Adventist Adventurer Awards and Answers/Bead Craft

Bead Craft
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Beads

What is a bead?

A bead is a small object with a hole in it so that it can be fastened with thread or string. (Most beads are round.)

Where did the word "bead" come from?

The word bead comes from an Old English word—gebed, or bede—which means prayer.

Swarovski crystal beads (6 mm–8 mm), pendant 3 cm

Fusible beads

Name some of the materials that are use to make beads.

Beads can be made out of things like seeds, wood, stone, plastic, glass, metal, ceramic, pearls, shells, berries, beans, ivory, coral, amber or precious stones

Tell at least two interest facts about the history of beads.

Historical facts about beads include:

• People made things out of beads in Egypt in Bible times.
• The worlds first calculator was an abacus, which is made out of beads. It is still used in many countries.
• Beads were used as money by American Indians and other native peoples. Wampum or Indian money beads, were often made out of shells. Indians used beads to trade with the Pilgrims.
• Some Indians used porcupine quills or pieces of bone for needles to string beads on thread made out of horse hair or cotton.
• People who are Catholic or Buddhist often use beads to help them remember and count their prayers.
• Beads have been used to decorate clothes for more than 400 years.

Name at least three things you can do with beads.

• Perle (melt beads.)
• String them together.
• Use them to trade, or for play money.
• Decorate clothes.
• Make pot holders or other things to decorate your home.
• Count things.

Make four (4) or more different objects with beads.

• String beads onto a pipe cleaner and shape it into a heart, cross or shepherds rod.
• Sew beads on piece of cloth in the shape of your name (or initials).
• Trace a picture or design onto heavy paper or cloth. Glue or sew beads onto it.
• Make a refrigerator magnet using beads. (Glue them onto a clothespin or piece of felt, or string them on thread or wire.
• Decorate a bean bag with beads.
• Sew beads on shoes or moccasins.
• String beads onto thread or ribbon and wrap them around the outside of a picture frame.
• Make a sculpture by stringing beads onto copper wire and shaping it.