Decorating With Beadwork

Single glass beads can seem forlorn, as insignificant as grains of sand. But when strung together, beads become magical. They glisten like crystal, and when they harmonize, their dazzle can rival that of almost any jewel. Beads dress up everything they touch, and at Christmas they can transform your entire house, from the branches of a Christmas tree to the mirrors and window panes.

Beads look as delicate as dewdrops yet can survive for thousands of years. It’s easy to forget they’re just tiny bits of glass. They come in such varied styles and colors, you can fashion anything, from beaded eggs tightly cocooned in strands of glittering rocailles to snowflakes that artfully blend tiny tri-cut beads with bugle beads and druks. Choosing glass beads is as enjoyable as shopping for jewelry. Look closely, and you’ll discover each strain of bead has a distinct shape and sparkle. Rocailles are small glass beads with a square hole lined in silver. Tri-cut beads are tiny and faceted and have a round hole. Fire-polished crystal beads are faceted and can be large or small. Long bugle beads are usually faceted inside or outside. And druks are smooth, perfect spheres. The smallest beads usually appear as spacers in beaded jewelry and ornaments but they can be used to great effect by themselves if a sufficient number are brought together. All of these styles are usually sold  on “strands,” which often come in “hanks” often to twelve. Big bundles of hanks are called “bunches,” but you won’t see them very often in retail stores.

Beadwork requires planning, time, and patience. You will probably want to start before the holidays. But something simple, like a beaded monogram, can take as little as fifteen minutes to make, and allows for great variation in the beads and colors you choose. Consider the traditional red or green of Christmas, or the white of snow, then try experimenting a little: A range of unusual greens or icy blues can add new, beautifully spirited tones to your decorations.

Working with beads is satisfying. Beads are cool and pleasing to the touch, and make soothing, clicking sounds when they bump against one another. As you transfer them to wires and twist them into shape, it’s tempting to think back to an earlier time when beads, often made from bear teeth and ostrich eggshells, were used as talismans by hunters and, later, as currency and objects of barter. Your beaded ornaments should last for decades. They will not fade, like textiles. If they get dirty or dull, gently wipe them with a damp cloth. And when the holidays are gone, wrap them carefully in tissue, and store them safely until next year. Your beaded heirlooms will twinkle for generations to come.

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