Carrier Beads

BEADING Articles 1 min read

Carrier Beads – New and HOT!

Carrier Beads
Join us at Maker Festivals Pennsylvania, the ultimate crafting extravaganza in Lancaster from July 31-August 3, 2024, and we will once again be bringing our fiber artists with us! Our festival lineup will have thousands of fiber artists, and jewelry makers!

Carrier beads have quickly become one of the latest and largest crazes in the beading world. Originating in Europe, these 9x17mm two-hole Czech glass beads, also known as pillow beads, serve as a base to “carry” a peyote-stitched strip of cylinder seed beads. While I’m not sure I love the style, most bead retailers can’t keep these beads in stock! Keep reading to see how Beadwork is helping you get on board the carrier bead trend.

Carrier Beads

Featured in Cool Stuff, August/September 2018

Recently featured in our Cool Stuff department in Beadwork, August/September 2018, carrier beads are one of this year’s hottest trends. Since their introduction in the United States at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show 2018, these beads are almost impossible to find in stock. BeadSmith (wholesale only) offers them in a variety of colors and finishes to match your peyote strip, or look for them at your favorite bead retailer, but beware they go fast!

Carrier Beads

Carrier Bead Workshop at Bead Fest 2018

We are thrilled to announce bead artist Shae Wilhite is bringing her bead-weaving expertise to Bead Fest 2018 with several workshops including one highlighting carrier beads! Her “Carrier Bead Crazy” workshop will help you learn how to incorporate carrier beads into your own designs. Learn more about this workshop and more from Shae Wilhite at www.beadfest.com.

Carrier Beads

Look for an Upcoming Carrier Bead Project in our December/January 2018 Issue!

While we can’t give away the specifics of this beautiful design, we can tell you Beadwork, December/January 2018 will include a project using carrier beads. Not your typical peyote-stitched style, this project is sure to be on your “must-make” list once the issue hits your mailbox. Subscribe today to get your issue as soon as it prints or look for it on www.interweave.com in November 2018!

Do you love carrier beads or are you passing on this trend? Let us know; we love to hear from you! If you already made a carrier bead design, please share it with us on Facebook!

Happy beading!
Marissa Bouska
Assistant Editor, Beadwork magazine


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