Butterflies and crabs

Odd combination, right?

Well, when searching online for beading patterns, the most common (and easiest!) ones seem to be animal ones. So to continue getting better at my brick stitch and my ladder rows I did a two-in-one of a butterfly and a crab. Not too shabby, though I am still having problems with starting rows (at the top, in this picture). But no mistakes this time and counting was ok.

Although now looking at it like this it does look crooked... mmmhhhh

And apologies about always using the same colours... that is all I have for now, whilst I practice :)

Next, I will be improving on my square stitch (without a loom) doing a deer of some sort (using two pages of graph!!!), and after that I will attempt peyote stitch. Roll on!

Slowly does it

As usual with me, I am carried away by my wildly exceeding expectations (of myself, of others, of things), and after "mastering" the square stitch I thought that there wasn't much to this bead weaving malarkey.

But no, I was wrong. I attempted to work on brick stitch with some bugle beads, but could not get past row 2. I found it very difficult to get the ladder row correct.

Then I had several guests come and stay with me, which meant having less free time (I don't have much to begin with) and also putting away the beads, to avoid some sort of cartoon-style mishap (I keep having nightmares of me on all fours collecting endless single beads of my wooden floor).

But I was still itching to try. So after looking at the books I ordered and a magazine, I made a (slightly confusing) shopping list and headed for the heaven that is Beadworks, in London's Covent Garden. One of the projects I wanted to try, a reversed spiral beaded necklace, of which more later, called for size 15 beads, but I was surprised to discover Beadworks only go to size 11 (which are already quite small) so I adapted my ingredients list.

Again due to my high expectations, I opted NOT to do the necklace using beads of different colours and sizes, but rather the more difficult option of beads of different sizes but of the same colour. Not that this has so far been a massive hindrance because I have not been able to even get past the first size of bead working... spiral beading is a b***h! Does anyone have any tips for this? When I begin, already in the second row, the whole thing becomes a tangled mess and I can't tell top from tail. All the instructions I've seen so far for spiral beading seem to miss some crucial steps. First: do I need to use some sort of circular support in the middle (say like a biro case or a little tube)? Second: when doing the first circle, do I need to tie/knot it? How does it stay like that? Does it all have to be tight or loose? If it's tight, how can you tell what's what? Any pointers in this direction would be helpful.

Dejected, but not defeated, I returned to the brick stitch. I figured that I need to really master the basics and become more comfortable with everything. After a few aborted tries, I sort of managed to stitch a little star:

which doesn't really look like a star... ah well.

But, emboldened, I "created" my own design using the very useful Beadworker's Toolbook, I attempted a sun. Here is the result:

It's not half bad, is it?

What I am the least happy with is the quality of the ladder row and the first 2-3 rows... I can't seem to get the first few beads to sit straight. Anyone has any tips for that?

I also made a couple of counting mistakes and that, but I don't think it's too crap. I found it fun to do, and relaxing, fulfilling. Matter of fact, I slept better after beading... coincidence?

BB

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!