If you are just getting into the bead making hobby, you might not know exactly what is out there.
This article was written to give you a tiny taste of the world of semi precious beads, which are very commonly used in the aforementioned hobby.
I'm going to go over a brief history of amber beads and talk a little bit about common uses of amber itself.
This gem's history is pretty unique in itself and it has been known as a few different names throughout its past.
Some of them are "petrified sunlight" and "frozen gold.
" You're probably already thinking about how beautiful this stone is just from the nicknames that it holds.
Not only is it a beautiful color, it also lets off a very interesting warmth when held to your skin.
Some variations of amber are said to do this better than others.
One example is Baltic amber which can be used for a baby's teething toy.
More about that later.
Amber's History and Origin I'm not sure why this is considered a semi precious stone, because it isn't a stone in the true sense of the word.
Amber is actually made from extremely old tree resin that hardens over the years and creates what we all know as amber.
Nonetheless, it is still beautiful and used quite commonly in bead working.
One reason is because of its low price.
This gemstone was actually believed to have come from the gods because no one knew where it actually came from, and something with its magnificent color must be divine.
Others also believed that it came from rays of sunlight.
The ancient Romans even had their own beliefs; one of which was that having some amber with your wine could cure you of many illnesses.
Some Words of Caution There are imitations out there made by people who just want to make a buck.
If you start getting into bead making, ensure that you do your research and purchase your amber beads from a reputable source.
You don't want to find yourself purchases "Faux Amber" from one of those people that I mentioned above.
Just knowing that this happens however, will give you the upper hand since it isn't too difficult to tell which stone is real and which was faked.
What is Amber Used For? Well, amber beads aren't only used for decoration.
I already introduced you to one use above, which was the fact that many babies use amber for pain soothing purposes.
The warmth that amber can give off is actually a sign of its healing properties.
It helps relieve pain, as that of a teething baby, and comes in quite handy if you are looking for natural pain relief.
Baltic amber is something that I also told you about before, which is what most amber teething rings are made from.
If you ask me, getting one of these for your baby is a great idea.
Not only because they work really well, but also because it's a great conversation piece.
Conclusion In closing, I wanted to address the look and feel of the amber beads.
I'm sure most people have been exposed to these gemstones at least once before, but it's important to focus on the beauty that comes with amber.
It is a very warm red-orange color that goes great in fall because of the natural colors all around.
Personally, I think it is good for any season, just because you can get lighter or darker shades that go with just about anything.
When making your own jewelry with these beads, just make sure you have fun and go with your instincts.
Go out there and get some practice so that you can expand your horizons.
Thanks for reading and I hope you start using amber beads soon.