Recall

Well...my play time is over!  Some federal employees have been called back to work and I'm blessed to say, that I am one of them...although the devil on my left shoulder isn't as happy about that.  You see, she wanted more time to stay at home and play with the beads.  Be that as it may, we used our time in a most advantageous manner.  I finished so many pieces, learned new stitches to incorporate in my creative process, and did some administrative stuff, like getting prepared to file my quarterly TX Sales and Use Tax, create business forms that I can use during craft shows (i.e. credit card authorization form, Resale Certificate form) and actually "pricing and labeling" by pieces and entering them into the square card library application.  I also met a photographer who will take photos of my pieces for posting to my various sites.

So while the government has been shut down, Sweets Signatures has not!  Now that I'm back to work, I'll have to schedule my time wisely as the need to bead is ever present!

Happy Beading!

Those things you must do!

While I love playing with my beads, as a "small business" owner, there are other administrative things that must be done..to avoid having issues with the government...such as filing and paying the sales and use tax. I file quarterly so I don't have go through the tedious exercise every month so that's a good thing.  This quarter though, I didn't log any of my receipts on a weekly basis as I generally do, so I just spend the last hour entering them in my database in preparation for doing my report.  To my artistic mind, that's a waste of precious beading time..:(, but such a necessary evil. 

I used to store my receipts (more like stuff them) in little gallon size storage bags until I discovered the tabbed Pendaflex folios. Now I store them by month of purchase so it's easier for me when it comes time to enter them into the database.

The other administrative thing that I need to do is update my website and my Etsy shop inventory...golly gracious...with all these administrative things to do when will I bead...don't you worry now, find the time I do...

Happy Beading!

Government Shut Down Beading Frenzy

As a Federal Government employee, I am a "victim" of the Government Shut Down (GSD). Am I upset about that...yes, but at this point in the game, there's not much that I can do about it.  So...what's a Bead Babe to do with the lemons?  Why, make lemonade of course...I've been a busy bee. 

In a bead group that I'm a part of, the monthly Challenge for October is to learn the Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW) stitch.  So using my trusty pal Google...I set out to find tutorials on how to do the CRAW. I found this tutorial and it was really good and simple to follow.  Tell me what you think...

I did a very basic rope using this tutorial, now to figure out how to embellish and make it unique.  Here's my finished product...

New Techniques - Beaded Wire Crochet and Making Paper Beads

***Delayed posting...This was actually August 2013***


What a busy week this week...and it's not over yet...starting with the +Austin Bead Society meeting on Monday, 26 August 2013.

A little messy, but...still learning

Not a really good shot, but random beads

Much better photo

During the meeting, one of our members provided us instruction on how to make beaded wire crochet jewelry.  Of course, I was running around like a chicken without its head and didn't get to participate in the instruction, but really wanted to learn...so off I went on a YouTube search and found what I needed to be able to make a piece that I was happy with. Knowledge of crocheting helped me and having worked bead crochet with cord I was familiar with the steps.  What I lacked was knowledge of how to finish the piece.  Tell me what you think? 

Later that week, the Jems and I had a Meetup where the project of the evening was learning to make paper beads.  After pouring over YouTube videos and Google searches...we set about to the business of making paper beads...we didn't do so bad...

Who could imagine that with paper, toothpicks, glue and Mod Podge, you could create some awesome things...+Suzy and I both decided to use scrapbook paper to make as our bead source and here's some of the finished beads.

Oglala Stitch - September Challenge Piece

Hi all:

I know it's been a minute since I've posted in my blog, but I haven't been idle at all.  I belong to several beading groups on Facebook and some of them have challenges (monthly) that I participate in.  I've decided to share those with you.

Bead Club - Monthly Challenge, is one such group.  It's a closed group so you'll have to request to join.  Any way, this month's challenge was to learn a new stitch and the winning stitch was the Oglala Stitch.  I know...try saying that 10x fast why don'tcha...

The Oglala stitch  (aka the Oglala Butterfly Weave) is a Native American Stitch named for the Oglala Lakota or Oglala Sioux tribe (click on the link to see what Wikipedia has to say about the history).  It is a variation of netting that tend to work up very quickly. 

While I tend to get along with most of the stitches I've encountered in my path, for some reason, this one I didn't enjoy.  It wasn't difficult or hard to comprehend, I just could get "into" it.  It took me at least a week to get my necklace done...of course my project didn't start out as a bracelet, but...take a look... 

Not sure that I'll do another one, but who knows...the point of being in a challenge group is to challenge ones self otherwise, what's the point? 

Next month's challenge is yet to be determined...stay tuned!!!


Happy Beading!

