Friday, January 08, 2010

Beading with World Beads ~ Giveaway!

What “world beads” do you have in your stash? You may have more than you think! Here are a few of mine…

African trade beads, Robin Atkins collection
We buy beads in a local bead shop or in the comfort of our own home computer. But where were they made? Where have they traveled before we found them?

sterling silver charms, Robin Atkins collection
The origins of beads, particularly those in my stash, has fascinated me since day-one of my beady career 24 years ago. Joining my local Bead Society, where most members had a collector’s perspective about beads, and attending early Bead Conferences, which were more about the history of beads than making things with them, I began to appreciate that beads are truly ubiquitous!

hollow lampwork beads from China, Robin Atkins collection
Did you know that beads are one of man’s earliest artifacts? It’s possible that beads predate vessels and primitive tools in many cultures. Did you know that men and women of nearly every society, every culture and every land since the beginning of mankind have made and used beads in one or more ways?

African trade beads, Robin Atkins collection
Beads, being small, portable, long-lasting and made from various, naturally-occurring substances, have been a trade commodity for many centuries. Thus they have traveled the world in the hands of traders and merchants, sometimes for centuries. They arrive in our stash, some new and some used, from far-away places around the world.

African trade beads, Robin Atkins collection
Just as groups like the Bead Journal Project and other internet-based beading groups unite people of the world, so do the beads themselves. More than anything else about beads, their ubiquitous nature fascinates me!

Beading With World Beads, book cover
So too, the world-connection of beads intrigues Ray Hemachandra, editor of a book, recently published by Lark Books - Beading with World Beads, Beautiful Jewelry - Simple Techniques. This book features 30 jewelry projects with an international and multicultural flair created by 15 acclaimed jewelry designers.

Lark asked me to review several of their books and offered a signed copy of each one as a blog giveaway. And so, this is the first of my reviews. Someone who makes a comment on this post will win an autographed copy!

Beading With World Beads, project bracelet
Those of you who know me, are aware that I’m not really a recipe type of gal with my art (or my cooking for that matter). For me, it is simply more fun to “do my own thing” than to replicate a design by somebody else. Consequently, I don’t gravitate toward “project books,” preferring technique or inspirational guides.

Happily, Beading with World Beads, gives so much more than projects! First, there’s the whole idea of beading as “a multicultural bonanza – a melting pot of craft practices that yields innovative combinations of materials and influences,” to quote editor, Hemachandra. I love this concept and how it is realized in the unique creations of the designers chosen for the book. All of the jewelry is appealing and mysterious because of the cultural roots found in the materials and designs.

Beading With World Beads, project necklace
The second thing I really like about this book is that all the projects are based on sound design principles. They are well-balanced (although not necessarily symmetrical) and the different beads used in each piece have relationship of scale, color, style and origin. So even if I choose not to replicate any of the projects, each is an inspiration to me and offers challenging ideas I can apply to my personal world bead stash in my own way.

Beading With World Beads, project necklace
Looking at the photos in Beading with World Beads makes me crave making jewelry again, makes me get out my African trade beads and view them as potential designs rather than a collection, makes me remember things in my stash long neglected! And by the way, the photos are outstanding, something I always admire about books published by Lark.

Lastly, I have to bravo the book for its clear, concise step-by-step instructions for each of the projects. For each project, excellent editing results in consistency and clarity that are rare in project books.

In conclusion, I give Beading with World Beads an enthusiastic two-thumbs-up!

Would you like to win an autographed copy on this blog giveaway? Yes? Then make a comment in the next 10 days. Just for fun, tell me about something you love in your world bead stash! To be eligible to win, you must give me a clear way to get in touch with you - phone, email or snail mail address. (BTW, it's safest to give your email this way: name[at]provider[dot]com. Use the [ ] signs and substitute the word at for @ and dot for .)

