Feeling inspired?
Beads! Beads! Beads! Whether you are an amateur learning about making jewelry with beads or simply a collector of beautiful bead, they have been around for thousands of years. Wearing beads strictly for ornamentation is a modern phenomenon. They are everywhere today. Both young and old are learning the craft of making jewelry with beads. The various ways of working with beads are using the simple pattern, the multiple pattern, the focal bead pattern, combining colors, combining shapes, and using textures.
Simple Pattern
The repetition of a simple pattern with one or two kinds of beads establishes rhythm in a necklace making it more than just a strand of beads. The pattern is so simple the entire strand becomes the focus. Beads separated by knots can bring more attention to each bead.
Multiple Pattern
The combining of two or three different bead patterns adds texture to the necklace. In this case, the combination of the colors and textures becomes the focus of the necklace, not the beads themselves.
Focal Bead Pattern
The focal bead pattern has the center area of a necklace beaded in a different pattern from the rest of the necklace or uses a special bead. This draws attention to the center of the necklace. This pattern can even make a “star” of one bead. Adding an identical pattern of beads on each side enables the entire necklace to come to life.
Combining Colors
How do you choose what colors to combine? Using beads in monochromatic colors is an easy way to start. Monochromatic means using different shades of the same color. Another way of combining colors is to use warms tones of yellow, brown, gold, red, and orange together. Also try mixing blues, purples and greens which are cool tones.
There are other methods of combining colors such as using colors to convey a feeling. Tan, cream, dusty aqua, peach and gold convey a desert feel. Magenta, purple, burgundy, forest green, and navy are strong jewel tone colors. Turquoise, yellow, red and blue are the tropical colors. Contrasting colors can bring some striking results. The most common combination is putting together black and white.
Combining Shapes
Using different shapes and sizes of beads in a necklace can add excitement and interest. Putting oval beads next to round ones or flat beads next to barrel beads can bring an entirely different appeal to a necklace. Small seed pearls placed together can fill any “empty” space in a necklace design and bring attention to the larger beads.
Textures
The use of a variety of textures such as clay, shells, pearls, stones, wood, crystal, precious metals, glass, plastic, resin, and bone can draw attention to the necklace and add a certain amount of complexity and uniqueness to a necklace design. When a large bead with a strong texture is mixed with smaller beads, it becomes the center of attention.
More ideas and resources you can get onFeeling Inspired website at http://www.feelinginspired.com.au
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