Beady Group Benefits

On my way home from a meeting of one of the beading groups to which I belong, I was thinking about how to quantify the benefits that I receive from such. A beading group can follow the way other groups function; be formal or as informal as the members desire. The beading groups I belong to are not formal. They follow as little structure as they can get away with - having enough to set the meeting dates, the site, and maybe a topic of discussion or learning. The members share expertise, (or not), their frustrations and accomplishments (or not), ideas (or not), compliments and opinion (or not), and so on. But most of all the members share themselves. I have been inspired by them as well as their works. I also found that the beaders I know rarely do ONLY beading - they have done and do many varied artistic expressions such as quilting, knitting, sewing, painting, pottery, glass, gardening, decorating, dollmaking and so on.
If you're thinking about or looking for a bead group to share in, I highly recommend it, both for the benefits to your own beadwork and the benefits you can share with others. Even though you may consider yourself a novice/noob/basic beader, there will be something you can share; even if its some insight or technique you have regarding your tools, your methods, your color combinations...whatever.
If you're a lone beader, inquire at your local bead shop, or look at the lists available in bead magazines and bead sites. If you can't find a group in your area, start one of your own. You might advertise it in a bead store or two, or online at a groups site such as Yahoo. There are free rooms available for meetings in many towns, such as a library, school, or even the back room of a restaurant. Advertise your group at bead shows, or art shows to increase your membership. Plan small events such as field trips to bead shops outside your area, or picnics or "bead caves" (all beads all the time, usually for a whole weekend).
I consider my bead group memberships invaluable and am so glad I decided to join!
>>MPK

Midnight Diva

Three cabochons of milky Czech glass from Lisa A. are the centerpiece of this deep blue matte bracelet. The dangles are meant to lay over the back of the hand. Navy blue drop pearls accent the Czech #11 matte beads from Shipwreck. Overlay of the matte beads creates a wave below the row of pearls. The clasp is a beaded bead. Completed 2-09 >>MPK

Blue Leaves

I found these blue glass leaves in a craft shop a few years ago - the store has long since closed. They were in a mixed package, (and yes I still have the other colors.) Not an embroidered bracelet, this base band was made using my favorite stitch: the Peyote stitch. I used transparent blue #11 beads from Lisa A. with transparent Vanish thread since I didn't want any thread color to change the purity of the beads. I edged the strip base with a 5-bead close picot. The glass leaves have a metal bail set into them and so to prevent the bail from slipping off the thread, I surrounded the attachment thread with six blue beads and doubled the thread through them. The leaves have an AB coating. They do stick out when the bracelet is worn and clink delicately when shaken. I had ideas to add some fringing among the leaves, but didn't try it because of the thicknesses of the thread already in the center of the base strip. I'm not fond of working with this clear thread, it kinks and sometimes splits. But I felt the struggle was worth it to keep the color transparent. 1-09>>MPK

Vintage Valentine

Shiny sparkling vintage Czech sliced cube beads make the base for this simple peyote stitch bracelet that took less than 2 hours to make. These beads are approximately size 6, and their quirky shapes cause the interesting texture. The clear red sparkles in the light. The beads have an indigo blue lining. The button is a red Czech button from Awesome B&B, which is a new button made from an old mold. It has little silver accents. Another marriage of long time, I have had those sliced beads for over 30 years. I used black 6# Fireline for this one because I don't trust that the holes are smooth.

And yes, if I had more of these beads I would have made a necklace. 1/09 >>MPK

Wild Pink Ornament P

This wild pink ornament makes me smile when I look at it. Made with milky Czech #11 and hot pink Japanese silverlined 11, as wll as the Czech blue raku bugles. The base felt is pink, which gives a rosy color to the Czech glass cabochon with sparkly iridescence from Lisa A. The multiple fringes are just for fun! I'll probably wear this...>>MPK

New Photo Coming Soon!

Blue Ornament N

Another ornament made with one of those sweet cabochons from Lisa A. The milkiness of the glass is distinct in this one. I used Czech bugles of a blue matte "raku" finish as well as cat's eye beads on this one.

>>MPK

New Photo Coming Soon!

Milky Ornament H

An ornament made with an old Czech glass cabochon (from Lisa A.) with a new coating on the back reminiscent of early attempts at simulating opals. This one would look pretty good! Although it is hard to see, the faceted bead dangling from the bottom is AB coated. The #11 beads are also a mix from Lisa A. >>MPK

New Photo coming Soon!