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Use traditional shades

for very merry designs


By Bethany Waldrop Keiper

Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles."  -- Unknown

So, it is the beginning of the Christmas season, and I have one question. What's happened to red and green? Where are they? I've looked around in many shops, and from artificial trees to the most expensive ornaments, actual colors of Christmas red and green seem to be a bit in the minority.

I see maroon, rose, burgundy, purple, pink, and fuchsia, but where is the rich regular red? And rather than the traditional green shade, I've found dark forest, teal, mint, olive, and even lime. Although I was probably the first in my family to put a non-traditional colored ornament on a Christmas tree, this year I've got a back-to-the-basics feeling about the holidays, especially in jewelry designs.

 

There are a variety of beads in the traditional beautiful holiday shades. From classic millefiori hearts to pressed glass leaves and ovals, there is a shape and style to suit any design. Cane glass beads are perfect for the holidays. In red and green, these beads look like candy cane treats, and make sweet designs with no calories!
 

The intricate detail of lampworked beads is perfect for the season. There are lampworked hearts and flowers in holiday shades, but I've also seen lampworked holly, santas, snowmen, and even tiny Christmas trees.

Red and green wedding cake beads, whether they are rounds, drops, or ovals, are perfect for holiday time. They are almost complete ornaments all by themselves; all you need to do is find a way to adorn yourself with them.

Have a cat lover in your life? Then use lampworked red and green cat beads for the perfect holiday charms in your designs.

 Here, facetted firepolished green beads provide a home for a lampworked green kitty, while red glass nugget beads are perfect for showing off a red lampworked kitty. With their perky ears and curly tails, lampworked cats are as cute as can be.

Red and green firepolished facetted AB beads are perfect for the holidays with their extra sparkle. Remember that during this time most people are more likely to wear designs that are bigger, bolder, brighter and shinier than they are any other season of the year.

Give more simple beads, such as red druks, special treatment, and they will take on a holiday sparkle. Try using bright green sequin holly leaves to dangle from your druk-based holly berry designs. Larger red druks are like perfect rich cranberries whether they are strung into a necklace or dangling in bunches from earrings.

For something different, get out your bead loom, find some red, green, and gold delicas, and make the perfect trim for your favorite gloves. Or make a mix of your favorite red and green glass beads and add multi-shape strings of fringe to your favorite winter scarf.

 

Red and green cap or trumpet flower beads take on a different personality for holiday designs. These flower-turned-Christmas-bell beads look lovely dangling from a long earring. Small gold metal beads between the glass beads make the bells look almost ready to ring. For a touch of whimsy, make the bottom gold bead a tiny gold dangling round jingle bell. Green pressed India glass luster leaves also are perfect for shining holiday style.

These would also make an enchanting bracelet; one that could carry you through the holidays and be perfect for next spring. Designs made with red and gold will also be great for Valentine's day or your red party dress, while green and gold will take you through St. Patrick's day and into spring and summer.

Facetted firepolished beads and cane glass available at the Bead Peddler.

 

 

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