72 comments:

  1. Beautiful book, Robin! Alas, my world bead stash is very thin but I do admit that I covet many of the beads shown in the photographs. A couple of years ago, I did luck out and buy a couple of vintage necklaces and a really ugly pair of earrings, at an antique fair in a local mall. Cheap, cheap, cheap!! The necklaces were nothing much to speak of, but they did contain some lovely Murano beads. I haven't used them yet, but do take them out for a little fondle every once and a while. If I'm lucky enough to win, you have my email address and could also reach me through the first 2010 BJP blog. - Anne Marie - Toronto

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  2. BTW, I especially love the blue & white and red and yellow beads from the Robin Atkins collection. Yummm!! How can you bear NOT to adorn yourself with them?

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  3. To Anne Marie ~ Thanks for being the first to get in line for this book. It really does make me want to dig into my Trade Bead collection and make some jewelry with them. I started buying strands of them back in the 80's. I'd buy 5 or 6 to sell in my shop and one for me. That was before the Africans and others started duplicating the old trade beads, so I have some really great strands. I could wear them as is, I guess... maybe I will think about that. I had a friend in Seattle who decorated the walls in her bedroom with them...

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  4. Another beautiful book from Lark! And covering some of my favorite things: beads, and bead and cultural history. I've also always wanted to know where beads or gemstones have been made, how did they travel here, who has handled them along the way, and wondered where they might go once they leave my hands.

    In my meager bead collection, my favorite "world" beads are a pair of silver and coral beads made by Tibetan refugees in Nepal. I hope to find suitable companions someday for a bracelet or perhaps even earrings.

    You can reach me through my blog, my e-mail address, BJP or Facebook. Thanks for sharing the book and your beads with us.
    --
    Kathy B

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  5. I don't have a great deal of beads like yours; however, a couple of years ago I bought quite a few vintage beads from Japan that were made in the 40's and 50's. They were exported to this country to be used in jewelry. I love them and hope to use some of them in this year's BJP.

    Would love to have this book!

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  6. Robin, this book looks yummy! All of your beads that appear in the book look wonderful - the red and yellow trade beads really jump out at me.

    I have a very small collection of world beads but my faves are... well, it's hard to pick. The brass beads from Ghana... the African trade beads... the silver/copal and naga shell beads from Tibet... the "modern" bead made by Massimiliano Schiavon that I bought in the Schiavon gallery on Murano... just can't pick a single one! Hmmm... perhaps I'll dig into my stash for some of these beads to include in one of my BJP projects. Speaking of which, you can reach me there on blog #3, or on my own blog, or on FB.

    I'm definitely going to have to check this book out!

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  7. Don't we all have a "little something" tucked away, sometimes just to take out, fondle and admire. One of my favorites are the Chilean Inca or pre-Inca turquoise beads that my parents collected there in the 40's. The others are a whole hank of about 5mm African, coral colored glass beads. It hang on my beadroom wall as the fibers used to tie the hank together are as beautiful as the beads.


    I've been thinking of doing a blog about "why we collect" and not only beads!
    Judith at beadline dot com

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  8. Robin, your African trade beads are gorgeous! I don't have a lot of "world beads" in my stash, but I have some African bone beads I really like, as well as some of the Turkish glass beads used to ward off the evil eye. And I adore different kinds of shells from around the world, like cowrie shells and paua shells. And I collected beautiful examples of beach glass from my trip to Barcelona -- does that count as world beads? ;)

    You can contact me through my blog.

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  9. leilani8:41 PM

    I don't have loose world beads but do have several wonderful very old silver beaded necklaces from the Middle East. Some are museum quality but I wear them a lot.
    leilanibennett(at)kraemersw(dot)com

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  10. As it so ahppens I just returned a briand new copy of this glorious book to my library!! this is the first bead book that I ahve ever wanted to read from cover to cover as it was so well written and offered so much neat info. The pictures were glorious, not too keen on the projects but like you it made me think of all of the glorious beads that my brother has bought for me on his trips around Africa. Each country he visists he tries to find the "good Beads" for me. GOOD BRother- he is in at least 10 different countries a year and is getting extremely busy so the quantity might drop off a bit!!! Glad that you liked the book as much as I did. must mean that I have some semblance of bead good taste!!!
    LOL!!!
    Hugs!
    Elizabeth

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  11. Awesome review of this lovely book, Robin! I am most partial to any of the semi-precious beads I manage to snag from all over the world -- minerals and gemstones always seem to add so much to any design I work on. One of my favorites has been Tibetan turquoise and my biggest favorite is Labradorite from Madagascar.


