| Beaded jewelry cannot be considered a fad simply | | | | It should be noted that there are several resources for |
| because it has been around for so long. This type of | | | | information and material that can be purchased on the |
| costume jewelry has been seen since before | | | | Internet, sometimes directly from the source, which will |
| Cleopatra started wearing it. And according to | | | | save you more money than going through a retail |
| resources, this queen of Egypt was not beneath | | | | outlet. |
| wearing whatever tickled her fancy. | | | | Children are especially taken with creating this type of |
| But we can see beads being worn much earlier than | | | | art-craft. It is an outlet for girls and boys alike to be |
| Cleopatra. In fact you can find them all the way back | | | | able to express themselves. There are many bead |
| to the cave dwellers. According to research and the | | | | kits available at many different toy stores and craft |
| National Geographic Society, the oldest beads date | | | | outlets that can provide children with everything they |
| back over 70,000 years ago. They might not have had | | | | need to begin making their very own beaded jewelry. |
| the selection of beads at their disposal as we have | | | | Any kind of handmade costume jewelry with beads is |
| today, but you can be assured some of those early | | | | extremely popular right now. Many young people are |
| designs had taste and creativity that has been passed | | | | buying it because it is affordable to their pocket books. |
| on through the ages. | | | | Women not only buy this type of jewelry because the |
| Remember, if it was not for Christopher Columbus | | | | price is right, but because they can afford to purchase |
| offering beaded craftware to the natives, where | | | | pieces that are unique and made of high quality |
| would America be today? Probably making costume | | | | materials. The choices are seemingly endless. |
| jewelry. | | | | That's because technology has made it possible for |
| One of the nice things is that making home crafted | | | | companies to mass produce very detailed, artistic |
| costume jewelry does not require a degree or any | | | | beads in so many distinct and differing varieties, that |
| special talent. This craft is wide open to anyone with a | | | | the demand for this niche market has now grown |
| desire and fertile imagination to get started. The talent | | | | very large. It is the uniqueness of these new beads |
| is learned quickly. It is a combination of design and | | | | that infuse the market that is the main focus. |
| manipulation of the beads in colorful ways that are | | | | Couple that with the fact that clothing is now beaded |
| attractive and follow natural, simple patterns that have | | | | with accents for personal statements, and you can |
| our own unique signature to make a lasting impression | | | | see why beads of all types are becoming more |
| of who we are. | | | | popular than ever. Of course it works the other way |
| So, where do you start? Where can you begin on | | | | also. The more people wear beads, the more casual |
| making your own beaded masterpieces? You can | | | | clothing is purchased to match. |
| obtain very informative "how-to" books and magazines | | | | You can purchase beading kits, and all the accessories |
| with plenty of designs and projects online. Also, you | | | | needed from craft stores and many big-box retail |
| can get these instructions at craft shops, where you | | | | stores, as well as hundreds of Internet companies. The |
| can also get a wide variety of materials to begin your | | | | assortments are vast, depending on how deep you |
| project. | | | | wish to expand your creativity. |