Strange and Unusual Beads: Never Judge a Bead By Its Cover

Many beaders have been there: face-to-face with a bead the likes of which they’ve never seen before. And hope to never see again. They roll their eyes; quickly turn on heel and head in the other direction.

But you needn’t be afraid of that bead you think you’ll have no use for; challenge yourself and take the risk with the strange and unusual bead. It’s likely that at some point you’ll be glad you did. That’s not to say you’ll be able to use that odd bead next week or even next month. But there’s no harm in letting it hang out in your collection for a while. You may be surprised to later find you’re glad you took the risk.

Particularly large and unusual beads are attention-grabbing and, when paired with chain or leather, often end up being standout jewelry pieces. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your safety zone when you are bead shopping. Make sure your collection includes odd beads that you might not normally pick. Be risky and challenge yourself with beads you aren’t typically drawn to at first. Begin to think broadly and creatively about what beautiful jewelry pieces might evolve from that one odd piece.

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