How did your addiction to beads start?

[Former_Member]

First of all, I'd like to send a big Thankyou from Down Under for the invitation to join and meet so many like-minded beadies!

Secondly, I find the way people start their addiction to their chosen craft facinating! For some it might be a memory of their childhood, for others it's the first time they pick up the tools of their chosen trade and for someone else it may be the feeling of being able to express themselves in a unique way!

For me, it has always been about glass. I have been enamoured with the stuff since I was really small and was given a stained glass window hanging of a butterfly by a great-aunt. I have designed and taught embroidery for twenty years and always enjoyed adding a bit of bling to my work in the form of beads, sequins and anything that shines. I went to a teddy bear show a few years ago and there was an amazing lampwork artist there. Well, as they say in the classics, it was love at first sight! I had no idea that so much detail, design and texture could be found in such a beautiful little gem that you could carry around with you all of the time. Not only that, but you could create amazing designs that go with it!

These days, the embroidery needles have all but been replaced with beading needles as my addiction to beads grows almost daily! So, how did your addiction start?

[suegoode]

a year ago I made a beaded xmas bauble at a workshop, and havent stopped since. I now do bead embroidery, freeform beading as well as traditional peyote and netting stitches. I can spend hours just sorting my stash which seems to grow almost daily! see my page at www.suegoode.etsy.com.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the invitation.

[Former_Member]

When I was 8, my teacher read the book Little House on the Prairie and I remember the part where Laura, Mary and Pa find beads at the abandoned Indian camp. That was the first time, I have always been drawn towards interesting items. Beads are a perfect hobby for me!

[SueRunyonDesigns]

A few years ago, while living in Asia, I went to the pearl market in Beijing, China. The pearls were so lovely, so lightweight and comfortable to wear, so flattering on everyone and come in so many sizes, shapes and colors. I was just fascinated so I brought a few loose strands home to play with. Ultimately I learned how to string them in the classic style and mix them with gemstone beads to make jewelry for myself. My pieces started selling right off my neck and business was born. Now I re-string pearls for people all over the country and design my own unique pieces.

[amusebeads]

My grandmother, mother and aunt made beaded necklaces using plastic beads in the 80s. I was always around, but never really interested. Then, after I got married, I worked at a Choctaw Indian site. One of the Choctaw ladies taught me peyote stitch, and I've expanded from there. I think I have a weird fascination with the teeny tiny seed beads.

[Former_Member]

Beading was one of many crafts I tried as a kid, but with the special addition that I picked it up again in college, learned a few new tricks, and never looked back. Square stitch is my one true love, and I hope someday to have more beaded tapestries than wall space to hang them on.

[Former_Member]

I have an Ojibwe friend, he was going to teach me how to bead after I told him the beauty I saw in dance regalia. A year went by, and one day I just decided I would teach myself. I've been addicted since. The kids at church want me to bead things for them after they saw me working on something. I get teased that it's the reason I'm still single, but I love it!

[Former_Member]

Well, I have always had an addiction to anything shiny lol. I actually started making jewelry in 2007, and taught myself wire wrapping, beading, metal smithing (I did take one beginner class so I would know the safety issues when playing with fire lol). I got to the point in my jewelry that I wanted to make as much of the piece original, as many of the pieces and parts myself, so I learned lapidary so I could make my own stone cabs. Then I made the mistake of taking a lampwork class, and it was all over lol. I do still make jewelry (and have a shop elsewhere) but the making the lampwork is a real passion.

[Former_Member]

Hi - I have always loved beautiful things, but only got into beading since having my little girl. I felt like a different person, and needed to do something creative that I hadn't tried before. I had recently seen some gorgeous felt hangings, so thought I'd try my hand at felting, and got hooked on making hand-felted beads. The rich, vibrant colours, amazing textures, and combining them with the amazing array of natural and handmade beads which are now so readily available...but it really is an addiction - I could end up with rooms full of beautiful beads - so I have to be careful when I do my bead shopping!

