Above artwork titled "Paper Beads" © by Rhonda L. Hall
Many people remark, when they see my paper beads, that they remember their Grandmothers making or wearing these beautiful items. The craft is said to have begun in England in Victorian times. Women then, often gathered together to roll scraps of wallpaper onto knitting needles, crafting beads. Which were then strung onto lengths of yarn to make beaded curtains that they used as room dividers. Using bits of wrapping paper, wallpaper, kid's discarded artworks, or even can labels is a good way to recycle paper and make inexpensive though beautiful beads. Using your imagination you can create many other lovely projects with these beads, from jewelry, wall art, baskets, mobiles, collages or even decorate greeting cards. Making a simple bracelet or necklace would be a good project for a Girl Scout Troop, or just a rainy day project for kids. The method can become a real art style for adult jewelry makers or artisans. There are many webpages online explaining different ideas or tips, and with a little practice you can discover which methods work best for you. Time spent making paper beads can be both meditative and productive.
“Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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