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Collecting beads is a lot like eating chocolate...once you start, it's hard to stop. I began collecting vintage glass beads, buttons and baubles over 20 years ago in New York City. I rented a studio space on 38th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues and the street was lined with bead importers and manufacturers. When I began designing jewelry, I realized I needed to find a material that not too many designers were already working with. I stumbled across basements full of vintage beads and began my collection.

There are so many different types of old glass beads to work with that I decided to focus in on a handful of different types. These were the types of beads I was finding in abundance and that no one else seemed to be collecting at the time; vintage glass Japanese pearls, old nailhead beads from Germany and France, hollow silver-lined glass that reminded me of mercury glass, and hand-pulled glass flowers and leaves embedded with wire. Every time I came across a box full of old glass beads - I would get so excited, that I would buy the whole box - not just a handful or even a gross - but 3 or 4 kilo of one bead.

Color was always an important factor for me. I bought colors that I hadn't seen before - the cherry reds, opaque whites and greasy greens. When you are looking for old glass beads, look for vibrant colors that you don't see very often. Choose organic shapes and unusual sizes. Look for strong beads - if the bead looks too delicate, it is probably better to pass it by. Old glass deteriorates over time - due to heat and moisture - so it is better to stick to solid looking glass that shows no signs of chipping or jagged edges.

While digging for old glass beads you will inevitably come across a wide selection of glass baubles and buttons. I always like to mix these with the beads when designing vintage-inspired jewelry. Look for buttons with shanks on the back that can be linked to jewelry with a jump ring. Cabochons, flat-backed glass pieces, can be glued to bezels or wire-wrapped to make an individual pendant.

Finally, keep a color palette in mind while buying old glass beads, baubles and buttons and eventually you will be able to combine all of the pieces you have collected to make a fabulous necklace or bracelet. Have fun and remember to know your bead limit!

Learn more about this author, Kaari Meng.
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