What Do You Remember Most About Being a Beginner?
I had been doing a lot of counted cross stitch and adding more and more Mill Hill blister packs of size 11 seed beads (about 100 count).
I walked into my first bead store looking for a cheaper alternative for beads. I found a new source for beads and saw my first amulet bag.
Never looked back.
What Was Your First Beading Book?
Creative Bead Jewelry by Carol Taylor. Learned how to bead around a cabochon.
Where Was Your First Beading Class and Who Taught It?
A spiral rope class taught by NanC Meinhardt at Bead in Hand located
in Oak Park, IL about 14 years ago for $20.
What Inspired Me to Start Beading/Beadwork
NanC Meinhardts' beadwork at her Studio. When I first went there
I made a mortgage payment for her stash of beads: Delicas, size 6, 8, 11, and 15, OH MY. My true vice was found.
What Was Your First Beadwork Project?
A square stitch bracelet that an Old Lapidary Journal had as a project.
I remember trying to finish it off (closure) with velcro. I don't remember why, but it didn't work. I still have the bracelet! giggle. Mistakes are great teachers.
Tips and Tricks
- Add a seed bead (6 or 8) before crimp. It takes stress off crimp.
- If you are entering a piece of beadwork into a contest, it pays to make your closure out of beads. A friend of mine entered the Bead and Button Show Contest, many years ago. She came in second in beadwork because she used a finished clasp (not beadwork). It caused not to come in first place.