    Kathy V in NM

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  12. Rebecca Starry9:25 PM

    Isn't all about the thrill of the hunt to find those "special" treasures. While I love to simply covet those pieces, I find adding the antique beads can give a "timeless" quality to any piece.
    Thanks Robin for sharing.

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  14. I'm not sure I have any world beads...but I treasure the antique fragments of beaded purses that I have that used the teeniest tiniest of beads...
    I learned a lot here today and I can see that you have some real treasures in your stash Robin.

    Please don't count me in the giveaway though...I'm happy if someone else gets it! xo Susan

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  15. Hey Robin. I'm frustrated about BJP3 - I joined but don't seem to be assigned to any of the three blogs. I can't post on any of them.

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  16. This looks like a wonderful book. Because my beading is all about embroidery and the stitches I don't know much about world beads - except that they are beautiful. I do love to know how things are made and the thought that someone somewhere made all of these beautiful treasures fills me with inspiration and awe. Please don't count me in on the giveaway - I'd rather see them go to someone who will use the beads to their best advantage (and post their creation on this blog - or their own). Thank you for sharing this with us.

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  17. Oooo, LOVE it. I must admit tho that even though I have collected beads like this, I think it's challenging to use them in bead embroidery - mostly due to their size and irregular shape.

    I'd LOVE the book - and maybe I'll get some ideas too?

    I can almost fondle the beads in the pictures - it's a lovely book!

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  18. Anonymous5:58 AM

    This would be a lovely and educational book to own and enjoy. My bead stash is quite new, and I don't think I've graduated to owning any world beads yet, but with the help of learning from a book like this, I will be on the watch for them. Robin, have to tell you that I always learn something from your posts. It's usually about beading, but this time you expanded my vocabulary -- I didn't know and had to look up the meaning of "ubiquitous". ;)

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  19. Anonymous6:58 AM

    I do not have a terribly vast "world beads" selection...that I know of...but, this post has inspired me to look at beads in a different light. I love the idea of knowing the history of my beads. While the stories of mine, so far, may not be very deep, I will have to broaden my bead shopping spectrum! Thanks Robin!

    Layne Cook cook0308@umn.edu

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  20. I have only started collecting beads but do have some beautiful ones from Africa that were a gift from a friend's travels. I have often wondered how and if I should use them in my work. Thanks for sharing your stash, Robin, the way you photographed them makes me want to line mine up to see what combinations I can come up with....of course, then I would have to do something with them!!!! LOL.
    Dawn

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  21. Hi Robin... I don't have any of these beads myself; yours are gorgeous! Your photos also gave me an idea. I have so many beads stored in drawers, it's a major production to search through them when I start a new project. So what I need to do is take photos of everything, then I can have these photos handy in my iPod to look at any time.
    --Geneviève

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  22. My favorite beads in my stash are some trade beads that remind me a bit of a zebra stripe. I picked up at a flea market when I lived in Germany. The book looks fantastic.

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  23. I find myself drooling! I have some African trade beads purchased in a veriety of places, but I never get up the nerve to use them - so lovely, and how do I do them justice in a piece of jewelry? I just might finally be inspired!!

    Sue

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  24. I have several strands of trade beads which I just can't part with - either by selling directly or making something with them. I also have 3 strands of prayer beads from Tibet with turquoise and coral inlay - again, there's just no way to part with them!! This book sounds truly fantastic :)

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  25. Ann Severine8:44 AM

    I started beading in 1991, and soon afterward we took a trip up the Oregon coast. I saw the word BEAD on a store and we did a quick U turn. I spent $70 on a nice collection of loose beads. The oldest are from Mali (estimated to be 500-900 years old, and 5 from Israel 500-800 years old. The ones I love most are 10 small milleflori cylinder beads in blue and red. I never thought about making a necklace from them. But now I'm looking forward to seeing this book for inspiration, whether I win or purchase it. How nice for you to inspire us to look at our old stuff we haven't paid much attention to for a long time.

