Antique and Vintage Beads, Part II: Vintage Lucite Beads
Lucite, a plastic, was first introduced by the DuPont Chemical Company in 1937. It was marketed as an alternative to Bakelite, then a very popular material for making costume jewelry. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, new colors and styles of Lucite beads were created including marbleized, jewel tones, transparents and stripes. The jewelry makers Avon, Coro and Trifari used many of these brilliant and wonderful beads in their costume jewelry designs, many of which are now highly collectible.
The highest quality vintage Lucite beads are “lathe turned”, meaning that they are very finely finished on a lathe, and will not show any seams.
Lucite beads are a wonderfully versatile addition to gemstone and crystal beads because of their whimsical shapes and deep, rich colors. For a genuine vintage look and feel, try mixing vintage Lucite beads with vintage chain and other findings to create jewelry that could have walked off the pages of Vogue in the 1950s.
Below are a few samples of work that I have created with vintage Lucite beads. The first piece, titled "Aloha" uses tiny vintage Lucite flowers to accent the large Imperial Jasper cabochon from Gary Wilson. The second piece, "Polly Wanna Cracker" was created as a birthday present for my mother the year that she wanted (and couldn't have) a parrot. The final piece is a strand of large Lucite round beads in a wonderful, intense blue that are accented with Czech firepolished beads and another set of spaceship-shaped copper-colored vintage Lucite.
The next time you want a wonderful, lightweight bead to add a whimsical touch to your project, try vintage Lucite!
Sources for vintage Lucite beads:
Antique and Vintage Beads, Part 1: Czech Glass
This is the first in a series of blog posts that I have planned all about a favorite passion of mine - antique and vintage beads. This first post is all about vintage Czech glass beads.
A trend that I have been happily following lately is the use of vintage and antique beads in beadwork. For years, I’ve been fascinated with these, and I’ve accumulated quite a collection of my own.
To start talking about vintage and antique beads, we need to define the difference between “vintage” and “antique”. While there is no complete agreement on the terms, anything that is 100 years old or more is considered an antique and anything less than 100 years old (but more than 25 years old) is considered to be vintage.
The most common type of vintage glass bead around is the Czech glass bead. The Czech Republic has a long history of making glass beads, going back to the year 1200. At first, factories in the cities of Jablonec, Stanovsko and Bedrichov made glass beads mostly for the rosaries for the largely Catholic population. But then around 1550 when costume jewelry came into fashion, these bead makers started making glass beads to be incorporated into the jewelry of the working class.
In the 19th century, new machines were developed that allowed thousands of identical beads to be created at the same time through the use of molds and presses. Czech glass bead manufacturers still use similar methods today to make the luscious pressed glass beads that are so popular with beadweavers and jewelry makers.
The Czech bead industry declined in the early 1930’s due to the Great Depression and did not recover until the late 1950’s, when after World War II the new Communist government of the Czech Republic was searching for goods to export.
So how can you tell if it a Czech glass bead is vintage? There are a few ways to tell. First of all, if it is a large or unusual shape, chances are it is a vintage Czech glass beads. Most modern Czech glass beads are smaller than their 1920’s counterparts. Color is also another way to tell. Many vintage Czech glass beads are made with deep, muted colors, very often in swirls and random patterns.
If you are unsure if a Czech glass bead is vintage, ask someone who knows. There are several great sources on the web for purchasing vintage Czech glass, and their knowledgeable staff might just be able to help you determine if your bead is vintage or not.
The Beadin’ Path of Freeport, Maine sells a wide variety of vintage beads and findings, including Czech glass, Lucite, chain and Swarovski crystals. They also offer free shipping on all orders over $25 and their stock is constantly changing.
Earthly Adornments is another favorite place of mine to get vintage beads and components. They also sell vintage jewelry, accessories and collectibles and have a great selection of vintage beads made from glass, Bakelite and crystal.
Look for a beaded necklace project coming soon using vintage Czech glass beads and Swarovski crystals.
