| Are you familiar with glass beads? If not, you will | | | | and much more. |
| want to take the time to explore the impressive | | | | Of course, the most famous of all the beads are |
| array of styles and designs available. Not only do | | | | the excellent charms which are meant to serve |
| they offer glass beads in a rainbow array of | | | | as the primary theme of any piece of jewelry. |
| colors, but many are highly decorative with easy | | | | For example, there are beads in the shapes of |
| to see motifs and multicolored patterns. For | | | | animals, letters, signs of the zodiac, figures related |
| example, it is easy to find beads with | | | | to sports, and so much more. There is also a long |
| heart-shaped patterns worked into the molten | | | | list of themes available, including friendship, |
| glass, or others with raised dots or flowers | | | | wedding, baby, travel, faith, anniversary, and even |
| worked into their surfaces. | | | | retirement charms too! Any of these styles can |
| They also offer wooden beads that are finely | | | | be easily combined to create a unique and one of |
| crafted and set with gold or silver spindles for | | | | a kind piece. |
| long wear. These tend to be found in | | | | A good supplier of beads will often sell the |
| lesser-known woods that include responsibly | | | | pre-packaged "gift sets" of charm beads too. |
| harvested materials such as Acapu, Muiracatiara, | | | | There are dozens of themes to the sets, and |
| and Pau Amarelo woods, among others. These | | | | one of the more popular is the one known as "A |
| wooden beads are highly polished and meant to | | | | Girl's Best Friend". This contains silver and gold |
| endure years of frequent use and wear. | | | | beads accented with real diamonds. The beads |
| There are also silver and gold beads which are | | | | are a wonderful base upon which to build a |
| heavily ornamented and designed around specific | | | | bracelet, and there are so many complimentary |
| themes. These might be birthstone themes, | | | | and coordinating beads and charms that the |
| accent or spacer themes, and gemstone themes, | | | | possibilities are endless. |
| but they are all meant to help emphasize the | | | | When you combine the many types of metal, |
| design of the individual bracelets within which they | | | | wood, and glass beads available into a single piece |
| appear. For instance, they might be fitted with | | | | of jewelry - such as a charm bracelet or custom |
| gemstones, raised gold or silver patterns, | | | | necklace - you get a remarkably individualized |
| coordinating shapes such as flowers or leaves, | | | | statement of personal taste and style. |