There are plenty of other complete beading books that you can choose from as well, however these three are definitely the cream of the crop in this situation. A good idea is to start off with two or three beading books, such as those mentioned previously here, and then begin to add more to your collection as you become a more experienced beader.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Buying Glass Rods for Beading
Because beading is such a popular hobby today, there is an incredible number of beading supply stores out there in order to supply the demand. Although this is definitely a positive thing if you are a beader because you have a lot of selection to choose from, at the same time it can be very overwhelming and even frustrating trying to decide which company you should buy from.
The most important thing is to ensure that the company is legit, and you can do this by conducting a background check on the business. You also want to see how long they have been in business for, what products they are offering, and for what price. By comparing and contrasting between a few different companies you will be able to save yourself a great deal of money and as well get the best overall value that you possibly can.
Glass Rods for Beading
There are many different beading supplies to choose from, but glass rods for beading are some of the most popular. This is because glass rods for beading are so adaptable and useable - you can make them work in almost any jewelry design. Glass rods for beading are also great because you can use them as spacers, meaning that you put them in between other beads on the jewelry to space them out.
Your Options
If you are looking for companies that sell glass rods for beading, there are a few in particular that you are going to want to check out. One is Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. If you are already an avid beader, then odds are you have heard of the Fire Mountain Company before.
They offer one of the largest selections of glass rods for beading and other beading supplies, including: gemstone beads, glass beads, metal beads, natural beads, pearls, acrylic beads, wood beads, chains, clasps, charms, findings, pendants, beading wire, and more. They also offer very competitive prices, and you are not likely to find lower prices for the same high quality anywhere else.
Another worthy option here is Bead Babe. This company is smaller and not as well known as Fire Mountain, but they do offer a great selection for a very affordable price. They have been in the beading business for nearly two decades now, and they have some really great connections with large bead manufacturing companies, and so they save a lot when they buy their beads, and they pass those savings right on to you.
There are many other companies that offer glass rods for beading and other beading supplies, and you will definitely not ever have to worry about having no place to choose from. Just make sure that you take your time and put some thought into your decision, because of course you want to get the best quality and value that you can.
The most important thing is to ensure that the company is legit, and you can do this by conducting a background check on the business. You also want to see how long they have been in business for, what products they are offering, and for what price. By comparing and contrasting between a few different companies you will be able to save yourself a great deal of money and as well get the best overall value that you possibly can.
Glass Rods for Beading
There are many different beading supplies to choose from, but glass rods for beading are some of the most popular. This is because glass rods for beading are so adaptable and useable - you can make them work in almost any jewelry design. Glass rods for beading are also great because you can use them as spacers, meaning that you put them in between other beads on the jewelry to space them out.
Your Options
If you are looking for companies that sell glass rods for beading, there are a few in particular that you are going to want to check out. One is Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. If you are already an avid beader, then odds are you have heard of the Fire Mountain Company before.
They offer one of the largest selections of glass rods for beading and other beading supplies, including: gemstone beads, glass beads, metal beads, natural beads, pearls, acrylic beads, wood beads, chains, clasps, charms, findings, pendants, beading wire, and more. They also offer very competitive prices, and you are not likely to find lower prices for the same high quality anywhere else.
Another worthy option here is Bead Babe. This company is smaller and not as well known as Fire Mountain, but they do offer a great selection for a very affordable price. They have been in the beading business for nearly two decades now, and they have some really great connections with large bead manufacturing companies, and so they save a lot when they buy their beads, and they pass those savings right on to you.
There are many other companies that offer glass rods for beading and other beading supplies, and you will definitely not ever have to worry about having no place to choose from. Just make sure that you take your time and put some thought into your decision, because of course you want to get the best quality and value that you can.
Finding Loom Beading Patterns
If you want to bead using a loom, then one of the very first things you are going to need to find are loom beading patterns. There are many different places that you can go to when you want to find loom beading patterns, however there are several in particular that are especially worthwhile, of which will be discussed in detail here.
There are many different places that you can go to when you want to find loom beading patterns, however there are several in particular that are especially worthwhile, of which will be discussed in detail here.
Your Best Options
One of the best places to go for loom beading patterns is Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, which is actually one of the largest and most well established beading supply companies in the world. Besides loom beading patterns, their selection includes: Swarovski crystal and crystal components, gemstone beads, glass beads, metal beads, natural beads, pearls, acrylic beads, seed and bugle beads, wood beads and celestial crystal.
They also offer a wealth of other valuable beading information including tips and tricks of the trade that you can use to become a more advanced and experienced beader.
