African Waist Beads: Meaning

African waist beads have a rich and varied history. They are centuries old and are steeped in tradition.

According to the Orb of Djenra they even have special powers. Adding stones is equated with healing powers. Various semi-precious stones are added according to what illness you are trying to heal.

In Africa the beads are worn to protect the wearer from negative energy. Ancient tales speak abou the balancing properties of the colors in the rainbow as well as healing properties in the gemstones themselves. Special oils and herbs may also be added.

Beads of all kinds are an integral part of the history of the African nations. Whether they are made of stone, teeth, bone or more modern glass and precious stones they have been valued, worn and traded for centuries.

Collectors of African beads consider African trade beads the most popular and come in all shapes and sizes. These are usually glass or ceramic. They have been used for trade and exchange and also used widely through West and North Africa to pay for slaves and gold.

Back to African waist beads. Some of the names the beads are known by are: Bin Bin, Ileke idi, Jigida, Yomba, Djalay Djalay, Giri-Giri and Jel-Jelli.

Waist beads can be made of shell, gemstones, glass or clay beads, bone, brass, pearls and charms. They are usually designed to be worn below the belly and by women of any age or size.

African waist beads may have originated among the Yoruba tribes in Africa. Most of these tribes are now located in Nigeria. Although Ghana in Westrn Africa has certainly adopted the wearing of waist beads and is well known for them. They are symbols of feminity, and of wealth to the women of Ghana.

Going back to the Yoruba tribes, they see glass beads as of the Earth and the source of life. Some of their beliefs include that wearing the beads provides birth control as well as being a protection for pregnant women. These traditions exist today.

According to Yoruban women the beads increase their power of persuasion over men. They are certainly regarded as being associated with seduction and sensuality.

The bead production capital of the world now is Ghana. In Ghana there is a lot of the modern thought about waist beads prevailing. They are a beloved fashion item that enhances the figure and curves of a woman. There are some tribeswomen from the Asante tribe that wear them because they revere the traditional ideas of chastity, femininity and consider them indicators of status.

Buy Waist Beads – A Very Feminine Accessory

I have read some different stories about where waist beads originally came from and what the traditions are associated with them. When you buy waist beads think of all the interesting stories spanning the centuries.

Waist beads have been traced back to ancient times in Egypt where there have been pictures uncovered on the walls of tombs of dancers wearing them. They have spread throughout different cultures and become popular through the ages. Women in America have adopted them and you may see them on entertainers like Rhianna or Shakira.

There is a long history of waist beads being worn in African culture. The beads were worn under their clothes and often in more than one strand. Some tales tell that young women donned them as sort of a rite of passage into womanhood.

Also in Africa the beads were reported to have special powers, sort of as a protection against negative spirits. They were supposed to help a woman keep her shape and make her sexually attractive to her mate.

Different materials, shapes, sizes and colors were symbolic of social status and even personal achievements. Odd numbers of strings signify good luck, and even numbers were bad luck.

Today in Africa waist beads are probably worn more for fashion than tradition. They stand for feminine beauty. Usually the more colorful and brighter the beads, the better. Some women like to make them heavy to help with their posture and keeping slim. The strands can be used as a guage to tell the wearer that they are gaining weight when they get tighter on them.

You will often see waist beads on belly dancers and they are sexually appealing. The beads are often worn over the clothing nowadays as well as on bare skin.

It can be fun to remember some of the colorful history of waist beads as you make them yourself, or decide to buy waist beads. You may want to check out some of the online sources to see the variety available. They can be the ultimate female accessory.

Who Should Buy Rosary Beads and What They Are Used For

Not everyone understands what the Rosary means and what the beads are used for. If you have a friend or are close to someone who is a Catholic you might have a few questions. Even a new Catholic has to learn sometime.Before you rush out to buy rosary beads, consider the following information.

A rosary is known as a Catholic prayer that focuses on the life of Jesus and the Mother of Jesus, Mary. There are specific prayers you say out loud as part of the rosary, such as “Our Father Prayer”, “Hail Mary Prayer” and “Glory Be Prayer”, which are the 3 main prayers.

There are quite a few rosary prayers however, so people generally use rosary beads to keep track of each prayer as they pray. You may have heard of “hail Mary’s” which are represented by the ten small beads.

Using the beads is also part of the meditation process, or silent prayers. Members of the faith will count the beads as they meditate on the life and events of Jesus and Mary.

