Well, hello to all my friends. Today there was stuff happening! Join me now for "Adventures in Jewelrymaking".
Trying to make a bracelet to wear out to dinner tonight with friends. Everything started out pretty well. I chose nice glass beads, had a really good design in mind, and was looking forward to being creative. As I'm looking around at all the stuff I have, and I have a lot, there were no tools in sight. Dang I thought, where are my tools? I can't crimp the "crimp beads" without a crimper! I go into my room, which is not the neatest place in the world, and I'm looking in all the usual places; floor, under the bed, etc. Not there! So I sit down and think, where would I be if I was a plastic container of beading tools? Just then the tools spoke to me and said, "over here dummy." Behold, there they were, other side of the room on top of another plastic container. Now, I wonder how they got way over there. Finally, I'm ready to start my masterpiece.
Then the 3 year old granddaughter, who is here with us today wants to know what I'm doing and can she help. NO I say! She says, "can I watch. I'll be good." Sure, I've heard that before! NO, just watch cartoons, ok?
Tragedy averted, this time. Now, I am really ready to get started. I cut the beading wire to the length I want, attach the clasp, crimp bead, and a wire guard. With that done the beads will not fall off one end while I add beads onto the other end. (Voice of experience speaking.) Things are going to go very smoothly, I can feel it. Suddenly, while reaching for the beads to start beading, they get a life of their own and start rolling off the table, after all, they are round. "Stop," I say, but they just keep rolling down onto the floor. They scatter like bugs do when a light is turned on. Shoot!
As I am on the floor, which just happens to be made of rocks, my hands and knees getting scraped up, looking for dark beads on a dark floor I hear, "Grandma, what happened?" Nothing I say, just watch cartoons, ok? After a few minutes of looking, with no success, I get out more beads. There has to be an easier way; maybe sideboards on the table!?
About two hours later, all the beads are on the wire. I have learned a couple of lessons. 1) Figure out how to put "sideboards" on the table; 2) When using crimp beads, make sure the hole in the bead next to the crimp bead is smaller than the crimp bead. (That is a whole other story.) Finally, the bracelet is complete, and it only took 2 1/2 hours. But it's beautiful, and I will wear it to dinner.
Moral of this story: Nothing ever goes as planned. I know I will be finding beads for the next few days, but, you know; "Stuff Happens".
Hi Jeni! What fun. Thank you for the compliments--I feel the same about you. (: I love the beading story. Aside from attaching sideboards to your table, you can use egg cartons to hold your beads while you work. It might be a good alternative to a crazy-looking dining room table. I went the whole route of buying a beading tray so I could lay out my design and measure my project length. I love to bead, too. I just don't do it enough! Mostly I make presents for other people and rarely do it for myself. Although, I have some pieces I have put in there to restring or rework that are mine and I miss wearing, so I should make the time to "get 'er done!"
ReplyDeleteKeep on bloggin'! Love ya~Vicki