Things to think about...

This morning I decided to put away the last 6 bags of beads I bought on eBay. I suddenly realized that they were in the same exact baggie you would buy crack, any other powder or rock type drug. Relax... I worked at a police department for over 6 years. Not saying there is anything to take away from that observation but it did give me a bit of a worry. So in my ever ongoing desire to have my beads the most organized of anyone on my block, I decided to see how far a bead can travel. The answer is pretty far. I was once again very happy with some of the beads I got with my $12.00 eBay jackpot. I still find it risky because you often do not get enough beads for a very large project. Because of this, you should maybe check around and find a good local bead shop. Still fun every now and then to see what you can find on eBay. As I laid on the floor with my new found/bought babbles, I looked to my side and saw my cat eating the beading string. I was not too worried, I just started pulling out of her mouth what she had swallowed. Dear "insert your own choice" she had eaten at least two feet. She is none the worse for it but it now makes me think I need to watch my beading supplies around her a bit more closely. Still wondering about above mentioned beading thread. It frays with the least bit of usage. Maybe it is a bad batch but I am thinking my time is worth more than to have a third project fail. I never had a problem before using the thread so we will see if today I can have some success. Then again I am feeling good enough maybe I should do things like cook, clean, laundry, interact with people. No, Hubby out on a trip. He is a pilot, weather still so snowy I can't get down my driveway. House is clean if you take away the beading crap. Food, who needs stinking food when you are beading. Yes, you are right I will cook something today. For the one other person out there who might be reading this have a great day! Hope this is helpful in someway and I would love to hear from you.

Miss Diva the curious cat!

Frustration and new lesson

I just started using FireLine 4lb crystal beading thread. I made my favorite bracelet so far and when finished it just broke in half. Trying to not go into drama queen I looked to see what I had done wrong or how I could fix it. If you want to go straight to the punch line the beads are all back in their place in the box and the string is in the garbage. I have looked up information on the thread and have gotten mostly positive reactions from people. I will say I did buy it on eBay so maybe it was old and out of date. I wonder if that can happen since I have thread older than me doing fine. After thinking about it the way I was weaving the thread through so many times, I think I just broke the thread. So how do you avoid this from happening? Write me if you have any ideas. I will try again tomorrow and hope for a better outcome. On the good side I got a great deal on beads in boxes of all kinds. Many a bit primitive for me but still great potential. I feel bad for the person who sold it because they really didn't get anything close to what it is worth. I don't want to admit how much I enjoyed organizing them as much as I did. I have always loved color coding so it was an OCD heaven. Hope everyone is in the best of health and happiness. I am getting snow, snow and more snow.

Don't try and bead when you are sick

I am sure I will find this funny at some point. Translation not now, I strung spine beads for a new bracelet 5 times each time somehow having a brain fart and losing them all. I thought I would try a seed bead project by then decided if you have a cold that is so bad you are sure your brain is being compressed and milked of all intelligence by the side effects of a cold. Feel worse today but we have some pretty good lighting so I might try and do something. I have mostly taken apart bracelets that just didn't work out. I am still trying to find that perfect combination of a stretch base and the frill of a spiral or something to make it special. I do have some ideas but we will see how they work out. I think it is cute a total novice thinking I can make something unique and original when there are so many amazing beaders out there. Hope you are having a great weekend. I plan to get well...and be back on track soon. Newest project 50% chance of being undone but still learning. The only words of wisdom is really pay attention to what you are doing. Hard for someone who has to multitask instead of paying attention to one thing. Commit to a forward and back word pattern. Just one bead off does make a difference. Cheers feel free to comment I would love some feed back.

