Free Beading Project Idea: Kumihimo Projects

Free Beading Project Idea: Kumihimo Projects

You need to buy a Kumihimo board. If you enjoy knitting and weaving, you are going to love learning how to make Kumihimo braids. Kumihimo is a Japanese art. It means ‘gathered threads’. Kumihimo braids were notably used to link small plates in Samurai armor and adorn Samurai horse armor. The history of Kumihimo is as colorful and fun as the art itself. Kumihimo braids transcend gender when…
Free Spirit Beading: Modern Necklace With Soft Flex Wire And Two Hole Wood Bead

Free Spirit Beading: Modern Necklace With Soft Flex Wire And Two Hole Wood Bead

Kristen is back with another episode of Free Spirit Beading. Grab your jewelry making supplies and learn how to make a wonderful necklace. This time she strings a necklace with beads below her focal bead and exposes the beading wire for the rest of the piece. Kristen thinks out of the box. Kristen loves to make free spirited jewelry. She finds beauty in abstract designs and doe…
Visit Soft Flex Company At The Whole Bead Show

Visit Soft Flex Company At The Whole Bead Show

Soft Flex Company is at The Whole Bead Show in November. Make sure you visit our booth (606, 608, 709). We will be showing you how to make jewelry. We will be selling beading wire, tools, and jewelry making supplies. We will be filming YouTube videos and live Facebook videos. If you enjoy Sara’s beading videos, this is a great chance to watch her in person.Sar…
Beading Journeys Around The World

Beading Journeys Around The World

I’ve somehow managed to revolve my life around  beads and travel. My love affair with both began back in the 1980’s when I lived on the Navajo reservation. I fell in love with the challenges that come from living in an unfamiliar culture, and I also fell in love with their beadwork. A simple three-hour class in basic  stringing and looming techniques was all I n…
History of Beads III: Iron Age To Modern Beaded Jewelry

History of Beads III: Iron Age To Modern Beaded Jewelry

Beading is an ancient craft. Beaded necklaces and bracelets had crude beginnings. The humble egg and stone beads that graced early man developed into a thriving craft and beading become an artisan occupation. Trade and travel carried beaded treasures across the globe.The desire to adorn and be different was a primal impulse. Beads were a mighty symbol of privilege and…
History of Beads II: Bronze Age Beaded Jewelry

History of Beads II: Bronze Age Beaded Jewelry

A single spark ignites a bonfire. The crude beginning of beading and jewelry making evolved into a wildfire of creativity and jewelry design. Bead stringing began with egg and stone. It escalated into an art with shaped glass beads and standardized beads that allowed for uniform designs. The Stone Age ended with a simple foundation. The Bronze Age erupted wi…