My Very First Steps in Learning to Bead

A couple of years ago I bought a simple little box of plastic beads with an instruction book. I was researching different hobbies, trying to find one that interested me enough to replace some bad habits I had cultivated over the years.

The box sat on a shelf for about a year before I actually opened it, to find out what it was all about. To my surprise, I was hooked from project one.

This bracelet is called Victorian Lace. (I used my scanner to take pictures of all the bracelets on this page)

One of the problems with this bracelet is the cheap materials that were used to make it. It didn't lay flat, and the beads didn't seem to be very nice at all. But, it did give me an idea of what bead embroidery was all about.

One of the comments in the book said to use different beads, to vary the pattern, to make a completely different bracelet. So here is try number two at a Victorian Lace Bracelet.

As you can see, completely different beads, completely different bracelet, same pattern.

This piqued my interest even more.

My next step was to comb the internet looking for beaded items that interested me enough to try.

One of the ones that I just loved is called Crystal Bracelet #3. BeeJang, who writes on LiveJournal, posted the tutorial, which turned out to be very easy to follow. I live in a small town, where there is not a bead to be found, so I had to use the materials I had available from my first beading box.

This bracelet was also done with plastic beads, so it didn't lay flat, and I wasn't happy with the quality, but I loved the design. It is made by using cross threads and I actually used a 7 foot strand for one of my first bracelets. I figured if that didn't make me want to stop, I was on the right path.

Next I was in the market for beads. Not having any real clue to what is all needed in beading, I just started buying beads and findings that caught my eye, and are easy on my pocketbook. Amazon seemed a great place to start, I found a lovely box of glass bi-cones.

This made me want to try the next project that caught my eye, and I was overjoyed at finally having some better quality beads to work with.

This bracelet is a Crystal Bracelet #19, again by BeeJang. (As stated above, her tutorials are easy to follow, and she has some beautiful patterns and they're free)

One thing I really like about this bracelet is the pattern that shows on the back. It really adds to the stability of the bracelet as well as the quality of the bracelet. I used the cross weave to do this, but have done another bracelet with an added row, with just one needle.

So now you know how I got started in this hobby, and that I haven't been in it very long. Check back again to see what else I've done. I have a bit to catch up on, and I apologize for things not being in order.

I wanted to start a hobby that was fulfilling and rewarding. I have always wanted to have a website. I wanted to rid myself of unhealthy bad habits and this is the start of my journey.