Rosary beads can be made of many things like gold, silver, glass, wood, even pearl. There is a traditional pattern that a rosary bead necklace usually follows. The part that hangs apart from the main necklace is designed with a crucifix, 1 big bead, 3 small beads and one more big bead. The main necklace is made of up a repeating pattern of 1 big bead, 10 small beads that is repeated 5 times.

The rosary is an important tradition in the Roman Catholic church and not always easy for outsiders to understand. If you ever want to buy something really special for your Catholic friend you might want to buy rosary beads and show them that you understand and appreciate their meaning.

Jewelry Supplies Needed For Bead Making

Jewelry supplies to make beads are pretty easy to find anywhere they sell beads. You can shop at the craft store or try some of the online stores. Of course it is very convenient to shop online and you can do so any hour of the day or night.

What are some of the jewelry supplies used in beading? There are earring findings, chains, charms, pendants to use in the actually jewlery making. Other supplies include cord knitters, needles, pliers, bead boards, tweezers, ring openers, knotters and trays to name a few. Besides just thread you might use leather, wire or even ribbon to string your beads on.

Some of the other items you might purchase are books with patterns or tutorials. You can also find a lot of how to information online for free.

Then of course, there are the beads themselves. There is an almost endless variety of materials, shapes, designs, and colors available in beads. You can be as creative as you would like with all the choices available!

If you are new to beading it might help to know that beads are measured in milimeters.Saying that not all beads are measured that exact. Round beads are pretty easy to measure at 4mm, 6mm, etc. Chip beads are ones that are hard to measure exactly. You can also buy a bead measure since it is not that easy to tell the exact size.

Larger beads usually hang better on a necklace, for example. They are sold in strands and loose and their holes are fairly uniform.

I like to tell people about lampwork beads since I think they make great centerpieces in jewelry. Traditionally made by torch by a glassmaker they have a rich and varied history. They usually last a long time and are available in a wide variety of colors and shapes and sizes.

Semi-stones are often used as beads and because they are more expensive you should make sure you have studied them before buying.

Pearls that are genuine will run over $100 a strand. They are called cultured pearls and will show irregularity in the shape and grooving of the pearls.

Metal beads come in a variety of metals such as: gold, silver, pewter and copper. You can find “liquid silver” and “liquid gold” were are little metals tubes when strung together drape very nicely and are popular.

I suggest that you shop around at the online stores for your jewelry supplies and beads for bead making. You should find everything you need and often at discount prices.

The Birth of Costume Jewelry and Rhinestone Beads

The birth of costume jewelry was in the pre-industrial revolution. During the reigh of Louis XVI sumptuous elegance reigned.The era of extravangance and luxuriousness lasted till about 1780. Then in 169 with the advent of the steam engine, a new society began to emerge. A new middle class of society began to adopt wearing costume jewelry. Diamonds were still very popular and in demand. Jewelry started to be seen as either day or evening wear. Hand colored women’s magazines also emerged in about 1775 and help spread fashion news easily and quicly.

Rhinestone are known as “diamonds” of glass.George Frederic Strass ushered in the golden age of costume jewelry with his eponymous diamons in Paris in 1730. Always looking for new types of glass and methods, he had the idea one day to use the underside of stones. They appeared like diamonds with a “mirror-coating”. The result was so convincing in quality and brilliance that Frederic Stras sold them with great success. The new jewelry perfectly imitated the real stones.

Manufacturing costume jewelry was regarded as taboo at that time.It is likely that Strass was inspired by Roman and Venetian glass, especially Murano. These were immensely popular. The costume jewelry was adopted into the royal houses and any of the jewelry was made from rhinestones.

Those who weren’t experts found it hard to decipher real stones from fake stones.In the 1760′s there were over three hundred companies manufacturing costume jewelry, much to the chagrin of the jewelers.

Authentic Jewelry has always been very precious and few could afford this. Understandably, therefore, the interest in these new rhinestones was very large. Nevertheless – handmade jewelry (including imitations) was still expensive and hardly affordable for ordinary citizens.

There was a need for cheaper materials and for new production methods (the industrial revolution would not begin until a century later). Then, shortly before the end of 19 Century, resourceful engineers were able to design machines that created the imitations at a significantly lower cost.

The use of rhinestones began to become common and now rhinestone beads are easy to get and popular to use.

Crafting With Murano Lampwork Beads

To talk about lampwork beads lets talk about Murano glass and the city of Murano. Murano is a town near Venice. Very early in history Murano had become the center of production of mirrors and decorative objects made ??of glass. BUt in 1291 the glass artisans of Venice were expelled and exiled to the nearby islands. The town of Murano was founded by the Romans in the sixth century. Many of them settled in Murano and preserved this art that endures through time. The origin of the tradition of Murano glass bracelets dates back to the eighth century in Venice, although the city of Murano goes back to 1291.

