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Shapes
BUGLE
BEADS - shaped like a tube, smooth or with 6 sides. Sizes from 2mm to 40mm. Light also reflects very well off a bugle
bead.
DONUT – donut shaped, with a large
center hole. The bead is strung so that the hole shows. Usually used as a focal bead or connector Bead.
DROP - any bead shaped like a pear, with a hole at the narrow end or
lengthwise through the bead.
FACETED BEADS
– Bead that has flat surfaces and is chiseled in appreance. The flat surface is either cut or molded in a regular pattern.
FIRE POLISH – Faceted beads that are cut with a
machine then tumbled in a hot fire Kiln to smooth off the surfaces. Czech glass Fire Polish is the highest quality technique.
HEX CUT - usually the same size a seed beads,
but with 6 sizes. Hexagonal or an irregular cut. The flat surface causes more light to shine from the bead. Hex beads are
cut on 6 sides and are also known as three-cut beads. Hex beads shine and shimmer, adding a unique and elegant look to your
beadwork.
LAMPWORK Beads are handmade beads
that are formed by using a torch/flame and glass rods. The glass rod is heated until molten then wrapped around a mandrel.
The mandrel is a Metal rod that has been dipped in chalk to allow releasing of the bead. The best kind of lampwork beads are
Kiln annealed, which strengthens them and gives the bead depth.
ROUND
or DRUK – Circular sphere with a hole in the middle for stringing.
ROUNDELLE or Rondell - donut shaped, with a center hole. The bead is strung so that the hole
does not show.
SEED BEADS are Mass-produced
tiny glass beads made by slicing glass tubes into tiny evenly spaced pieces. This makes them oblong in shape, rather than
round, and flat on the ends.
SEED BEADS can
also be actual seeds from plants used as Beads. Job’s Tears, Peach Pits and Large Nuts are also Seed Beads.
PONY BEADS are like glass seed beads but are very large.
These beads are popular with Native American crafters and are used when making Dream Catcher and Medicine Wheel decorations.
They usually are glued to feathers to secure them to leather strands.
WEDDING CAKE BEADS
Wedding cake beads are
lampworked glass beads that are decorated with intricate, colorful glass overlays, often of roses and decorative swirls and
dots.
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