Of the many types of jewelry that are in existence beaded jewelry has been around the longest. Beaded jewelry is a form of handmade costume jewelry, and the terms are mostly used in a mutually exchangeable fashion. History shows that even Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, used this jewelry whenever it pleased her to. So don't look down on the items of beaded jewelry you see in stores and marketplaces.
Ancient cultures and civilizations used jewelry for religious and royal ceremonies. The public relied on less pretentious forms of jewelry, such as beaded jewelry for daily wear. The earliest examples of beads used as jewelry date back 70,000 years (source: National Geographic Society)!
Costume jewelry is so-called because it really does not put much emphasis or importance on the intrinsic value of the materials used, focusing instead on the appearance, the look of the jewelry. It is a style or fashion accessory, not a symbol of wealth or status. Hence costume jewelry has come to mean cheap jewelry, and vice versa. Trinkets, baubles, and bric-a-brac are common synonyms for costume jewelry. It is interesting to note that Columbus offered trinkets to the natives of the lands he visited as peace offerings, which were readily accepted, showing the power of attraction inherent in jewelry.
Making costume jewelry is a craft and an art. By its very definition, then, making costume jewelry is a creative activity. It is very simple to pick up. It is a great way to explore your latent creativity, and to give free rein to the aesthete in you.
All you need to make your own beaded jewelry items is a bagful of beads, and the thread to hold them together. These materials are available very easily at hobby and craft stores. Nowadays, the Internet has brought the supply stores right into your home. So you can buy your supplies online, or from regular stores.
The Internet is crammed full of resources. There are umpteen user groups, bulletin boards, and chat rooms used by craftspeople. This social networking is very helpful for newbies.
Encouraging children to express their artistic qualities is an educational paradigm and what better way to do that than by introducing them to the art of bead craft. Get your children a bead craft kit and see them enjoy themselves in a creative way.
Handmade costume jewelry is considered very fashionable. Besides giving a traditional, ethnic look to your outfit, it has the added advantage of being unique. All handmade crafts share this property of being unique unlike the mass-produced factory products. When you make your jewelry yourself you can make it distinctive and personalized. This adds value to the basic fact that it is jewelry. Many people go for handmade costume jewelry because it is so low-priced and affordable.
The range of beads that are available nowadays has served to make this craft even more popular. You can get beads in every form imaginable and in all shades, from pale pastels to iridescent solids!
Beaded jewelry can be applied directly to your dress. This increases the value of the dress that you're wearing. Surprisingly, many people are buying clothes that will match their beaded jewelry!
Beaded jewelry and costume jewelry are very popular with today's generation. Go with the flow and enhance your wardrobe with your own designer costume jewelry. All the material is readily available. Join a local craft group to get more support. Otherwise there's always the Internet. People will really admire your aesthetic creativity and recognize you for your gift of style!
Author Resource:
To discover more about costume jewelry visit www.Costume-Jewelry-Guide.com. You'll read about why art deco costume jewelry became so popular in the 20's and 30's and find out why Celtic jewelry is enjoying a comeback in the 21st century.
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