12 step program

I have decided after adding up my bead and beading findings purchases that I might need to join an addiction group. At least I am still buying. I have two bids on eBay. I really know realize what a great buy my first purchases where from one seller. Now another "so you don't make the same mistake" make sure that there are enough beads to use in a project. I am finding more and more people use eBay to get rid of small lots that no matter how great the bead is if there isn't enough to make something, it isn't a good buy. Now you could use for earrings. I have not ventured into that area yet. Still blown away with even small projects need more beads than you think. Than again I might like a bit splashy. I have been ripping apart my last project. The spine bead was just too big to make enough of a spiral to feel full enough. In fact I have been "unbeading" today and organizing my beads. Good thing to do on a dark rainy day. Today's rant is why do they think a threader is going to help when you can't see the hole to put the threader in? I did find some needles it would work for but on a whole I was frustrated. I think in my old sewing supplies I might have a better quality threader than the one that came with this set of needles. I am doing my best to shore up the economy. If there is a good sale buy when it is hot. Full price beads seem so high. Todays learning will be working on doing a better job ending and starting a new thread. Translation I lost a loop due to a poor tread start. So happy when the whole bracelet didn't unravel. Until I really test of the strength and clean up my skill I would never think of selling. I do at some point need to sell since I have spent more on beads than a simple hobby should require. Hope were ever you are the weather is not causing too much trouble. Cheers Oh and so far I got one group of beads and think I will be out bid on the other but once I adding in shipping they were not a good buy. Well, I am sure I will get them now. Good I have been outbid.... See sometimes you do the right thing in spite of yourself.

Pictures of Bracelet on

If you are young you will not understand but I had to take my watch off because I couldn't take a picture of my bracelet on my right hand because of a couple big ass age spots. Girls take care of your hands they are the first to go!

Fine tuning

I really like the idea of the modified spiral for a stretch bracelet. So I was able to use a different color and found it worked out lovely. Since I am never one to just call it a day on an idea, I am now working on a more difficult one that has lost its charm at the moment. The bronze one here was a three bead pattern with going forward 3 back 2. I would not use this large of seed beads again because it didn't flow like I like it to. I always use 3 different kinds of center bead in each loop. Not sure if it is visual or for self torture trying to keep track while watching TV, or I should say listening to TV. It does not have the same exact feel as the spiral you see on YouTube but it has a nice almost charm bracelet feel. Completely off subject I have decided to learn Spanish. I was able to find a great app for the phone as well as the computer. It can teach anyone Spanish... I am so proud to say I am so special I am in the no one group. A few words here and there but on a whole I think once I walk away from the program, I retain very little. I often loose all my hearts and the wise owl all but shakes it head at me. So if it isn't working for free why not spend money. So I got the "even the older brain can learn" product. It is "only $9.95" except by the time they are done with their sales pitch I was in it for close to $40.00. I did walk away from numerous "only right now" extras that would of had me over $100. I did get 700 pictures that are to worm their way into your brain and teach you vocabulary. Hmm while I said that I remember one of their sales pitches is no vocabulary words. Any way to the point, I am sure I learned something but once again it is not willing to exit my brain yet. Maybe all at once I will be able to eat an apple with a woman and drink with the man. Here are some pictures...we know we only come for the pictures. Wait come (eat) see I did learn something. So glad I don't have a dirty mind.

Yes success!

Trying to still figure out how to make a spiral bracelet using a stretch cord. I decided to try using stretch cord through all the spine beads. Then using beading thread I tried to stay close to the same pattern but you do not pick up any beads just add the design loop. I used size 8 seed bead and was able to get the .8 stretch thread through and the waxed thread through as many times as you need to get the look I wanted. It is not perfect and I will go back through tomorrow and add a few more loops and go back through as many loops as I can. It is to the point there is not very much room so it might be just threading through the loops. I actually am pretty pleased with myself ... I know, I am sure many people have thought of this before me. Still I don't know about it so in my mind I am taking credit. Thanks for taking a look...Hope you are staying warm and safe.

No .... Fail

The Stretch cord is too thick to do a spiral bracelet. Going to see if I can find it is a smaller diameter, .8mm is a no go. Just to let you know since I know people could be waiting holding their breath. The smallest I can find is .5mm which still would be way too big. Regular WildFire beading thread is .15mm and it can get tight depending on the size of the seed beads. It was a good idea?

Buying Beads on Ebay

I just had great luck with purchasing beads on Ebay. I think the secret is to look for someone who is selling their personal stock for some reason or another. All the combination of beads and stones are much better quality that I have found at any of the local craft stores. Interesting colors and sizes, a few more stones than I know what to do with but I think the stones could make some interesting additions to work I am doing. I have always loved the look of rustic against the sparkle of crystal. Took me a good solid hour to organize...and that word is somewhat being used loosely. It at least has some illusion I know where and what I have. Today's project will be trying to make the spiral bracelet using stretch cord so it could just be pulled off and on. Arthritic hands would enjoy being able to skip the trying to hook the clasp. It could be a cute Youtube video the things I do to try and get a bracelet on.

People have two feet....

I tried to bead a sandal which is like so....

