Saturday, January 19, 2008

Chevron bead

Chevron bead or Rosetta were created by glass bead makers in Venice and Murano, Italy near the end of the 14th Century.



These beads are made of a hollow cane and many layers of glass e.g. white, blue, white, brick red, white and finally blue. After this layering of color, these beads are ground to produce patterns resembling concentric stars with points. The canes are then chopped into individual beads. The Chevron bead is distinguished by zigzag patterns.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Acrylic Beads

These are man made beads and can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. They are light weight and comes in a huge variety for your beading needs.

Cloisonne beads

Cloisonne ( Cloisonné) is an ancient technique of creating decorative arts such as vase and jewelry. This technique was developed in the middle east and later spread to China.


The making of Cloisonne is a multi-step process. First an artisan creates the shape of the object e.g. a bead from metal. Cloisonne wire is then solder on the bead to define partitions. the partitions act as a color separator. Powdered glass (Frit) is painted to the partitioned area and allow to dried. There after firing in oven melts the frit on the metal. This process might be repeated several times with various colour and transparencies to get the desired effect.

After this the bead is electroplated with a thin gold or silver film to prevent corrosion create the final bead.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Type of beads

When I first start making bead projects, the myraid of beads out there can be really confusing. Basically, there are too many choices. Names of beads can be base on any thing from the material it is made from, to the purpose of the bead to the brand of the company that make it, the techinique or place it is made from.

As part of my resolution to learn about all beads and beading, I will be starting a glossary on the beads. Lets see where the discovery Journey goes!

Monday, January 14, 2008

MURASAKI's Blogshop

Sharing a cubicle with tinydropletsmurasaki is one of the reasons I started wanting to make my own accessories. After all, its hard not to get inspired when someone siting beside you come into office with a unique and pretty piece of accessory she made every other day.

Just learn the other day that she had started her own Blogshop. Check it out - She have some interesting earings, bracelets and necklaces over there!
http://tinydropletsmurasaki.blogspot.com/

Saturday, January 12, 2008

World of Beads

Beads are beautiful creations. They are one of the oldestd most universal art form that exsit across cultures and continents.

There are beads that are made from all kind of materials, from crystal, glass, wood, clay, plastic all kinds of precious and semiprecious stones, metals. Some beads are so intricately created that they can stand alone as the focus of the piece of accessories or be combined with other beads to tell a story.

Recognising the beauty and vasatality of beads to create unique, beautiful and personalised accessories, companies like Trollbead, Pandora, Chamilia, Pasha and Biagi have come out with systems where by one can buy bracelots or necklaces and beads separately to come out with combinations that is one of a kind for the wearer.

(Above) Beautiful troll bracelets & necklaces. This Scandinavian Beaded Charm Jewelry take its inspiration from mythology, astrology, fairy tales, fauna, flora, cultural diversity and in the familiar things of everyday living. Troll charms can take the shape of mythology creatures like fairy troll or depict a wine harvest. Troll beads and troll jewelry does not come cheap. A bead can range from 14.50 for a glass bead to 345 Euros for a bead make from gold and stone.

(Above) Chamilia bead bracelets.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Beads making

As with all crafts, it takes time, patience and dedication. But joys of acquiring new skills and creating something make it all worth while.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Beads and Christmas giving

It was a time where I scramble to find gifts for my friends and after weeks of hesitant, I finally work my stock of beads and findings to create some gifts for my friends. It wasn't all smooth. It took a few trips to the bead shops and lots of late nights. But the results were satisfying for me and hopefully, the friends who receive them


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