Beads quality

Bead was a very expensive material in all times, and it is still very expensive in our days. Therefore high cost of this product consists of two costs - the cost of decorative - applied processing and the cost of bead as material.

Different kinds of beads are described in special literature; therefore here we will discuss this question in a brief way. Sizes of beads are various. Its diameter could be from 1 centimeter (big beads) to 1 millimeter (small beans), bugles - long thin sticks - are also kind of beads. Beads made of glass are the most qualitative - therefore this bead is the most expensive. Czechia was the best manufacturer of beads in XX century, and only Czech bead has won hearts of fashion women in Europe and Soviet Union. Now we can meet Czech beads infrequently, and shops of needlework are full of other manufacturers. Most widespread beads are Indian and Turkish. Such beads are not made from glass, they are made from plastic. The quality of these beads changes from good to very bad. Here are some advices how to choose good beads.

1. During the contact with fingers bead should not paint skin. If it occurs, a bit later the ornament, which you have made from it will lose the color and can become simply transparent. However such painting bead can be used in pictures if it necessary passing shades. For example, in pictures "A lunar landscape " and "Lily" (on a black background) I expressly used painting beads. As a result the passing shades of the same color have created unique color in both pictures.
   
   
2. In a pack bead must be calibrated, it means - approximately it must have one size. If bead has different size or it hasn't a round form and oblong, broken with obvious defective edges, then it is possible to make ornaments in engineering "corals" from such bead and to not apply such bead any more. If you just begin to work with bead, it is better not to buy absolutely such bead - you can only spoil the impression to itself from the development of this craft.
   
   
3. The special attention is necessary at bugles purchase. If the ends of bugles are broken you can apply it only (as in the first case) for an ornament in engineering "corals". If bugle is split on length, such bugle is not necessary anywhere, after some time it will fall from the string. Bugles are frequently used for decorating bags therefore even buying instead of making the product; it is necessary to pay attention to this question.
   
   

It is better to not keep stuffs made from bead under direct solar beams or it can be burnt. This rule concerns to any decorative - applied art products, and you shouldn't forget about it.

If you are going to make a product from two and more colors of bead, you should pay attention to size of bead in different packs - it must be identical, or your product will be warped. Certainly, there are things, in which bead is applied in the different size, but as a rule there are not so many such ornaments.

Buying bead pay attention to holes inside the bead. If the holes have an identical diameter, such bead is good for using in products. Sometimes bead is closed inside drops of plastic. Try accurately to push them using a needle. If they easily take off from there, you can use the bead without excessive nervousness for wickerwork or embroidering. But if the bead breaks because of this procedure, or the drops do not leave it is better not to use this bead for your product.

At embroidering or wickerwork on wax string pay attention to the size of an aperture of bead. If it is too small you cannot expand it and use such bead in a product. Sometimes it is possible to expand an aperture of bead with the help of repeated friction of bead on the string, but this operation borrows too much time. And to expand the bead with the help of heated needle is not good to try at all - bear just will break up. If you make a thing from river pearls, it is not necessary to use heated needle too, because if the pearl will not break up at once, a bit later there will be the first sight - cracks will break the pearl.

The dusty products from beads can be put in water, if they are fixed by special material, but not with the string. String can quickly tear. And remember, you shouldn't use spirit or something like this for cleaning the stuff, because the reaction of color to such phenomenon can be unpredictable. It is better to wipe it using dry flannel and keep it in caskets. The pictures made from beads are easy to clean from a dust wiping by bird's feather or dry flannel.

These simple recommendations will save a lot of your time, if you are seriously engaged by wickerwork or embroidering from beads.