[wolflady]

I have been beading for over 20 years. I enjoy working with the size 11 glass beads. I love the way a project comes out when I finish it. The first time I picked up a beading needle and started beading I knew that I would be making jewelry.

[Former_Member]

I've always loved creating things with beautiful colors. I've pursued a variety of artistic endeavors and enjoyed each and every one of them. I went to an arts and crafts fair one year about seven years ago and was introduced to my first lampwork bead(s). I was mesmerized with the flow of the colors and the depth of the designs. They really stuck in my mind as something I would love to learn to make. Each time I went to a show I would search out any lampwork artists that might be there. I started doing research online, buying books, asking questions and discovered that I simply couldn't afford to build a studio to pursue this adventure. My research went on for a few more years and the need to try this for myself just continued to grow. After discovering Lampwork Etc and the wonderful people there that were eager to share information I just couldn't put it off any longer. I figured out exactly what equipment I would like to have and what it would take to put a studio in my home. And then I started having garage sales and selling stuff on eBay to make my vision become a reality. In October of 2007 my studio was complete and I've been teaching myself the art ever since. Although I haven't been able to devote the time I would like to learning and exploring this arena, I have been thrilled to open my kiln the next morning everytime I'm able to sit down at the torch. Sometimes I'm thrilled with what awaits me and sometimes maybe not so thrilled but one thing that I always feel is that I've learned something new each and every time. I also love that each bead is different - it's own little work of art. I tend to lean toward making large focal beads and sometimes I get a little crazy with my artistic expression so you might find my beads a bit different - like me. : )

[SueRunyonDesigns]

That's a wonderful story, Marcia!

[Former_Member]

My addiction to glass began when were building our house and had a couple of exposed windows. I decided they needed stained glass - and nothing that I saw came close to what I had in my head. So I designed and made my own. In the process, I saw the rods of glass in the shop and asked about them - it was like a match to gasoline! I was completely fascinated. What was to be a home-theatre room on the house we were buiilding became a studio for me.
That was 9 years ago and now every bead I make is still a creative adventure! ;)

[Former_Member]

I am in a family of beaders, including my mother, sister, and sister-in-law. About 15 years ago I signed up for a class with them to make a beaded amulet. That started me collecting beads & other shiny things. I actually stated making jewelry about 7 years ago and am now a true bead addict. I work full-time so I don't get to spend near the amount of time I want to - but sme day...

[FrazzledFinch]

Wow I wish I had a family of beaders! I do have one daughter who has beaded a little.
Like someone else in the thread, my interest started at age 8. I just kept going, eventually giving up my plastic pony beads for faceted crystals, etc. I was addicted to it until I decided it was taking away from family time, so I stopped for awhile. A year ago I started back, as my kids are grown & gone and we closed our b&m stores in May. Soooo now I get to bead as much as I want!

[Former_Member]

I'm really not sure how I got addicted to "beads"....but I was, and it was a fairly new addiction, when I saw this lampworked freeformed bead in a bead store in Rice Lake, WI....I was in AWE!!

I had to learn to make those! I took two classes and it's now my passion! Love making lampwork.

Julie

[Former_Member]

First, thank you so much for inviting me! I have been in love with glass since I was a small child. My grandmother had these wonderful cranberry colored glasses she used at the holiday season for eggnog. And of course, there was all the depression glass patterns and crystal. And we can't forget marbles!

As an adult, I enrolled in a series of stained glass lessons and I was hooked! It seemed a natural progression to move on to hot glass. I began making lampworked beads about nine years ago. What a delight it is to have cubby holes filled with myriad colors of glass rods! And then I joined the International Society of Glass Beadmakers. I went to their annual Gathering and met the most incredible artisans, way beyond my scope of talent. But they are all so giving of their knowledge. I've made a number of friends through this passion for glass. Though I haven't been torching lately, I still create jewelry from my and others' beads.

It's always nice to find more people who share your interest in such a delightful art form.

pat

[StyledInStones]

Hello everyone. I just joined the group and I thank you for the invite.

