What is beadwork?

Beadwork is the term for objects made from tiny glass beads, called seed beads. You can use various techniques to secure the beads and create beaded jewelry, sculptures, furniture and more. Throw some beads on it.

These techniques range in difficulty from easy to challenging. If you're interested in learning how you can check out Youtube and Pinterest for tutorials that can show you either techniques or bead patterns.

If beading is the journey, and your final piece is the treasure, then bead patterns, or just patterns are the map you may need to complete your adventure. I have a hard time following instructions while beading so I make everything up as I go. Some of the trickier aspects of following the instructions is the going back and forth between your project and the pattern or the dreaded "turn". A turn is a move that you use with Peyote stitch and I've typically just, not, gotten it. I'll keep trying and let you know how it goes. 

Anywho - string, glue, needle, wire if it's seed beads and you're creating something with it, it's beadwork.

If you want to make beaded jewelry you either need to follow a pattern or create a new one which happens alll the time. Make sure if you buy a pattern that it also includes the technique needed to master the design.

My beading strengths: Netting (all styles, including my own hybrid stitch), RAW, Peyote bezel, RAW bezel, Loom, Ndebele stitch, Brick stitch

My beading weaknesses: paying attention to the pattern, Peyote, bead crochet, bead embroidery 

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