...some of the prettiest and most unique beads I have seen are acrylic.  It's like opening a whole new book not just a new chapter.  The scope of acrylic is huge, and this cannot be achieved in any other material.  The trasluscent and opaque colours, textures, shapes and sizes are limitless, they can be made to look like wood, glass and metal, it's an amazing medium.  If you are making earrings the weight factor is always an issue, and this is an advantage with acrylic beads they can be large in size and light weight.  Explore the world of acrylic and ad a new dimension to your designs.  ............more beads to come.  Lallette