My background and degree is in fine jewelry design and my dream was to work at Harry Winston in NYC. Alas, that did not come to pass.

Years later, I ended up working for a start-up company that was built around a "do-it-yourself" art studio and jewelry making was one of the project categories. Beads and findings were the only options since we did not have torches and work benches as the general public would not have a clue how to use any of that. I soon became hooked as I was making inspiration pieces for the studio and helping people create their treasures.

I later worked in a local wholesale bead supply store and fell in love with the HUGE selection of Swarovski crystals. They were the closest things to diamonds and the colors and shapes were/are amazing. I have since started creating my own pieces using whatever beads inspire me.

Back to Harry Winston. My fine jewelry designs were always 5th Avenue bling and would probably cost a million dollars to make. Beading has allowed me to create some beautiful pieces with a fine jewelry feel; and I am able to hold a finished piece in my hand in a matter of hours as opposed to holding a piece of paper with a beautiful design that will have NO chance of getting made anytime soon.

My love affair with beads continues. I would love to go to the Tucson Shows. I think my head would explode.

[GillianMcMurray]

I don't think there is one moment where I suddenly discovered my love of beads. I always loved sparkly things but don't wear jewellery. So I figured that making beads might be a way to indulge my love of beads without wearing them. I mainly make beads from paper but also use polymer clay. Making lampwork beads is something I hope to try in the future though. I love looking at all the wonderful beads on the internet but when I buy them they tend to be put in a box and brought out every now and then to be stroked - LOL. I really need to find a use for some of them :o)

[Former_Member]

I started when I was 10. My mom bought me a book for Christmas because she liked something in the book and told me to make it for her.
Then it became addictive when her and I would walk into shops and she would say "you can make that easily for me! I'm not spending THAT much when you can do it"
....sounds like child labor doesn't it? But I loved every second of it - and still do!

[Former_Member]

Probably 4 years ago I started making bracelets as gifts, then it expanded from there. I finally started my own little jewelry business this past May. Beading is what I do when I need to get away and relax.

[Former_Member]

About 4 years and half ago a friend asked me to join her to beads classes. I decided to go and totally loved everything I've done. I started to buy books, search for bead stores, for technics, learn as much as my time allowed, made my little corner table where I started to apply everything I've learned.

[Former_Member]

What is it about those little tubes, boxes and baggies of tiny glass seed beads that so completely mesmerize me? They make my breath catch and my pulse quicken. Well, maybe that's a little dramatic, but turning me loose in a bead shop is like turning a kid loose in a candy store. lol I just can't get enough. Maybe it's the old hippie in me. Maybe it's the artist in me that sees those little tubes of beads like pots of paint. Whatever it is, I have been bead weaving for over 20 years. My first attempt was teaching myself to make fringed seed bead earrings in the southwestern style. I have done some stringing as well but off-loom weaving is what I most enjoy. In the last couple of years I have also added bead embroidery and polymer clay to my repertoire and get a great deal of creative satisfaction from both. Unfortunately, my creative time is limited by a day job needed to pay the bills and supply health insurance. I just hope that when I can finally retire my hands and my eyes will still let me pursue my passion.

[Former_Member]

I had an idea for a pendant that I wanted to give as a gift, but couldn't find ANYTHING like it anywhere... one day I decided to stop in the local beading store and that was it. I was completely ruined. I designed the piece and one of the girls there made it. I signed up for a class... then another... then another... I started making basic beaded jewelry.

THEN at an art show I discovered a lampwork artist. UH OH. More classes. More stuff that I NEED. Now I have a separate studio space with two torches, a kiln, more glass than I know what to do with, a metalsmith's bench, STACKS of bead trays, a flat lap, a rolling mill.... oh lord just saying it out loud makes me giggle. I went a little crazy, didn't I?

It's been 11 years now, and every year I try to take at least one class, learn a new skill, try something different. It's good for the soul!

Melanie