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  26. Ann Severine8:45 AM

    I started beading in 1991, and soon afterward we took a trip up the Oregon coast. I saw the word BEAD on a store and we did a quick U turn. I spent $70 on a nice collection of loose beads. The oldest are from Mali (estimated to be 500-900 years old, and 5 from Israel 500-800 years old. The ones I love most are 10 small milleflori cylinder beads in blue and red. I never thought about making a necklace from them. But now I'm looking forward to seeing this book for inspiration, whether I win or purchase it. How nice for you to inspire us to look at our old stuff we haven't paid much attention to for a long time.

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  27. I love looking at beads. Your collection must be incredible. Thanks for sharing. I never thought much about this aspect of beading.... New food for thought.

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  28. Unfortunately I don't have any world beads that I know of, most of my beads were bought commercially. Gorgeous photos and I love seeing some of your collection of beads, Robin!
    The photos you've shown from the book are very inspiring!

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  29. I love the beads and jewelry highlighted in this post. Big, chunky necklaces always remind me of the artist Frida Kahlo. One of my very first bead purchases was a box of old Venetian beads. I have no idea how old they are, but they are very beautiful. I still have many of them, choosing just to look at them instead of putting them into a piece.

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  30. I do have many, many beads! Maybe too many! What would make my collection complete would some of the elusive SATSUMA beads. A necklace with 12 of them was up for auctionon eBay, and my bid (which was embarrassingly high) wasn't high enough. That's the only place I'd ever seen them (I collect satsuma buttons), although I finally had validation that they exist. So, the quest goes on!!

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  31. Some of my favorite world beads were handmade by women in another country in exchange for work with health insurance. I love the handpainted ceramic beads but love that I have helped someone even more!
    drablu02 at yahoo dot com

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  32. Aww, as I read your post I see that I have treated my beads with little respect... What I like about my beads are the colours, all of them. Just looking at the box and feeling their texture. As for travel and history: as I started my BJP for january I digged up a little treasure box from when I was a kid somewhere from under all the junk in our attic. It had some found trinkets that I had stashed and now are such treasures to be used and handled with love. I guess our beads deserve that as well. But maybe the most love is in using them to make our art and let them be of help to make ourselves known.

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  33. ps: dees[at]hccnet[dot]nl

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  34. hmm I love all the beads in the photo's.

    My collection is pretty small, a colorful collection from Mexico, which a dear friend sent to me.

    Then I have some pottery like ones from I think China.

    I also have a few pieces, in what I think is carved "ivory" different shapes & sizes.

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  35. Robin,
    Thanks for the review sounds like an interesting book. I have a large collection of African trade beads. I was working at a Jewlery store and could not pass them by. It was in the early 80's and I was not involved with beads on any other level. Since that first bead class at your studio I was hooked. I still can't get myself to use the trade beads, they are packed away. Every now and then I open and go thru them. They have a smell of age and travels around the world that I enjoy. I can not remember her name, but I do remember a class you had with an african women, do you remember? We made necklaces, fun and years ago. Again thanks for the review, I'll add it to my wish list.
    Hugs,
    Bethan
    websterrb@yahoo.com

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  36. the book looks great-thanks for reviewing it for us. I have lots of beads but not too many collectible ones. I have a few old religious charms that I have found at flea markets and garage sales and some lovely old crystals found at a garage sale. Looks like I need some world traveling friends since I can't go myself right now. Thanks for the give away. Nancy

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  37. All I can say is WOW!! The beads are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing the pictures and your review.

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  38. Great post, Robin! What beautiful beads! I probably wouldn't use that book much, but it looks like a good read to curl up with on a stormy afternoon. I have too many books already, I vote for giving it to Barbara, the new beader.

    In a sense, I have thousands - maybe even a million - "world beads" - Czech seed beads! And Tohos - Japanese seed beads.

    My favorite beads at the moment are a very long (6 feet) strand of bright yellow trade beads my friend bought in French Equatorial Africa 40 years ago. They're a faceted glass bead (probably made in Portugal) separated by a seed bead spacer. The African ladies wore them very long and circled 2 or 3 times around the neck. There is another one with aqua and white beads. They have a very peppy energizing quality.

