It's happened to us all. You finish a masterpiece of beadwork and are giddy with delight. You sit down at your work table with your beads in front of you and - nothing. Nothing at all happens. The light in your head does not go off, your fingers won't work properly, and you start breaking needles and beads and your thread gets tangled in an unprecedented mess. So what do you do? Here are a few of my tips for overcoming the dreaded Beader's Block.
1. Walk Away
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is the easiest - walk away from the beads. If nothing is working, sometimes it is better to just let things lie for a bit while you do something else. Try anything else that will keep you distracted from your beads. Cook, ride a bike, go to the gym, listen to music, read, or work in the garden. Not only will you give your mind a break, but you just might find some unexpected inspiration.2. Try a New Stitch
Or maybe just a beadweaving stitch or technique that you don't normally use. I was a die-hard brick stitch gal until I learned peyote from a class - and then I couldn't stop using peyote stitch. If you feel like your work is in a rut, a change of stitch might be in order. You might also find a way to combine your old favorite stitch with this new stitch, resulting in who knows what kinds of beautiful beadwork.3. Use a Different Type of Bead
If you bead primarily with seed beads, try cylinder beads. If you use size 11 beads, try using size 6 beads. If you use a lot of crystal beads, put them away and get some gemstone beads. You never know what kinds of pieces will create themselves if you mix it up with your beads. Another idea is to have a treasure hunt: dig through your stash and find the oldest beads that you own. Maybe they were the very first beads you bought when you started beading. Maybe they are your ugliest beads. Whatever they are, use them.4. Enter a Challenge or a Competition
It doesn't have to be the Fire Mountain Gems contests or the Bead & Button Bead Dreams competition or the Interweave Juried Show. Go online, find a beading group and enter a challenge. You can find some great ones on places like
Beader's Showcase or on the
Etsy Beadweaver's Team blog. Or just get a group of friends together and decide on a challenge.
5. Try a Completely Different Craft
If you are one of those people who just can't sit and do nothing while watching a movie or watching television, try learning a brand new craft. Knitting and crochet are also very relaxing, and sometimes use beads, too. It's a great way to let your beady brain take a rest and keep your hands busy at the same time.
