Beaded jewelry is perhaps the easiest kind of jewelry to make, but that does not mean that it cannot be beautiful or complex. Some women choose to make accessories to complement a particular outfit or to suit a creative whim.
The simplest way to use beads is to put a number of them on a string or cord in succession and then tie the ends together to make a bracelet. This kind of bracelet can be worn alone or in multiples if they coordinate well with an ensemble; sometimes the desired effect is achieved by merely wearing a certain color on several parts of the body. Multiple bracelets in one color are also a fun way to add an unexpected pop of color to an all-black outfit. A simple beaded bracelet can be accented with an ornate decorative clasp. Small charms can be added at measured intervals between the plain beads.
Alternately, one statement charm can be placed at the midpoint of the bracelet. This charm can be another bead or it may be a keepsake such as a small key that is not expressly intended to be placed on a charm bracelet. Antique stores carry countless one-of-a-kind trinkets that can be added to a bracelet. The aspiring jeweler should choose items that already have holes in them if she is uncomfortable with the notion of boring them in herself.
Beads can also be used to make necklaces. Very small beads can be strung onto a long string and wrapped around the neck several times. A necklace like this doubles as a cuff bracelet if it is wrapped around the wrist. A large distinctive bead can serve as the centerpiece for a charm necklace. A feather can be threaded through the bead’s hole or glued to the bead for a free-spirited bohemian look.
Flower rings are a favorite project for bead workers. To make a beaded flower, one must place eight beads of the same size and shape on a cord. The cord should be curved so that the beads form a circle, and the end of the cord extending from the last bead should be threaded through the hole in the first bead. This will secure the circle. The bead that will be the center of the flower should be placed on the same end of the cord, which will then be threaded through the hole in the fifth bead. More flowers can be added in a sequence, or beads can be added in a linear fashion to make the one flower the focal point of the ring. If using very small beads, eight flowers are usually enough to wrap around the ring finger.