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  39. I first fell in love with amber when took a polish ocean liner from Montreal to England. Hard to believe that was almost 25 years ago! I bought an amber necklace at the gift shop and that simple purchase started a life long love of amber that I still have!!! I have other well traveled beads, but not a lot. When I was a little girl, I was given an african trade bead on a leather strap to wear by my babysitter - a boy actually. Loved that bead too!

    Thanks for the give-away and the memories!!!
    Cheers, Denise
    smeatondenise at hotmail dot com

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  40. My favorite is not actually a bead but as it has a hole in it I think it counts. My parents brought me back a small stone charm from Nepal. It could be a pendant, and I think that is how my mom intended I use it, but I love it too much and hang it on my Christmas tree instead. Every December I unwrap it and find it a special spot on the tree.

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  41. Hi Robin! I would love to win this book for my stash...and while I'm at it, want to thank YOU for first introducing me to the world of beading...I think, when you were first getting your feet wet too as a bead embroiderer. I was at the time a quilter and over the last 10 yrs or so have become addicted to beading, particularly beadweaving which appeals to the stitcher in me.
    World beads? I've not had the opportunity to be a world traveler but have been to all 13 of the Canadian provinces and most of the US states...and my favorite souvenir is the beads I bring back. Most recently, an oak leaf, a lighthouse, and a quilt block charms from NC.
    They are great memory items...some day I will put something together with some of my collection!
    lorimf at rogers dot com

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  42. Val Thorson12:05 PM

    Robin,
    I haven't seen this book yet, but from your review, it's one that's come "at last!". There are dozens of great seed bead books with lots of projects but enough technique and inspriration to fire up those of us who have ideas of our won. For bigger beads, such books are few and far between. Most are full of dorky stuff to replicate. This sounds like a lot more fun -- can't wait to take a closer look. Thanks for putting us on to it.

    Cheers!
    Val

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  43. Hi Robin. Normally, I lurk your blog, but this post struck a chord with me. Some friends of mine own and operate a small business in western NY that sells fair trade arts and crafts items made in Africa. They travel to Africa several times a year, and during these trips, take tons of supplies (fabric, beads, findings, clothing, pencils, paper, crayons, etc.) to their friends in Africa, and then return home with some of the most gorgeous and fascinating things I've ever seen.

    These friends have helped build an orphanage, school and library in Kenya and started the first African Chapter of the Kiwanis Club.

    One of the really amazing things I've purchased from them are long strands of "Christmas" beads. I've been told these are leftovers from bead projects that are strung together at the end of the year and used to decorate homes, etc. They're all sorts of beads -- from gorgeous malachite to wood, horn, glass and plastic.

    The wonderful variety of these beads make them perfect for "caterpillar" bracelets. In fact, I made and auctioned a caterpillar bracelet out of my first set of Christmas beads. The proceeds from the auction went to help purchase a cow for a small community in Kenya, which now allows this community to produce fresh milk, cheese and yogurt.

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  44. I've always loved the big colorful beads used in jewelry making. Meanwhile, my worldwide bead stash is comprised mostly of seed beads from Czechslovakia and Japan! I do have a few truly African beads, but not many.

    Lark always produces such beautiful books. This sounds like another wonderful resource. You can never have too much eye candy!

    In case you draw my name for the giveaway you should be able to contact me through this comment or on my blog, From the Magpie's Nest.

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  45. You make the book come alive, rather than just another book on the shelf to choose from.

    My favorite beads in my stash are those that were given to me after my father died. He liked to make jewelry when he traveled (chain maille) and to string necklaces for my mother. So I have some quartz, lapis lazuli, and jade. When I make a special piece for a family member, I try and incorporate some of his beads.

    Susan

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  46. My collection consists largely of Czech glass, with a handful of gemstones. However, this is very timely, as I purchased some beautiful Tibetan agate beads which have been etched in some way I have yet to determine. The world of beads is constantly surprising me with new stuff to drool over.