Another great option for beading patterns is Pin’s Patterns, which is a company that is a very low key, family owned and operated business. They offer advice and information relating to beading that the average person would be interested in, especially beginners. As well, all of their patterns are free and so you do not have to feel hesitant about trying a bunch of different ones out to see which ones are your favorites.
If you do decide to pay for your beading patterns, you want to be absolutely positive before you put any money down on them that they are patterns that you are actually going to end up using. After all, you may find ones here and there that are interesting, but if you are never going to complete the pattern or going to have a use for the resulting creation, then there is really no point in spending money on the pattern.
You should typically only pay money for a pattern if it is one that is unique, or one that you cannot find anywhere else. Otherwise, you are better off just using the various free beading patterns that are available to you, and this way you are not putting yourself at any risk of losing money.
There are many different places that you can go to when you want to find loom beading patterns, however there are several in particular that are especially worthwhile, of which will be discussed in detail here.
Your Best Options
One of the best places to go for loom beading patterns is Fire Mountain Gems and Beads, which is actually one of the largest and most well established beading supply companies in the world. Besides loom beading patterns, their selection includes: Swarovski crystal and crystal components, gemstone beads, glass beads, metal beads, natural beads, pearls, acrylic beads, seed and bugle beads, wood beads and celestial crystal.
They also offer a wealth of other valuable beading information including tips and tricks of the trade that you can use to become a more advanced and experienced beader.
Another great option for beading patterns is Pin’s Patterns, which is a company that is a very low key, family owned and operated business. They offer advice and information relating to beading that the average person would be interested in, especially beginners. As well, all of their patterns are free and so you do not have to feel hesitant about trying a bunch of different ones out to see which ones are your favorites.
If you do decide to pay for your beading patterns, you want to be absolutely positive before you put any money down on them that they are patterns that you are actually going to end up using. After all, you may find ones here and there that are interesting, but if you are never going to complete the pattern or going to have a use for the resulting creation, then there is really no point in spending money on the pattern.
You should typically only pay money for a pattern if it is one that is unique, or one that you cannot find anywhere else. Otherwise, you are better off just using the various free beading patterns that are available to you, and this way you are not putting yourself at any risk of losing money.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
A Guide to Loom Wood Beading
Beading is a fun and fabulous hobby, and there are actually a few different types of beading you can do, one in particular being loom wood beading. Loom wood beading is basically just like regular beading only you use a loom to complete the actual beading process. There are many different styles and types of beading looms to choose from, each which offers its own separate features and qualities.
The Different Types of Beading Looms
You can make your own loom or you can purchase one at a beading store. Most looms are quite inexpensive but if you buy a larger one you are going to end up paying a bit more. Most people stick with the smaller looms because they are sufficient for most beading projects, such as bracelets and belts.
Learning About Loom Wood Beading
For a basic loom wood beading project you will need: a bead loom, scissors, seed or pony beads, linen or nylon thread, a needle, and bead patterns. The first step involved in loom wood beading is to thread the loom. You do this by unrolling two or three yards of beading thread from the spool, and then you wrap one end of the thread around one of the screws on the loom a couple of times.
Make sure that you are holding the thread tightly, and then slide the long end of the thread through a center slit. Now you want to wind it around the other screw, return it through the opposite center slit, and so on, making sure that you keep the tension even while going through all of the necessary slits. Once you have finished this part of the loom wood beading process, you need to begin bead weaving.
You want to cut off a one-yard length of your beading thread, and thread one end of it through until the length is almost halved, then tie the long end of the thread to the outside warp thread on the loom, making sure to leave at least an inch or two of thread free.
Now you use your needle to pick up the first row of beads, choosing the colors that are specified in your particular pattern. Once you have all of the beads on the needle, you slip them down the thread to the bottom, ensuring that they are snug against the beading threads. Pass the needle now underneath the warp threads, and then pass it through the beads from the opposite direction but this time putting it over top of the warp threads, and this will lock your beads into place for row one.
Then all you do from here is repeat this process for each row, and as you near the end of your thread, you need to run it through the bead row a third time and cut it off, then start the next thread by threading it through the same row a fourth time, then you continue as before, and tie off by leaving just enough of the warp thread to be able to tie a secure knot with your fingers.
The Different Types of Beading Looms
You can make your own loom or you can purchase one at a beading store. Most looms are quite inexpensive but if you buy a larger one you are going to end up paying a bit more. Most people stick with the smaller looms because they are sufficient for most beading projects, such as bracelets and belts.
Learning About Loom Wood Beading
For a basic loom wood beading project you will need: a bead loom, scissors, seed or pony beads, linen or nylon thread, a needle, and bead patterns. The first step involved in loom wood beading is to thread the loom. You do this by unrolling two or three yards of beading thread from the spool, and then you wrap one end of the thread around one of the screws on the loom a couple of times.
