Beading Basics - Findings

'Findings' - the term for all the little components that you can use to make your jewellery.

Silver plated Findings 

  If I had to whittle it down to what would be useful and the 'basics' for a starter findings  kit it would be these things:
(As featured in the pic in a clockwise direction)

Extender chain
Beadalon stringing wire 0.20 (comes in many different colours the one in the pic is 'Bright')
Ear wires 
Eye pins -  thin straight metal rod with an open round at the bottom
Head pins -  thin metal rod with a flat bottom
Crimps -  tiny hollow round  metal beads to be crushed onto stringing wire to seal the ends and stop the beads fallling off.   (Pictured next to the heapin)
Jump rings - round metal rings that open up to join things together these are 6mm. 
Round clasp -delicate clasp
Lobster clasp - named as it resembles a lobsters claw!
Callottes - round clam like items with a loop on the top. Used to cover the crimped ends of wire and allow you to attach jumprings then clasp and chain to finish your piece.


There are so many different findings out there that for a new beader it can all become a little confusing!
I would reccomend sticking to one finish i.e silver or gold plate to begin with.

I prefer sterling silver jewellery but to learn with it is far more economical to use plated to start off with and once you know wht you're doing start building up your sterling silver kit.

My silver plated findings starter kit came from Blue Streak Beads and it contains  all the findings in the picture and many more (except for the stringing wire which you will have to buy seperately).

Here's a link to all the findings kits that they do. You will see that some of them do come with stringing wire.
 
http://www.bluestreakbeads.co.uk/acatalog/Findings_kits.html


You will also need tools - see my beading basics article on tool kit - and of course the beads! 

There are so may kits out there, many with tools and beads included, choose the set that you like the most!

Have fun shopping!