    Carole

    cnikita2[at]aol[dot]com

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  47. Thank you for sharing the photos of your own world beads and from the book. Looks like one for the 'wish list.'
    The "world beads" I treasure most are my sandalwood mala, which although I purchased online from a vendor in Taiwain, have traveled to Tibet TWICE and been blessed multiple times at sacred sites there.

    cswetzel[at]att[dot]net

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  48. Me me me!!!! I want this book... My favorite beads now in my stash are some trade beads my daughter in law brought back to me from South Africa last year on her visit to visit family... I started a bead embroidery on leather with them and have stalled on it... I KNOW this book would inspire me to finish!!! LOL

    Gerry K.
    olderrose(at)yahoo(dot)com

    p.s. I have started the red breasted nuthatch for March...on blog

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  49. Your beads are gorgeous Robin. I don't have many trade beads yet, but I hope to get there.

    The book looks wonderful!

    Peggy

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  50. Hi Robin - Thanks for the review. Lark does make beautiful books! The only "world beads" I have, other than the Czech glass seed beads, are some Venetian glass beads I bought at a gem show over 10 years ago. I'm still trying to determine how to use them to their best advantage, though I do have a few ideas.

    I would love to win this book. Please add me to the entry list: lheureux_art[at]yahoo[dot]com

    Thanks.

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  51. I forgot to leave a way for you to reach me. Here it is:

    susanlk310[at]yahoo[dot]com

    thanks,
    susan

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  52. Anonymous6:13 AM

    I bought some beautiful antique bead pins in England in September. And I was hooked then. Just found your blog as well.

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  53. Anonymous12:08 PM

    The best part about beading is that you can mentally "escape" from the stress at hand. World beads really allow you to further that mini mental vacation daydreaming about their origins. I especially love working with Hill Tribes Silver and imagine how fun it would be to visit and see the fabrication process.
    - springbrookstudios@yahoo.com

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  54. Robin-

    Seeing pictures of some of your bead stash is inspiring. When I think over the "finds" in my own stash, my minds eye travels almost instantly to some pressed glass cabs that I purchased from a seller on ebay early in my beading journey. I have yet, several years later, to find an acceptable-to-me way to use them, yet they are my treasures nonetheless. Three colors: an almost delft blue, a pale sugar pink, and a warm ripe peach; all a cutout lacework of a floral design; all oval the largest no more than 1.5 centimeters wide by no more than 2 centimeters tall. The detail in the design is exquisite-and that is probably what hampers me from just adhering them to a backing and beading around them. That being said, ideas have been percolating and I hope to use a few of them in projects this spring.

    Thanks,

    Anna Walker
    anna [dot] pamprdchef [at] gmail [dot] com

    www.designsbyanna.blogspot.com

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  55. I have a few beads that I bought from a friend of mine that is originally from Ghana. She goes back there once a year to help support the women from her village. She buys beads from them and she has them do some jewelry assembly.
    The beads I have are yellow and blue glass. She told me that they make these beads by crushing up pop bottles and the like, then they pour the glass powder into molds in the earth and then fire them right there.
    How precious these beads are to me.

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  56. Kristin Yates1:21 PM

    Beautiful beads and book. Being of Cherokee indian decent, I have a real appreciation for "cultural" beads and bead work.

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  57. Anonymous2:20 PM

    lately i've been buying some beautiful krobo beads from a group in ghana. i tell myself i'm buying so many to support a worthwhile cause but really... i can't resist all their unique beads!
    www.soulofsomanya.net

    geri
    horseheaven4@yahoo.com

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  58. Hi Robin,

    My favorite and sadly, only (known), world beads in my stash are paper beads from an organization called Bead for Life. The beads are made by Ugandan women and the net profits are returned to the Ugandan community.

    I would love to explore the history of world beads in more depth by being the lucky winner of this book :)

    Thanks for spreading the love!
    ~Lynn
    beadingheartart[at]aol[dot]com

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  59. Robin, the beads you posted are just beautiful. The colors are what get to me because they are so pure, just magnificent. I have no beads like the ones pictured but I do have lots of glass and sead beads. Gita

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  60. Kristin Yates11:09 AM

    Guess I should leave my email.