Make sure that you are holding the thread tightly, and then slide the long end of the thread through a center slit. Now you want to wind it around the other screw, return it through the opposite center slit, and so on, making sure that you keep the tension even while going through all of the necessary slits. Once you have finished this part of the loom wood beading process, you need to begin bead weaving.
You want to cut off a one-yard length of your beading thread, and thread one end of it through until the length is almost halved, then tie the long end of the thread to the outside warp thread on the loom, making sure to leave at least an inch or two of thread free.
Now you use your needle to pick up the first row of beads, choosing the colors that are specified in your particular pattern. Once you have all of the beads on the needle, you slip them down the thread to the bottom, ensuring that they are snug against the beading threads. Pass the needle now underneath the warp threads, and then pass it through the beads from the opposite direction but this time putting it over top of the warp threads, and this will lock your beads into place for row one.
Then all you do from here is repeat this process for each row, and as you near the end of your thread, you need to run it through the bead row a third time and cut it off, then start the next thread by threading it through the same row a fourth time, then you continue as before, and tie off by leaving just enough of the warp thread to be able to tie a secure knot with your fingers.
A Guide to Tapestry Beading
There are various different forms of beading that you can choose from, one in particular being tapestry beading. Tapestry beading is one of the more decorative forms of beading, but it is also the most difficult. Basically it is just like any other type of beading only with the use of tapestries.
What are Tapestries?
Tapestries are forms of textile art, and they are typically woven by hand on a vertical loom. Colorful patterns and images are created by the weft-face weaving technique that is used, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work. This is much different from cloth work, in which both the warp and weft threads are usually visible.
There are numerous famous tapestries in the world which can be used as examples, such as the Apocalypse Tapestry, which is the longest tapestry in the world at 140m long. Then there is also the Sampul tapestry, the Hestia tapestry, the Bayeux tapestry, and the Hunt of the Unicorn, which is a seven piece tapestry from 1495 to 1505, and which is currently being displayed at the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Tapestry Beading
Tapestry beading occurs when beads are placed over top of these bright and beautiful types of designs, and although tapestry beading can be quite a demanding project in terms of time and effort, it creates stunning results in the end.
There are certain materials that you need to use for this particular sort of beading, and in particular you need very sharp needles. Tightly woven tapestries will require an especially sharp needle in order to be able to penetrate the weave, while looser fabrics require a blunt tipped needle. This is because the blunt needles basically just push aside the fabric threads that you are beading on and go in between them.
Determining the proper thread size is also very important when working on tapestries, and the thread that you are using will decide how large an eye you are going to need. Typically your pattern will let you know what type of thread you need, or you can do your own research and learn about the particular type of tapestry that you are working on if it is pre-made.
You also always want to be sure of what it is that you want to accomplish, before you get started. After all you do not want to ruin a tapestry by making a mistake, especially if it is a more expensive one, and so taking the time and putting in the effort beforehand to plan carefully is critical.
What are Tapestries?
Tapestries are forms of textile art, and they are typically woven by hand on a vertical loom. Colorful patterns and images are created by the weft-face weaving technique that is used, in which all the warp threads are hidden in the completed work. This is much different from cloth work, in which both the warp and weft threads are usually visible.
There are numerous famous tapestries in the world which can be used as examples, such as the Apocalypse Tapestry, which is the longest tapestry in the world at 140m long. Then there is also the Sampul tapestry, the Hestia tapestry, the Bayeux tapestry, and the Hunt of the Unicorn, which is a seven piece tapestry from 1495 to 1505, and which is currently being displayed at the Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Tapestry Beading
Tapestry beading occurs when beads are placed over top of these bright and beautiful types of designs, and although tapestry beading can be quite a demanding project in terms of time and effort, it creates stunning results in the end.
There are certain materials that you need to use for this particular sort of beading, and in particular you need very sharp needles. Tightly woven tapestries will require an especially sharp needle in order to be able to penetrate the weave, while looser fabrics require a blunt tipped needle. This is because the blunt needles basically just push aside the fabric threads that you are beading on and go in between them.
Determining the proper thread size is also very important when working on tapestries, and the thread that you are using will decide how large an eye you are going to need. Typically your pattern will let you know what type of thread you need, or you can do your own research and learn about the particular type of tapestry that you are working on if it is pre-made.
You also always want to be sure of what it is that you want to accomplish, before you get started. After all you do not want to ruin a tapestry by making a mistake, especially if it is a more expensive one, and so taking the time and putting in the effort beforehand to plan carefully is critical.
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