Times Have Changed

In the 1960's, during the hippie days of love beads and such all one needed was some beads and a piece of good string. Put the two together and there you have it, one handmade love necklace or bracelet. Simple as can be. These days however, things have changed, now you not only need the beads and the string or wire, you also need something called a ring mandrel.
A mandrel is a tool that is used to grip things. This is good for working with beads and other jewelry components. I know this because I have seen my daughter make beaded items and lose the beads where I can find them on the floor the next time I walk through her area. She needs one of these mandrel things!
Apparently, although not hippie influenced, jewelry making and beading are as popular as ever. Handicraft hobbies have always been popular with people and, in tougher economic times, they seem to become even more popular. Perhaps this is good for artistic folks like my daughter as a handmade gift is not only cheaper it also is a more welcomed gift, a gift of love as it were. You took the time to make something special for someone, how can they not rave about that?

If you are one of these artistic folks or simply a beader/jewelrymaker that does it for the sheer enjoyment it brings to you, you should go and take a look at what this website has to offer. Besides the mandrel they also have beads, crystal beads,glass beads,fabric beads, all sorts of different beads. They also have beading kits to help you out.
If you start beading now, you could have a special gift for every person on your Christmas list. Think how nice that would be!