Did you know the beads were originally made by Indians? They used colored earth, clays, rocks, plants, and bark to dye it. The early beads were big, they were used from 1800-1840. Then, a small bead called a seed bead became popular; it was used from 1840-1870. Finally a large seed bead was introduced in 1870 and is still used today. I think from 1800-1870 they didn’t know what beads were making correct size of them. If the beads are too big, the jewelry is too big. If beads are too small, it’s hard to make the kind of jewelry we know.

The Indians used a bead loom to put the beads on the fabric. At one time Indians used a crude bow loom that has a strip of birk bark at each end that separated the string- that birk became a frame later. It was easier and simpler to handle. The Indians later used bead looms for easy-to-make house decorations. Everybody can make that loom if you know how to.

Today most people know what beads are. But only 20% are collecting bead works. More than half of the people I interviewed are not interested. So only 20% of all people are collecting beads. 4 out of 10 people like to make bead works. They do it for fun or because they like it. But 6 out of 10 people are not. They don’t do it because it’s not interesting, they don’t have time to do or it’s too hard.

If you can make beads, you can make necklaces, belts, bracelets, bags, wallets, book covers, bookmarks, and just about everything that you can think of. I think the easiest thing to make is a necklace because you just need to get some beads that you like, then, get string that for beadwork, then put in some beads to string, and then put metal fittings that connect end to end, then it’s done! The beads are so fun to do, so try one!