    Krisymof2[at]msn[dot]com

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  61. Lovely eye candy as per usual on your blog. I'd love to win this book too, even if my collection of beads is small. I do not believe I own any "world beads" just yet .... but am dreaming already of beads I wish to have one day!
    truly, cmwinter21[at]gmail[dot]com

    :)

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  62. I love world beads. The bead store where I got hooked on hoarding [oops, *collecting*] beads had a great historical collection. I covet some trade beads that I bought nearly 30 years ago as well as some carved jade that my aunt brought back from Japan years ago. I would love to win this book. Thanks for the opportunity.

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  63. Great review of the book Robin - it sounds luscious in many ways!

    And wonderful to see strands from your collection.

    I've taken most of my trade bead strands apart so I might use them sometime (haven't too much yet), and they just have more presence, I think, when they're strung together. I guess I'll have to do something about that!!!

    So much to think about - these little objects with such a LOOOONG history. Thanks!
    Vicki[at]AffirmingCreativity[dot]com

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  64. Short and sweet....beautiful books took me to a better world as a child. Trinkets and beads kept in a cigar box were my toys. Art still transcends daily life even at age 62. It is a beautiful book.
    arteveryday[at]msn[dot]com

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  65. My most meaningful beads are some carved beads I bought while I was in Seoul, Korea. I was waiting for my friend in her bank and saw them in a bowl in the window of an antique shop. I just had to have them. I wonder who took the time to carve something the size of a large olive pit.....
    Liz - ethomps1[at]gmail[com]

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  66. I started beading because I really liked beads and bought a lot of cheap jewellery. But one thing that made med love beads, apart from the beauty of themselves, was learning more and more about their history and culture. Things that always fascinates me and that I can now combine with my love of beads.

    I don't own many vintage beads older that WW2, but I love looking at photos of old beads, from near and far, wishing I could buy them. Different materials, traditional patterns, symbolic uses, unusual colours, everything attract my attention.

    What I would mostly love to own would be bronze age or viking age beads from our area, but I doubt that would be legal to buy...

    That books looks very interesting and eventhough I don't fancy all the beads, I think I'd find it very inspirational. Will probably have to add it to my wishlist.

    /Kristina in Sweden (manekinekogirl [at] gmail [dot] com)

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  67. Robyn
    You have a wonderful collection. Unfortunately I did my travelling to places like nepal and india before I knew about beads but I have a few old beads that would be early seed beads (czech) i think that I was given which I want to make something special from. I think they might have to be used in the bead journal project this year.
    The only other special beads I have are some vintage Crystal volcanos that were given to my mum and I when in San Francisco six years ago. Still to precious to make up into something but this year I might take the step.
    dianelithgow[@]xtra[.]co[.]nz
    Diane
    didi-beadwork.blogspot.com

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  68. Anonymous5:05 PM

    The old trade beads that I have aren't particularly pretty, but rather clunky and irregular with some chips & dings. What is fascinating to me is wondering how many miles they've traveled, and just where they've been. Whose hands have held these? Did they adorn someone's body, or have they simply been passed from hand to hand?

    I love that nearly every culture in the world has a history of beading!

    lizhart//at//kippercat//dot//net

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  69. An absolutely gorgeous book. Is this open for interational readers. If it is, please count me in.

    The beads in my part of the world (Sri Lanka) are pottery and wood and very colorful. Something very similar to the African Trade beads. They are also sometimes made to look like seeds.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

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  70. Oh please enter me! The pictures of the project have me entranced. I have just recently become fascinate with the trade beads and would love to learn more about them.

    shaiha(at)comcast(dot)net

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  71. My favorite stash of beads is what I have picked up at thrift stores. I have tons of pretty beads and i am still learning how to use them. Thanks for the chance!
    Pattyjo
    rholschen@air-pipe.com

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  72. My favorite world bead stash are the ceramic beads,luv the oriental ones! These are great additions to home decor: pillows,window decorations,wall hangings etc.
    spierssusan52[at]gmail[dot]com
    Thanks for this great giveaway!

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