When the glass workshops were banned in the vicinity of the center of Venice claiming that the fire was used to perform this art was put at risk a lot and the neighborhood as most of the houses were of wood, the craftsmen had to move to a more remote such as Murano. Some historians believe that in fact the measure was to protect the formula of the crystal at that time was the most coveted worldwide as Venice was an important port and, therefore, a busy city. Also glassware represented one of the region’s economic strengths.

For a long time, Venetian artisans were the only ones in Europe who knew how to make lampwork bracelets, mirrors, as well as crystalline glass, enameled glass, glass with threads of gold, cryolite glass and imitation gemstones with glass. Therefore, people who possessed such important secrets that were unknown in the rest of the world could not leave the city of Murano or risk being killed. The artisans also were awarded some privileges to encourage saving and passing their knowledge from generation to generation. Today, as in the Middle Ages, Murano continues to be one of the largest global producers of glass products. The secrecy of the artisans of glass is amazing. If a person wants to find out how to make a bracelet of glass beads or how to develop this art they will find the same guarding of secrets that existed in the Middle Ages. These craftsmen continue to work today with the same old formulas.

Since the craftsmen won’t reveal their secrets for making Murano glass, you can only get the pre-made parts and make lampwork bracelets with them. So, if this is new to you there are courses on jewelry making you can take. You can find step by step tutorials on the internet, even videos to get you started. Murano glass is still considered today to be a distinctive brand that signifies luxury and quality. They manufacture some of the finest jewels in the world and are sought after and purchased by many people. The city of Venice and the island of Murano are visited daily by thousands of tourists who come to view the beautiful glassware. chandeliers made ??in Murano glass are really beautiful and admirable. The fine work that they have in every detail makes them truly unique and distinctive in the world. Knowing this rich history may make creating your lampwork bead bracelet, necklace, etc even more fun.

Buy Wholesale Beads In Many Different Varieties

Beads are small objects that have different shapes: spherical, oval, prismatic, cubic and are made of many different materials. Beads can be made of wood, glass, acrylic, gold, silver, pewter, bone ivory, coral and pearls. They also come in a large variety of colors. If you love to craft with beads you must know by now that you can buy wholesale beads online. The beads are used to create necklaces, bracelets, rings, decorate clothes and other crafts.

During the Palaeolithic era, the rings with beads were used as amulets because man thought that these objects had magical properties. In some cultures today are still using some objects or rings with beads and charms. Since the combination of beads enhances the beauty of any other object, they are often used for decoration. Since beads are small and easily carried, in ancient times they were used as we use money today. Archaeologists have discovered that beads were used in rings in the civilizations of ancient Mesopotamia. In India beaded necklaces were made of gold. In ancient Egypt, noble gifts included beaded necklaces or beads made ??of precious stones of different and varied colors. The nobles of Mongolia and the members of the court of Byzantium used pearl necklaces. The U.S. natives as well as some native African tribesmen made ??rings with small beads. The Aztecs also used beaded accessories to adorn their clothing.

Beaded rings, as already mentioned, can be of different materials, colors, shapes and qualities. Today, crystals are very popular. There are several types of crystals: the Austrian crystal, Bohemian and Murano glass. There are other crystals that are manufactured in the Asian region that show up on the market. The famous Swarovski crystal belongs to the family of Austrian crystals .Standing out in the market for its quality, they are identified by the brightness and clarity of the glass. It is one of the most coveted glasses today.

The fashion today, includes all kinds of objects for the fabrication of accessories. The beads and plastic beads were long regarded as low quality and yet, today, are exhibited among all social groups without distinction. Rings with beads of plastic are used because they are a fashionable alternative compared to the high prices of the rings with gems. The combination of beads of different types of material are widely used today for making rings, beads and many other accessories. The combination of colors and textures enhances the beauty of much of the piece and allows designers to be very creative with their beads. To buy wholesale beads makes sense when there is such a variety available.

The Best Beads to Buy When You Buy Crystal Beads

If you want to buy crystal beads of good quality, then you have no doubt heard of Swarovski.This Austrian crystal is the most well known and reported to be the finest lead crytal that is made today. Well-known for it’s clarity and variety of colors it is made of 32% Pbo, which means it is very pure.

