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Beads have always fascinated people, but with the advent of modern technology both their variety and uniqueness have sadly diminished. If you are involved in textile crafts or in making or decorating your clothes, consider the possibility - and satisfaction - of handcrafting your own beads.

There are many ways of making beads and many materials that are suitable. The following are a few methods that work equally well. Don't limit your thinking or use of beads just to make necklaces and bracelets, their potential is quite diverse.

Use beads in place of buttons on homespun woolies or handmade clothes, make into toys like rattles and counters, use in pre-school learning, as decorations for craft. Bead making is a family affair, and lots of fun when it is too wet to go outside.

Rolled Paper Beads

Beads made from rolled paper and homemade paste probably evoke all sorts of childhood memories, but with a litle effort and imagination we can improve greatly on those early newspaper efforts. The paper you use and the way you cut it will determine the type of bead you make. Small beads could be made from tissue paper, super large ones from wallpaper. It is probably best to spend an hour or so experimenting with paper and shape so that when you want beads for a special project you can go straight ahead and make them.

Striped Beads

If you want striped beads or beads with a particular pattern look through your box of pre-used gift paper and you are sure to find something suitable.

Cut paper into rectangles - 20cm (8 in) x 10cm (4 in).
Spread glue thickly on the plain side and roll firmly around a knitting needle.
Slide the knitting needle out, wipe off excess glue and put aside to dry.
Cut into desired length with a sharp art knife.

Tapered End Beads

These are made from paper in the shape of long, isosceles triangles. It si difficult to give exact dimensions for these as each person wants a bead of a different length and width. Remember though, the longer the strip the bulkier the bead. Once you habe decided on the measurements, cut out enough for a number of beads. To make, roll a well glued triangular strip around a match stick or metal knitting needle, starting with the blunt end and ensuring that the pointed end of the paper sits flat.
The thinner the paper you use, the longer the strip will need to be.
If making beads with children it is easier to work on a large scale, perhaps using something like wallpaper.
Long thin beads can also be made, you would cut out either a square or rectangular shape with a triangular end, rather than the long thin triangle described above.
Rolled paper beads can be painted and decorated, however if using patterned you will need to do this. A thin coating of eco varnish will give beads a longer life.

Papier Mache

There are a variety of ways to make papier mache pulp, depending largely on the person and what it is to be used for.
My quick easy wayis to soak whole, slightly crumpled sheets of newspaper in a bucket of warm water.
When the bucket is full allow to soak for a few hours or overnight.
Drain water off, then sit down and pull the paper apart and into tiny pieces.
This will definitely test your patience but will be quicker than tearing up dry paper.
It is not necessary to squeeze out all the water of the paper as powdered wallpaper paste can be added and will take up the surplus water.
It is difficult to work out exact proportions of paste to paper but if too little is used it will just feel like damp newspaper and will not model without breaking.
If the mixture feels slippery like clay it is too wet and some torn dry paper pieces should be added.
To make beads, roll small amounts of mixture between the palms of hands, using a little powder (corn starch / arrrowroot) if the mixture feels too sticky.
Pierce with a needle.
Alternatively the beads can be moulded into shapes around a small metal knitting needle.
Stick the needle into half a potato to allow two hands for modelling.
When beads dry they will shrink and crinkle but it is possible to sandpaper them down for a more acceptable surface.
Paint if necessary, and use a eco varnish lightly.

Play Dough

Yes, even children's play dough will make up into beads.
In a large bowl put:
2 cups organic flour
1/2 cup salt
1 cup water
Mix together to form a firm dough.
Sprinkle flour on hands and table and knead for about 10 minutes.
The dough should feel springy and swell slightly.
Shape in a simiar manner a for papier mache.
Beads will need to be dried hard in front - lightly bake in oven at 160 C ? 325 F for about 20 - 30 minutes.
Once beads have cooled and hardened decorate with paints and finish off with an optional clear eco varnish, the latter making them stronger and long lasting.

Commercial Clay

Knead the clay into a range of beadlike shapes. If using coloured clay you can mix the clours together to create new colours or a stiped effect.
Put a hole through the bead with a piece of wire or a needle.
Set aside to harden.
When firm to touch thread onto a thin knitting needle or a piece of wire that is long enough to be bent at wither end so it can stand up in the oven.
Check that the beads are well seperated and not touching anything or they will lose their shape.
Bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 130 C  / 250 F or follow manufacturers' instructions.

Pottery Clay

If you have access to clay you can make a wonderful variety of beads for use in everything from fine embroidery through to larger uses for craft etc.
Once you have moulded your beads and placed hole in them, set aside to dry.
Pottery beads can be fired in the back of the open fire or you could build a bonfire outside just for this purpose.
Beware of exploding beads as a few of mine blew up the first time we made them, but the rest came out well fired and with the most interesting patterns.

Seeds

The pips and seeds of apples, citrus fruit, melons and pumpkins are ideal and are easiest to pierce before they dry out.
Use a strong sewing needle and thread straight onto cotton cord or fishing line.
If they have dried out try soaking in water for a few hours and then gently piercing, it should work but not as succeddfully as when done fresh.
Spices like cardamon, allspice and cloves can be soaked overnight and threaded together to from aromatic strips that can be tied around coathangers or cuphooks in cupboards.

Shells

Tiny shells can usualy be pricked with a needle but larger ones will need to be secured firmly in beeswax plasticine and a sharp drill used.
it is important to place holes in the same spot on eachshell so that when strung they hang properly.

Note: Before you pick up that brush, investigate the benefits of less toxic, low VOC (volatile organic compounds).

Where ever possible try to choose from the ever expanding ranges of eco paints and varnishes, which although a little more expensive are much better for you and the enviroment.
Conventional paints and varnishes are made from ingredients synthesised from petro-chemicals, a process which requires large amounts of energy and therefore produces significant greenhouse gas emissions. In addition this process also generates lots of waste, most of which is the result of synthesis and is therefore not easily re-absorbed back into the eco-system and in some cases can be highly toxic. Most conventional paints and varnishes contain things called volatile organic compounds or VOC's which are basically the solvents used to carry the colouring (pigment) in the paint. As the paint dries the VOC's evaporate producing that 'newly painted' smell. This process is also know as Off-gassing and is both damaging to the environment (depleting Ozone) and potentially to your health, as many have been classified as toxic and carcinogenic.

Happy handcrafting!