Swarovski Website for Beaders
Design Tools and Help for Bead and Wire Jewelers
We take a look at the Swarovski website which is packed with lots of useful information for the bead worker, including a design tool to help design your own creations.
Hidden away from the main Swarvoski website is a site created specially for beading designers and makers. ‘Create your Style’ is an amazing site, with lots of really interesting information and some great ideas for making your own creations.
This isn’t an online store – it is a useful information and design tool specifically for designers, both beginners and advanced, using Swarvoski components. Although designed for Swarvoski components, this will also be extremely useful and provide inspiration for designers using any similar crystal beads.
The site showcases designs which have been created using Swarvoski components. These will provide inspiration and ideas, with the designs ranging from simple to more complex projects. The designs detail which Swarvoski components have been used and this is very useful when creating your own designs. The website also has a complete break down of all the different Swarvoski beads available – sizes, shapes, colors, along with their code number making it easy if you want to order these from your local supplier.
A great feature of the site is the technique section, which breaks down techniques into beading, sewing, iron-on, gluing and paper craft. The beading section covers 25 important techniques. Each technique is illustrated with animations as well as a pdf document. The techniques include bead weaving, peyote – even diagrams on how to make each letter of the alphabet.
However the highlight of the site has to be the free online design tool. Mac users will be delighted to find that this works on Macs as well as Windows and allows bracelets and necklaces to be designed online. The design tool helps you create designs using Swarvoski crystal beads. These are shown in full color on your screen and can be changed and adapted as you wish. This allows you to visualize exactly what your finished design will look like.
There are three templates within the design tool which can easily be adapted and the online help function gives guidance on how to get started. There is even an animated beading technique help section which acts as a handy reminder for the beginner. The tool also gives you a complete materials list detailing the numbers and types of beads used.
The Create Your Style website is well worth bookmarking (particularly as it is quite difficult to find!). It offers a mix of instruction, inspiration and information for beaders and jewelry designers and makers of all experience levels.
One last thing - if you are pleased with your Swarvoski designs, you might like to enter their annual design competition.
For more information about Swarvoski, read this Blog.
Read about using Silver Wire to make jewelry.
