learn the art of bead jewellery

I went to my first beadwork class today. We learned how to make a bracelet and a pair of drop earrings. We were also told about how to set up the beads on a beadboard (those things are very handy!), and about the colour wheel (what colours go together). I think it was money well spent.

We also learned how to use the pliers and cutters. I found out that I should also acquire a set of needle-nose pliers. If I can’t find one at Daiso (the Japanese loonie store for loonie Japanese people), I guess I’ll have to go back to the bead store. Again.

Most useful tip: when cutting the head pin, put your hand over your work while you’re cutting (or grab the other end of the wire)—it keeps bits of wire from flying around.

I didn’t leave the bead store without spending money today: I bought beads to make the mate to the earring that matches the bracelet (I made one earring and one other dangly thing that I immediately took apart and attached to jump rings when I got home—they’re going to be stitch markers), beads to make more stitch markers, earring hooks, and more head pins. I get this feeling that you can never have enough head pins. I also picked up a copy of Beadwork magazine because I was fascinated about an article on charms and charm bracelets.

I signed up for a Basic Beading course at one of our local bead stores. It’s not for a few weeks, though. Hopefully, I’ll get some guidance in using the stupid pliers!

I want to make my own stitch markers for knitting (the ones I see on knitting blogs are like drop earrings, only instead of hanging from a hook, a hoop, or an earring back, they hang from a ring). I tried making some, but I can’t get the loops perfectly round; the best I could do was an oblong loop.

Maybe I’ll sign up for a basic beading class at one of our area bead stores.