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How to Get Started Making Seed Bead Jewelry

By , About.com Guide

5 of 5

Felt Beading Pad
Felt Beading Pad

Felt Beading Pad

Tammy Powley
A work surface that will help keep your beads from rolling all over the place is best, and I have found these felt pads to work really well. They are the same kind that fit into jewelry display trays. You may have also seen them used in fine jewelry stores or at art shows. Another option is to work on a piece of suede. The texture of the felt or suede help limit bead rolling accidents.

A small scoop is also handy, though not totally necessary, for scooping up beads when you are done and placing them back into their tubes or other containers.

While there is a plethora of materials designed for creating seed bead jewelry, from beading thread to fancy gadgets, you really don't need a ton of supplies to get started. This tutorial just covered the very basics you need. Of course, some tutorials and books are also helpful, so here are some resources to consider as you learn to make jewelry using seed beads:

About.com Jewelry Making Seed Bead Tutorials
Contemporary Beadwork IV: More Zulu Beadwork by Diane Fitzgerald
Crystal Lace Necklace Patterns: Bead Weaving Techniques by Sandra D. Halpenny
The Beader's Companion from Interweave Press
Beadwork at About.com

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