Links:
Buying Your Beads: When to Spend, When to Save
There are a few things to keep in mind when making that decision. First of all, you want to think carefully about if your budget will allow you to spend $85 on that strand of watermelon Tourmaline that you just have to have. If it means eating macaroni and cheese out of the box for a week, you should probably think twice before you buy. (Unless, of course, you LIKE macaroni and cheese out of a box.) A few years ago, I purchased an incredible strand of rough-cut labradorite slab beads from a gem shop in New Hampshire - and spent the next week eating rice and beans.
You should also find out as much as you can about the quality of the beads that you are buying. Find out if they are treated in any way - some gemstone beads are dyed, irradiated or made from crushed gemstone held together with resin. If you avoid buying enhanced gemstones, you are more likely to end up with a quality strand of beads for the price. Even if they are a few dollars more, your creations will be of a higher quality when you use higher quality materials.
Your findings and other materials should be considered, as well. As the price of precious metals goes up, you want to carefully consider the amount you spend on these findings and beads. You also want to make sure that you are buying quality beads and findings made from precious metals as well - do not buy anything that looks to be defective, no matter how good the "bargain".
There are a number of great alternatives to pricey precious metals on the market today. Some suppliers are coming out with beautiful, well-made gold and silver-plated findings and beads as well as beads and findings made from copper and brass. There are even some beautiful and well-made findings in base metals such as nickel. But be careful - some people have allergies to base metals and if you sell your jewelry, you want to make sure that your customers are aware of this.
When buying backing for bead embroidery, Sensuede or Ultrasuede are the best deals for the money. I have tried other similar fabrics that cost less, but they do not hold up as well and they do not give the pieces the same, buttery-soft feeling that I so enjoy when touching them. One of my sources frequently offers free shipping on their Sensuede, and I take advantage of those offers when they come around.
The bottom line is what you feel comfortable buying with your bottom line. Don't blow the bank on something of questionable quality. But if your budget will allow, do spend a few extra dollars for a high quality product. Your beadwork will thank you for it.
Are You Ready to Enter a Contest?
There are a few ways to find out about beading contests. You can check the message boards of some beading communities like Beading Daily or Bead & Button. Beading Daily has an entire Forum dedicated to contests and competitions. You can also check with your local Bead Society or Arts Council.
Once you find a contest that you want to enter, it's time to figure out which piece to submit. Some contests have specific rules about when a piece has to have been created. Bead & Button's Bead Dreams competition requires that a piece be completed during twelve months leading up to the deadline for that year's contest. But I've also entered other local contests where I submitted a piece that had been created two or three years ago. It's always best to check the rules and read everything carefully before submitting your piece.
All other things aside, entering a contest for the first time (or the fiftieth time!) can be a scary thing. You are putting your artwork out there for other people to judge, and having your work rejected by other beaders can be hard to take. Don't let a rejection make you feel bad about your beadwork. It doesn't mean that you don't do great work. Your work is probably just as good as everyone else's - it just wasn't accepted by this particular contest.
If you are nervous about entering a contest but still want to take the plunge, try a small contest first. Look at websites like Beaders' Showcase and check their message boards - they have beading challenges that you can enter every month to get your feet wet. Or you can start your own challenge with your beading friends. Just keep it friendly and laid-back to start.
As for knowing what piece to enter in a contest, it all depends on what the rules of the contest are and, to some extent, what your instinct tells you. If you make a piece that just jumps off the table at you, then maybe it's time to look for a contest to enter.
And if you're still a little unsure about entering a contest all by yourself, do what my friend and I decided to do - enter it with a buddy. We picked two contests and are working away at our entries. We can bounce our ideas back and forth off of each other and we can go to each other for help if one of us gets stuck. Sometimes it really helps to let someone else look at your work - they might see things in a whole different way than you would.
Now that you're inspired to create something to put out into the world, here are a few contests going on that you might want to enter. Or make your own contest and post it on the About.com forums.
The Soft Flex Company - Flex Your Creativity
Bead Fest Philadelphia
It's hard to believe that summer is in full swing, but it is, which means it's time to start looking ahead to Bead Fest Philadelphia 2009.
Bead Fest Philadelphia is the largest bead and jewelry show on the East Coast of the United States. This year, they are offering over 100 different classes in everything from lampworking to bead stitching and metalwork. This year, the show's organizers even added an entire day of metalworking classes, and they are calling it Metal Mania.
