Fate - pt. 2

Beads, beading, stitching: that's what my dreams have been full of these last few nights. I think it has something to do with the fact that right now I have NO TIME to even attempt a little stitch. Maybe later today? work commitments make that very unlikely.

Also, I forgot to mention in the previous post that the beading theme continued during the US trip, as the town we stayed in, Brattleboro, VT, had on its main street a veritable treasure trove of a shop: Beadniks!

Had I not had a baggage allowance I would have bought half the shop there and then. I had to be dragged away.

Next time though...

Unto the breach

Do you believe in fate?

I am still trying to decide, but I can't help thinking that fate has something to do with how I ended up here.

About four years ago I went from a totally-jewellery free person to becoming strangely and compulsively attracted to necklaces (bracelets too, but necklaces are my first love, and no earrings, my piercings closed years ago!). Since then I have been amassing a considerable collection of normal and not-so-normal necklaces, some of which I'd even call "showpiece", and I still find that choosing a necklace is the most fun part of getting ready for a night out.

You'd think the next logical step would have been to become interested in making/designing my own necklaces, wouldn't you? But that's because you don't know me. I am that person who still draws people as stick figures (is there any other way?), who can't arrange flowers in a vase, who can't even do plaits on her own hair (it's curly, so sue me!): in short, I am not creative in a visual way, nor am I very dexterous (unless it's to assemble a piece of IKEA furniture or sort out the TV cables). I feel like this is a huge handicap, also because in my life I have met very talented people, for whom some things that to me seem impossible appear to be entirely natural (more on that later).

So picture the scene. I am on a US trip to one of my best friends' wedding when, in rain-soaked western Massachusetts, two friends and I happen upon a gem of a place: the Montague Bookmill. We get lost inside, then adjourn for lunch to the cafe next door. When it's time to go, we all take a trip to the "restrooms" and while I wait, my eye falls upon a single, tiny abandoned booklet. It's like a magnet. It's Gineke Root's Innovative Beaded Jewelry Techniques. I am in love.

But apart from a short childhood dalliance with knitting and embroidering (which I enjoyed but never really managed to bring to fruition) I did not have the faintest about how to actually begin. The gorgeous necklaces in Gineke's book were calling to me: I saw spiral patterns, beautiful drops, really amazing stuff. I wanted it, I WANTED IT NOW. So I bought the book, and decided to embark on becoming a novice beader.

And that's where we are. Since returning to London (brain and hands equally itching to begin in earnest) I went to Covent Garden, where it seems most bead shops are located, such as Bead Aura and Beadworks) but once inside I felt a bit overwhelmed by the sheer choice and also by realising that I did not have a clue as to where to begin/what to buy. As is my tradition, I made some impulse purchases (two types of beads, both purple: some rocaille and some bugle, some random tools and wire - but no clasps/findings, as I could not distinguish one thing from the next). I then decided I needed a more scholarly approach (I subscribe to the notion that, if it's explained in a book, I can learn it - given time and practice) so I ordered three books from Amazon.

They arrived yesterday, I leafed through them but two of them did not inspire as such. Finally I hit on this and found what I was looking for: starting with a square stitch. Last night, after dinner, I sat on my sofa with the TV on and attempted to follow the instructions. After what appeared to be a success, I mangled the whole thing, and had to cut and restart 3 times. I gave up. I started to worry this whole thing was a mistake, that I would never be able to do this, that I am not talented, that I am clumsy and why oh why do I have these ideas?

So I went to sleep, and I dreamt of beads... My hands felt itchy again. So today, taking a quick break from work (I have the luxury of working from home), I sat down, took a deep breath and tried again. I had one more false start, but I persevered, and finally the square stitch seemed to take shape. I realised that the problem before was the length of the thread, so once it was shorter I realised I could better see what I was doing and not getting tangled up. 

I managed to do a little square, which I am immensely proud of, until I ran out of thread...

And here it is: 

No! Please don't run away!! I know it's puny and imperfect but... it feels like the seed of something. And I really enjoyed doing it.

So on Saturday I will go and buy more beads for a project (maybe a bracelet) and definitely some findings!

I hope this won't be the only post in this blog... truly.

 But let's see how it goes. After this, I will try a brick stitch. Stay tuned!