All you need to know about small beads for embroidery and embellishment on fabric.
You don't have to be a couture designer to create beautiful beaded embroidery and embellishment. With a little help from small beads and stones you can create your own uniquely beaded designs on fabric. Since 2002 we have been selling Czech glass seed beads from our extraordinary online range to designers, makers and crafters.
Formerly buying from the Ornela factory nestled in the mountains of northern bohemia which distributed the beads by the state run distributor of Jablonex the factory was bought by the crystal company Preciosa, an established manufacturer of glass products for centuries north of Prague. Today we no longer have to surrender our passports as we checked in at the factory. Yes it is true! A hangover from the communist days but still practiced up until 2007.
We offer a wide range of colours, finishes (see the finishes glossary below) and stock sizes including 11/0 tiny 2mm , 8/0 medium 3.5mm and 5/0 a large 5mm.
Czech glass beads are distinguished by their high quality and regularity and are easily recognisable by their round doughnut shape. The symmetrical shape of the beads can be appreciated even more when beads are strung. Regularity and consistency of the shape set Czech seed beads apart not only from Chinese but also, contrary to popular belief, from Japanese seed beads. Whether you are a design student, DIY crafter, or jewellery designer you will discover just how versatile these beads are.
Use in jewellery design, off loom stitching such as peyote, brick or lattice stitch, hand sewing for beaded embellishment for quilting and clothing plus much more.
Sizes available in our Czech glass seed beads are:
- 15/0 approx 1.5mm
- 11/0 approx 2mm with almost 40 colours to choose from
- 8/0 approx 3mm with over 50 colours to choose from
- 5/0 approx 4.5mm with over 70 colours to choose from
The "0" known as the aught indicates the size of the glass rod used in the manufacture of glass beads.
Etelage is an Australian distributor and stockists of an extraordinary range of Czech glass seed beads which we buy directly from Preciosa (formerly Jablonex - the state run distributor of Czech glass beads and jewellery)
We sell Czech glass seed beads in small bags of 20grams. You can also buy at a discount 100grams or buy in bulk the factory packet of 500grams of loose beads.