Seed beads have been around for nearly 500 years. They are the most changeable beads ever created, and are used for jewelry, bead bracelets, clothing, purses, sculpture, textile and a lot more. Seed beads were first created in Italy for use in beaded purses, but were mostly used as trade beads, especially by the French fur merchants who used them to trade seed beads for pelts. They are very popular because of their sizes, finishes, price and shapes. They have found their way into various cultures and traditional costumes.
Highly treasured among bead weavers, they are used to make amazing jewelry and bead embroidered collars and bead bracelets. These alluring beads are made of glass. The Italians started to make seed beads in the 15th century, but seed beads can be found in graves in Egypt, and also in Nigeria and Spain, dating back 4,000 years.
The mass production of seed beadsstarted in Italy. Murano in Italy was a main producer in the 19th century, but no longer make seed beads today. Italy still manufactures them in Venice but in a smaller amounts. Their beads are cut by hand, and the lengths of the beads aren’t even.
The Italians did not only produce the traditional round small bead, the Rocaille, but began producing bugle beads in the end of the 15th century in Venice. It took Bohemia a couple of hundred years before they followed their competitors and began producing bugle beads first in the 18th century.
You view them in all cultures, in ancient graves and in museums, in traditional costumes, high fashion clothing and a lot more. They have been found in decorations and for trading for hundreds of years. Today they are used in all different kinds of beading techniques, and are the main bead type in bead weaving, bead embroidery and loom work.
Arts and crafts can mean different things to those who participate. For the child in an art class crafting bead bracelets it could mean a very enjoyable and probably messy experience. Kids can also surprise you with how talented they can be with different combinations of beads they could put together. Adults can enjoy art as a relaxing time that expresses their emotions in a fluid state. Though an adult will most likely not use beads to fulfill their emotional void, they may take part in the bead bracelets campaign that their children may enjoy. For a small few, arts and crafts can bring a feeling of hope and love that is inexplicable. The simple use of beads and bead bracelets for these select few could even save lives.
‘Beads of Courage’ is a program founded by Jean Baruch to help children get through the pain of cancer treatment and cope with the stress of their illness. While attending Paul Newman’s camp for children, Jean noticed that children loved to play with arts and crafts. Specifically, Jean realized that children took pleasure from assembling bead bracelets or any project with beads. Children who used beads would trade their bead bracelets with each other or family members and have a enjoyable time doing so. The kids wear their beads everywhere as well according to the Beads of Courage site.
Children who take part in the program receive colored beads that represent milestones, procedures, and acts of bravery. For instance, they get a yellow bead for an overnight hospital stay, a white one for chemotherapy, and a glow-in-the-dark bead for radiation sessions. It’s not uncommon for children to amass 10, 20 — even 35 — feet of beads. It helps young patients track and celebrate their progress, but it also presents them a way to get through upcoming procedures. The Beads of Courage website asks for gifts to help these kids continue making their bead bracelets and stay strong during this time in their lives.
Bravery is an attribute that many people do not have. The courage it takes for a child to endure the pain of chemotherapy or spinal taps is unfathomable. Heroes of ancient times span the globe in search of glory and success. Children of the Beads of Courage program discover their courage within a simple exchange of beads. If only the world’s problems could be solved by the simple exchange of beads and bead bracelets. Think of the countless times we as people destroyed one another for money or power. Children have a sense of reality that no adult could ever understand.
The Beads of Courage program is going strong with over 100 hospitals all over the globe. Beads of Courage was established in 2004 and hopefully will continue to thrive. Cancer research is funded by the donations of Beads of Courage’s website and with the help of the world, these children can craft bead bracelets simply for fun. Beads offer a feeling of hope and love that encourages these children to look towards a bright and lovely future that is pain and cancer free. Donate now and find the beads to add to the long line of bead bracelets for this amazing cause.