Beads, glorious beads

Have I told you my new obsession about beads? If I haven't, things have progressed. I now have made for myself about 10 necklaces, 5 bracelets, 5 pairs of earrings and about 12 rings. I know, I really need to get more earrings. One day I'll even manage to photograph some of them and upload them so you can see what I'm up to.

I love it. I said to my sister its like a perfect storm connection of all my other obsessions. I've always liked make up, the colours, the glitter, the combinations. And I love sweets/candy, the small burst of flavors, the colors, the combinations. Well beads surpass all that. So I'm not buying 22 shades of reddish brown lipstick in order to find the one true perfect one. I'm buying 22 purple beads in all sizes, shapes and colours, and mixing and matching them to find a combination that delights me, both in shape, and colour and texture. It just makes me happy.

This week, for the first time, I'm going to a bead fair, which is very exciting. I've been to the shops on 6th Avenue - there's a whole string of them from about 36th to 38th. But they are so expensive. I've become an ebay hawk, looking at all the beads, buying far more intelligently after a few early errors (you can't believe how small 3 mm is until you're handling it. But bigger is not always better, I've actually had more difficulty incorporating beads that were too large, because then they dominate and unbalance the pattern.) I've started buying A grade semi precious beads rather than D grade. And I've discovered the high cost of cheap findings. In beads, the beads can be cheap but the wire has to be the best available. Ditto the tools you use. No point buying the cheap ones, you'll just be back for the German made ones a week later.

But with beads, as in life, the right tools make all the difference. I can now use crimp beads properly, my bracelets no longer self destruct (sadly I gave my sister my first one and it broke on the plane as she left) I'm now designing pieces with people in mind, and gathering tons of garnets to make my mother her perfect black and red necklace (her colour choice)

It's interesting, people are polite about my necklaces (Oh, you made that, it's so pretty!) but really admire the rings. (they offer the comments spontaneously and when they hear I made it, instead of it's so pretty they're amazed. It looks so professional!) I went to one wire wrapping class and now have these gorgeous, interesting and yes, even quirky, rings which I feel happy wearing.

Photos to follow, I promise.