The show also offers fabulous shopping with all my favorite vendors, including Beyond Beadery, Frantz Art Glass and The Beadin' Path.
Classes are filling up fast, so make sure you check the online registration soon. Some of the teachers who will be at Bead Fest include Marcia DeCoster, Shelley Nybakke, Maggie Meister, Margie Deeb and Melinda Barta.
Bead Fest also holds bead and jewelry shows throughout the year in Portland, Oregon and Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I haven't attended a Bead Fest since the first one was held in 2003, but I am very excited to be planning my trip to Bead Fest Philadelphia this year. I hope to bump into a few old friends and see a few new ones at the show. And that's what these shows are all about, really - finding a place where folks like us can gather to share our love of beads.
Swarovski Rivolis - All About the Sparkle
These incredibly versatile little gems can be used in anything. I’ve seen them in rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and of course, Laura’s stunning beaded beads. They look fabulous when mixed with other Swarovski crystals, but you can also mix them with freshwater pearls, Czech firepolished and pressed glass beads and gemstone beads. Their use is limited only by your imagination!
Several online retailers sell Rivolis in a wide array of colors and sizes. Fire Mountain Gems has expanded their line of available colors and sizes, and their discounts on large orders make them a bargain. The Beadin’ Path, WhimBeads, Artbeads and Beyond Beadery all have a fantastic selection of Rivolis in some more unusual colors, and WhimBeads offers a nice discount if you buy multiples of the same items. You can find links to each of these stores at the bottom of this article.
Vintage (1920s) Rivolis are available from a few good, online sources. The best source is Laura McCabe’s eBay store, HighEndBeads. The availability of these Rivolis is very limited, so if you see something you like, buy it while you can.
Because there are no holes on these stones, you have to stitch a bezel around the stone before you use it. The easiest way to do this is with circular even-count peyote stitch using Japanese cylinder beads and some smaller size 15 seed beads. Below is a chart that will tell you how many cylinder beads you need in the initial ring for each size Rivoli. Depending on how tight or loose your beadwork is you may need to increase or decrease the number of cylinder beads in the initial circle:
| Rivoli Size | Number of Japanese Cylinder Beads |
| 12mm | 26 | 14mm | 30 | 16mm | 34 | 18mm | 38 |
It helps to be comfortable with even-count flay peyote before you begin. Once you know how to bezel a Rivoli, you can also use the technique (with a few modifications) to stitch a peyote bezel around any cabochon.
Here are a few links to places where you can shop online for Swarovski Rivolis:
High Ends Beads (Laura McCabe's eBay store)
The Beadin' Path
Whimbeads
Beyond Beadery
Copper Beads and Findings - Hot Trend for 2009
The variety is incredible. There are simple, smooth copper rounds; copper beads made in the style of the ever-popular Bali silver beads; copper toggles and crimps; and copper charms and pendants. You can get items in a bright finish to add a bit of shine to your work, or you can opt for a more subtle, “antique” finish that will lend a touch of warmth without overpowering your design.
Fire Mountain Gems is one my favorite sources for copper findings. They carry fancy copper headpins, copper earring findings in several different styles, bead caps, spacer beads, clasps, crimps, charms and pendants of all kinds. With their assortable pricing structure, it makes these beads a real bargain if you can place a large order.
For beautiful, imaginative copper beads, check out the selection at Artbeads.com. They have beautifully patterned focal beads, whimsical sculptural beads, detailed spacer beads, and unusual lockets and pendants. These are the most artistic and whimsical copper beads I could find from any of the major bead and jewelry suppliers, and even though the prices of some of the larger pieces rival the cost of a precious metal pendant, the quality makes them well worth it.
Gemshow-online had the best selection of Bali-style copper spacers and rondelles. They also carry copper crimps, jumprings, pendants and charms. Abeadstore.com had a nice sampling of copper spacer beads, beadcaps, and findings. Other great places to look for copper beads and findings would be in the supplies category on Etsy and on eBay.
If you do a little online detective work, you will find some great deals on beautiful copper beads and findings. With the range of bright copper beads available, you may never want to go back to using gold-filled beads and findings again.
Links:
Fire Mountain Gems
Artbeads
Gemshow-online
Abeadstore
Etsy