Crystal Beads No-Second Class Citizen

Not that many years ago, I remember asking a friend of mine who was a crystal expert, why was it that Swarovski sometimes had discontinued beads? Why didn’t they just make more? She informed me that beads weren’t their main product, and that they did little to promote them when compared to their figurines. Basically, they were the “second class citizens” of the company.

Whether or not this has ever been true, I can say with assurance (and pleasure!) it sure isn’t the case any longer, at least the “second class citizen” part, not so sure about why some type of Swarovski beads are still so hard to locate. With its new web site, Create Your Style, not only does the company help jewelry makers design with their fabulous crystal beads, they even have started sponsoring design competitions. Here are a few Swarovski crystal projects and ideas to inspire you:

• Glue Technique: Learn about the various techniques needed to glue Swarovski crystals onto all kinds of accessories.
• Crystalicious Bracelet: From Beadwork magazine, this is some major sparkle for your wrist. It’s formatted in a .pdf file and includes complete instructions and illustrations to complete the project.