Daniel Swarovski started his company in 1895. As a boy, watched his father in his factory, where crystal was cut. He also apprenticed at the factory. He invented a machine that cut crystal in 1892, which made cutting crystal so much faster than cutting by hand, as well as much more precise.

The history of the company is interesting. In fact, the retroreflective glass that used in traffic signals was one of their first products. They made optical equipment that hunters used and were used for nature observation. When Swarovski started manufacturing for the fasion industry he first created crystal studded ribbons for fashion accessories.

Recognize the name Dior? Well, in the 1950′s Christian Dior helped Swarovski come up with a finish for his crystal. This coating made it glisten and sparkle. Thus, the crystal chandelier was born and sold to the the very wealthy and famous. Even today you can see some of them in the Palace of Versailles.

Swavorski continues to make new designs and colors and beads all the time. Some of the popular bead shapes are rounds, modulars, bicones. teardrops and cubes. But those are really only the beginning and you can find fanciful shapes such as butterflies and hearts.

These lead crystal beads are pretty much the undisputed finest ones available. You can use them for jewelry and adornment. Decorating clothing and accessories and even home decor. Most of the moodstone jewelry, which is the type that changes color when the wearer’s mood changes, also is supplied by Swarorski.

You can find a huge selection of Swavorski crystal beads online. They often come in bulk factory packs as well. If you want stunning Austrian crystal then you can’t go wrong if you order Swavorski.

What You Will Find if You Want to Buy Seed Beads

Do you want to design beautiful jewelry or crafts with beads without breaking your piggy bank. Many people now buy seed beads in place of gold, silver or expensive glass beads. Seed beads come if many varieties and colors and are small enough to use on just about anything.

Charms are certainly popular right now and seed beads are great for making charms for a cell phone, purse or whatever else you can think of. These beads can be used by themselves or as an accent to other beads.

You can make fine and delicate looking projects with seed beads also. Pretty necklaces, bracelets, earrings and chokers come from seed beads, with colors to suit practically anyone. They are good to decorate your clothes with also.

It might interest you to know that there have been accounts of seed beads used back in the mid 1800′s. Some of the deer skin Indian handbags were decorated in colorful seed bead designs. Indian women used seed beads as well as pony and crow beads. Seed beads were the smallest beads usually under 2 millimeters in diameter and made of drawn glass. They made decorating a lot easier for the women of the Plains Indian tribes. Before seed beads they had to search for porcupine quills to use.

The cheapest of the seed beads are the ones from Japan, China and India which are usually sold in bundles in discount stores. These may be good for a beginner project or for children to practice with. The Japanese also make one of the highest quality seed beads called Japanese Delicas. Czech beads are also quite popular and have a more handcrafted look to them.

You can string seed beads with a needle, although you certainly need a fine one. They are also woven onto looms and made into intricate patters for clothing and other art projects.

If you don’t mind working with small beads you can find a lot of colors and varieties in seed beads. If you prefer to buy seed beads online, you can certainly find a good selection to choose from.

Buying Beads Online – The Advantages and Disadvantages

If you are wondering the best way to go about buying beads online you have come to the right place for information. The first tip I can give you is to go to your local craft store or someplace similar and check out the beads there. You can get an idea of what is out there is shapes, sizes and materials. That is somewhat lost when you look at them on a computer screen.

When you look at beads for sale online you will see beautiful pictures that are larger than life in most cases. This is to show you the details of the bead. The sizes are generally listed in millimeters, so you should be aware of how big a millimeter is. For example to compare mm to inches you need to know that 1 mm is 1/32″. So, it takes 25mm to equal one inch. It will benefit you to carefully consider the size.

Another tip is to realize that what you see online may not be exactly what you actually get. The best beads will be on display with the prettiest design or colors while what you purchase may look quite different. If you can accept this then it is what actually makes each bead and piece of jewelry special and unique.

You may find some cheap prices in bulk. Just realize that the quality is not necessarily the best. There are standards and grades in beads just like other things. If you just need a lot of beads and are not that picky about quality then ordering the most for the money may suit your purpose. It may depend on the project you are working on.

A plus in ordering online is that there is a lot of variety. While a lot of the large craft stores are closing due to the economy, online ones are thriving. Another nice perk is that you can come up with new ideas while sitting in your easy chair at home. You will save on gas and time and the frustration of not finding what you want at one particular store. You can find what you need in beads and supplies at any hour of the day or night since the online sites never close.

All in all, buying beads online can be a lot of fun and can save you time and money.

Buy Beads And More Online