Beadwork is the art or craft of attaching beads to one another or to cloth using a needle and thread. Most beadwork takes the form of jewelry or other personal adornment, but beads are also used in wall hangings and sculpture. Bead may refer to: // Decorative bead Decorative Beads Cloisonné beads A decorative bead is a small, decorative object that is pierced for threading or stringing. ... The word needle has several meanings: Sewing Needles used for sewing In sewing, a needle is a long, slender, object with a pointed tip, usually made of metal. ... Jewellery (jewelry in American English) is any piece of fine material used to adorn the body or articles of clothing. ... An Italian Futurist sculpture by Umberto Boccioni at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City (MoMA). ...

Beadwork techniques are broadly divided into loom and off-loom weaving, stringing, bead embroidery, bead crochet, and bead knitting. Bead weaving on a loom Bead weaving using seed beads can be done on a loom. ... Bead weaving on a loom Bead weaving using seed beads can be done on a loom. ... Bead stringing is the putting of beads on string. ... Bead knitting is a type of knitting in which the stitches are decorated with ceramic or glass beads. ...

Most cultures have employed beads for personal adornment. Archaeological records show that people made and used beads as long as 5000 years ago. Beads have also been used for religious purposes, as good luck talismans, and as curative agents. The word culture, from the Latin colo, -ere, with its root meaning to cultivate, generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Archaeology, archeology, or archology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech/discourse) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains and environmental data, including architecture, artifacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... Various religious symbols Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals associated with... An amulet from the Black Pullet grimoire An amulet (from Latin amuletum, meaning A means of protection) or a talisman (from Arabic tilasm, ultimately from Greek telesma or from the Greek word talein wich means to initiate into the mysteries. ...

Beadwork traditions

• African beadwork
• Middle Eastern and Egyptian beadwork
• Scythian gold bead making
• Central Asian metalsmithing and gemstone carving
• Indian beadwork
• Chinese beadwork
• European beadwork
• Native American beadwork

A number of bead artists have published their work on the web. Projects and patterns are widely available. Beadwork patterns come in a variety of styles and colors. ...

External links

• Beading Information: Articles on beading design, patterns, tools, instructions, etc.