Crochet vs Kumihimo

My Bead Chat friend +Susan Giuliano asked me today, which method do I  prefer, Kumihimo or Bead Crochet?  So y'all have her to thank for this post.  So here we go...


Crochet Bangles Designed and made by +Betsy Morgen Glen

Bead Crochet is a crochet technique that incorporates beads into a crochet fabric.  Most bead crochet is created by stringing beads onto uncut crochet thread prior to crocheting. Most artists either use a beading needle or apply clear nail polish to the end of the thread to create an anchor point for beading. At predetermined stitches, the crocheter slides one bead down and incorporates it into the fabric. Pre-stringing requires both the bead sequence and the crochet pattern to be fully planned in advance of manufacture.



Kumihimo Bracelet Handcrafted by Caron @ Sweets Signatures

Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making. Cords and ribbons are made by interlacing strands.^[1] Kumi himo is Japanese for "gathered threads".

The resulting end product of both look similar



Here are just some of my observations regarding the differences....remember this is strictly my own opinion.

Kumihimo                                                   Bead Crochet      

Beads do not have to be pre-loaded             Beads must be pre-loaded/strung
/pre-strung prior to starting your
braid or pattern

You can load a "pattern" in the stage           When working a design/pattern
add size 8/0 for 2", then add leaves             it must be clearly thought out prior
 etc...                                                        as the pattern must be loaded

Many clasp options: cones, caps, toggles      Most I've seen are made into
                                                                 bangles

Fairly quick...not including the preloading      More time consuming...even
                                                                  without the pre-loading

And the winner is?!!!! 

I like both methods, but I would default to Kumihimo before a beaded crochet piece...primarily because of time.

Happy Beading!

Beaders' Conundrum - What's a Beader to Do?

In my Aunties Bead Chat Group on FB, this situation/question was posed...

"have a huge stash of beads. So much so that I am overwhelmed and don't know what to do next. I have ideas and patterns galore, even so I find I rarely have the right sizes and colors to complete a pattern, which sends me back to the bead store. I almost always come back with more than I went for, something completely different having not found what was looking for. It's a conundrum!"  The feedback on the post was instantaneous with other members emphatically agreeing.  I have so much yet don't have what I need for this project or that project.

Conundrum may refer to:

• A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun or unexpected twist
• A logical postulation that evades resolution, an intricate and difficult problem

There were variations on the answer, but bottom line was it was an "Addiction" we all shared but because we tend to be "Distracted by the Shinies" it is inevitable. 

Most of us have libraries of patterns and tutorials that we want to dive into and when that time comes, we either 1) don't have enough of one (or several of the items called for in the instructions) 2) have the materials, but not in the color pallet that you want to used or 3) have enough of the beads and finish the piece but then don't have the right clasp (can you tell this one is me...LOL)....  Most of the time, I'm a sale shopper and the items I need for a particular piece may not be on sale...Here are some tips on how to minimize the "Beaders' Conundrum":

Tip 1.  When you go shopping, shop with a pattern/tutorial/idea in mind.  If you have some of the items, take them with you to match/coordinate/accent colors (remember to mark it so the store knows it's been previously purchased.

Tip 2.  Invest in baggies (less expensive than the photo boxes but you can use those too).  Store the items you've bought for that project together in the baggies (I use rubber bands as well).  That way when you are ready, you can grab a baggie and move out smartly.  I also recommend that you somehow note what project you bought the beads for (idea:  note paper...B&B Oct11 issue, pg XX or a picture).  This would also be a good time to note if you are missing an item (i.e. 3mm bicone).  That way when +Aunties' Beads or Firemountain Gems or INM Crystals has a sale you can go through your projects, see what it anything is missing then spend your money wisely.

Tip 3.  Another of the group members says she treats bead shopping just like a grocery list.  Before you leave home, make a list of materials needed...If it ain't on her list, it doesn't get bought...I don't think this works very well for me as I'm always attached by a case of the "Distracted by the Shinies".

Tip 4.  Another group member's tip...buy Kits.  When you buy a kit, the artisan includes all the materials needed for the piece...some even include the fireline and needle (+Laura Zeiner).  This way you are guaranteed to have all the materials needed to complete a project. 

Tip 5.  I think one of the best tip I can give is this.  Keep a running inventory sheet (I gotta find one now) of what you are out of (jump rings, wire, lobster claws, XXX color 11/0 seed bead) and prioritize what you need and then use your inventory sheet when you go shopping.

See, I told you...all variations of the same answer.  Bottom line:  it will take some organization and planning to ensure you have a fruitful yet efficient shopping trip that will net you what you need for your projects.

Hope this helps!

Happy Beading!