Choosing the beaded jewelry materials

In creating inspired beaded jewelry, the choice of bead materials for your jewelry is very important since they will comprise the largest portion of your beaded jewelry. Choosing the right beading materials is one of the most important steps in creating beaded jewelry because of this. This is a step that should never be taken lightly in handmade beaded jewelry creation as it often dictate the success or failure of the resulting jewelry item. This guide was written in the hope that it would help you in the process of choosing the right bead material for your beaded jewelry project. When deciding on the materials to use, as handmade beaded jewelry designers ourselves, we often ask ourselves some questions when we are designing a new bead jewelry pattern. Hopefully, our experience will not only give you an insight in how we work on beaded jewelry creations but also be useful in your own beaded jewelry handcrafting endeavors.

What are the right colors for my beaded jewelry?

The first thing your should concern yourself when undergoing a new beaded jewelry design project is the colors of the beads. If you are going to use multiple bead materials, it is often a good idea to try to see if the bead colors look good when matched with each other. Putting all the chosen beading materials on a saucer is a good technique to give you an idea of how the finished beaded jewelry will somehow look.

How many different bead materials should I use for my jewelry?

Many hand made beaded jewelry projects are made up of a combination of many different types of stones. Combining different types of minerals to produce a visually unique jewelry item is indeed one of the joys of the craft. However, it is also very easy to overdo things in beading jewelry. Many beginners (and even some experienced designers) in beaded jewelry creations often use too much variety on one item that the results can sometimes come off as un pleasant. When you are creating your own jewelry, it is always wise to stick to the age old "less is more" philosophy when in doubt. Two or three different types of beads should be more than enough for most simple beaded jewelry projects.

Do they feel right?

An often overlooked detail in creating beaded jewelry is the "feel" of the beaded jewelry when worn. A lot of this so called "feel" comes down to the actual wight of the beads to be used. Heavier stones such as those made of crystals tend to feel more expensive while lighter minerals composed of light weight materials such as wood or amber are be more comfortable to be worn.? No matter what feel you are going for, please remember that your beaded jewelry should not be too heavy to that point that it is uncomfortable to wear. It should not be too light either as  beaded jewelry article that is too light will feel cheap and flimsy when worn. The secret here is to strike a balance by choosing the right combination of material types and sizes.

Are the size right?

Aside from contributing to the weight of a beaded jewelry, the size of the materials will affect the visual appeal of the jewelry. Depending on your beaded jewelry's design; stones that are too big may be flashy but they can look awkward when worn. Using very small beads are particularly undesirable when you are using more expensive beads that can easily be mistaken for something cheaper as some stones such as sodalite and lapis lazuli are similar in appearance.

Is the price right?

In choosing beaded jewelry materials there are lots of options available to you. Depending on the materials you would use, you can create a very beautiful creation with a few dollars worth of budget or a masterpiece that can cost you a hundred dollars or more worth of materials. When you are buying materials for your new beaded jewelry project, be aware that some beads will naturally be more expensive than others. It is up to you to decide on how much you are willing to spend for your jewelry project. If you have a perfect design in your mind that requires some spending that is out of your budget range, always remember that there will always be cheaper alternative materials that may look similar to the original. Sodalite can replace lapis lazuli in most cases, as can zirconium or even quartz replace diamonds. If the price is not right, do not give up as there is always that "other" mineral that will save your project.