I was so proud of myself and was feeling the warm glow of success. Then I had a light bulb moment...crap you need two of them since, well most people are lucky enough to have two feet. I started the second when I was way too tired. So I had the chance to live the old, old phrase "a stitch in time saves nine". I spent more time correcting mistakes. That being said I did finish both and went out on a limb and put on the clasp hoping her foot would be the same as mine. Great job on the first and miscounted on the second so I got to learn how to correct the mistake. You can cut the clasp off tie and then rethread thru a new thread to make sure they are secure again. Just in case your are wondering the length of the beading from the end of the decorative line to the clasp was a total of 11.5 inches. I would go with 11 the next time or a bead or two longer. Here are some pictures of the project on the foot and with a shoe. The shoe was not the right color but you get the idea. I found this on Youtube and other than one part that confused me it was a great tutorial. Lessons learned... pay attention to their bead count...maybe I am not really ready to change so many things on the pattern... yes, people have two feet. Enjoy and have fun beading!

A new day, a new way to do the same bracelet?

After watching three instruction videos with new patterns, I found myself doing another bracelet with my favorite pattern. I keep changing it a little bit so here is what I learned today. 1. Listen to your own advice and measure once again I made the bracelet too big. 2. Sometimes there is a solution: I took the lobster claw off and added a button and a seed bead loop. That way it made it a size that would work. I still don't have the way to measure the loop right yet but I am getting closer. 3 Light is your best friend. I can't believe how much easier it is when you can see what you are doing. 4. At some point you need to think of what you are going to do with all these bracelets. I promise myself, I will try something completely different tomorrow. Off subject today is my son's birthday. They had plans, so I will see him tomorrow. Still seems like I am the one who should get to have fun since it was such a lack of fun giving birth. Last thought...when learning a new beading style use cheap thread that way you are not using your good beading thread on a project that is only practice. That advice might save you a dollar or two. Through a whole bunch of projects not each. :) Have a great day and feel free to comment. I know I am not there yet but so fun to learn.

There is no shame in starting again...

If you say that with a British accent is sounds better. Every bracelet I have made has been at least one do over. I am going with learning. Keep track of your needles your family will thank you. I use small bowls to put the beads in when I start a bracelet. I only take out the beads I will be using. That way it keeps it a bit more under control. Be sure to measure your wrist. Keep measuring as your project is coming along. 7.5 inches seems to be a nice size but it can a half inch either way. If it is going to be a gift might be best to just ask because this is not something you can just take out a half inch out. Might be able to add... once again I really don't know what I am doing but it seems to be a pretty sound notion.

A new passion

Sometimes with a passion we go into without any idea of what we are doing or how we are going to go from bead in hand to bead on body. I can't lie I have spilt all of the beads all over the floor and my body but I was thinking more the finished product. So now we have these raw materials how do we make them work. First Pinterest which is both genius and evil, will give you some great dreams and delusions of being able to make magic. The art of beading can be taken to almost any level. Next Youtube is your teacher, friend and breaker of your heart. Be prepared of the wonderful designs being taught in Russian. Still some wonderful people have taken the time to show you what to do or not do. Let us start in the very beginning and as the song did say "it is a very good place to start". Be prepared to bleed money....I thought it was just at first but I think it will be a continual bleed. That being said it is keeping me out of the bars and happy.

So we have our tools...to those who are experienced yes I went for the very cheap. I will say so far they are working just fine. We have a photo of the also very cheap bead board/keeper, that is not working out very well. In fact it is already broken. You need to know what kind of beading you are attracted to....so you will see three pictures of wire, thread and beading wire. With the wire spent the money on a product that is not usable for anything I am able to do yet. Moral of this story is to plan. The stretchy is great for no clasp, I know what a surprise stretchy bracelets. The Wildfire brand rocks perfect for everything I have wanted to do. Be prepared to pay a bit but I am finding it very long lasting. Never use thread but I have it is quilting thread and I treat it with bees wax. Disclaimer...I have no idea what I am doing Beads ones that you like...that being said might be a good idea to think of what they are going to be used for. Notice the trend of thinking. Now for the wise word time: Never put red lipstick on when beading because you know the thread is going in your mouth. If you have poor vision buy the needles that open up and not have an eye. Some examples of my first couple weeks work. Last never hesitate to ask friends for their old jewelry. I just asked my mom but I am not sure if I am that brave with my friends.