Beading Fun & Stuff is a tongue-in-cheek treatise on adventures of a home beading jewelry business. This fun to read set of critical insider skills are provided for the use of tools, gems, metals, and torched glass. It includes recommendations on who to buy from, whom to sell to, setting up your business, having fun, photo/camera secrets and home studio basics from a perspective that only a candid and fun loving senior can provide. All this and a parrot to boot.
Bonnie J. Gibson
Published by Bonnie J. Gibson at Smashwords
Copyright 2012 Bonnie J. Gibson
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
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Insider Tips
Who to Sell to
Your Home Studio Basics
Jewelry: for Money or Fun
Camera Secrets for the Novice
Your Tools, Your Gems, Your Beads
A Tongue-in-Cheek Treatise by the Author, Bonnie J Gibson, with
Insights from Her Global Beading and Studio Experiences
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These chapters are being dedicated to my Mother, who went to be with the Lord 20 years ago July 7th, 1991, just three weeks before her 99th birthday. I vividly remember helping her edit the book she wrote. I know she would have helped me write this one and she would have treasured watching me as I work in my studio having fun doing my beading ‘n stuff
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Delilah is my Eclectus Parrot
Dedication
Chapter 1 I Would Like to Do it, BUT
Chapter 4 (In Between Thoughts) “I don’t have a creative bone in my body”
Chapter 11 (In Between Thoughts) “It Seems So Complicated”
Chapter 15 (Un) Technical Techniques
Chapter 16 (In Between Thoughts) Inspirations
(Picture Perfect)
Appendix B: Showing Off Your Creation
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Prologue
Welcome to my narrative of personal experiences in my beading adventure, the Emerald Goose. My objective is to make you acquainted with the craft as a whole and to entice you to try it because it’s fun.
Although volumes could be written, an encyclopedia on beading is probably not what you need. I have learned what makes my business work – and I believe it could work for you as well. There are, however, many areas where details are added that I believe will be beneficial for you.
I wish to thank my son, Bryan, for his expert technical advice and photography, without which I could not have proceeded with this narrative. (Forgive my many exasperations and computer ignorance, Bryan.) Also, thanks go to my son, Keith, who gave me technical web advice and used an electric prod stick and a few $$ to push me into this. They both expressed minor, and sometimes major, changes as I proceeded, for which I am thankful. This journey has been an incredible learning experience for this 85- year- old lady.
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Personal and Upfront
While you are reading this, I would like you to get to know me, who I am and what I do that’s so much fun. Yes, it’s BEADING ‘n Stuff. As I head towards my 86th birthday, I remember my Danish Aunt Gyda, while in her mid 90’s was busy at her loom making 12 placemats in linen with gold trim as a gift for me. I adore them to this day. My grandfather, in his 80’s, carved a black walnut small table, about 24 inches high with the legs carved like a woman’s legs. As an old man, he was having fun!
The Early Years
During my youth, I was given 10 years of piano lessons and later on took another three years. I felt quite accomplished and at home on the piano, using it all my life in church and for my own enjoyment. To me it was fun, even the many hours of practicing.
Before I was married and had our five boys, I became enthused about working with silver – inspired by a high school teacher, Mr. Brinkman. I loved him as much as I loved the silver, I believe, and the class was so much fun. I went to a local college to learn to speak French, but the small class had mostly European students who were accomplished in several other languages. Born in Chicago with just one language in my repertoire, I didn’t need that hassle and said to myself, “sorry, forget it, this isn’t fun at all.”
The Middle Years
It was another 25 years, when my sons were grown, before I took jewelry up again, but only for six or seven years. Then I gave my tools and kiln away, sadly, and many years later when I was widowed, I started making bears and teaching students how to make them with genuine mohair and German glass eyes - and we all had fun.
The Later Years
After moving to Colorado and spending several years teaching brain training for LearningRX, my hearing became impaired – so much so I couldn’t continue. When one can’t differentiate between b, d, g, & t, it was time to quit what I loved to do. I knew the training was changing those kids lives for the better and the time spent was so worthwhile. I still miss my students.
The Last Years
At this time, I could use the extra money, so OK, now what? I was then 78 and made the decision to take up an old love, jewelry work. However, I didn’t want all the complicated soldering associated with silver work – the large propane tanks, chemicals etc. This was a new era, the age of technology – computers, eBay, the internet. If I made beads, I didn’t need to travel the world looking for just the right ones. Now, there were trade shows in the US, and again the web, where the world was at my door. This would be fun!
I made the decision to learn the art and enthusiastically started beading. My first necklace was sold on eBay and I obtained a very good price for it. The second and third didn’t sell, but the fourth did. I was on my way. But there’s much more to the story and, whether you’re 20 or 90 years old, I hope this book is an encouragement to attempt, what I call, Beading Fun ‘n Stuff.
What About You?
Now that you know a few things about me, I am wondering as I write this, who you are. Did you happen one day to enter a beading shop and think to yourself - this looks interesting. Or did you walk into Chico’s and see their jewelry and say to yourself - what fun that would be to make it myself. Perhaps you have a friend that makes jewelry, or you have a relative that passed on and left you a bunch of beads that you don’t know what to do with. Again, you could have been in Barnes & Noble and seen a magazine on beading, or looked in a jewelry shop and were amazed at all the different colored gems.
I am speculating about you. I don’t know who you are, but perhaps you are like me - always needing to do something with your hands. I did needlepoint for many years and found it so relaxing. I enjoy playing the piano, baking bread or cooking with a new recipe, making teddy bears and now beading, beading, and more beading.
By reading this book, if it tempts you to buy a few beads and tools for the total enjoyment and fun of beading, or if you want to turn your hobby into a money maker, I would love to hear from you - bonnie3651@comcast.net - and go look at my website: www.emeraldgoose.com to view what I have listed, and then say to yourself, “I could do that, too.”
To find out the How, Where and Why of beading fun, (even without Delilah) keep reading. It’s really never too late to start.
Bonnie June
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Chapter 1
I Would Like to Do It, BUT……
“I would like to start – BUT- How can I make a necklace? (1) I’m in college, (2) I have a couple of kids , (3) I have a full time job, (4) - heaven help you- I’m a man.”
Anyone can do it! (Almost anyone) Children love it, college students help pay their bills doing it, for homemakers it’s a shoo-in, for working moms – it’s a terrific way to reduce stress, for men or women, it’s a way to start an extra business. And, it’s FUN!
Or you’re retired and you would like to start, BUT you say: “How can I do beading? My hands are all arthritic and hurt, my eyesight is too poor, I can’t sit or stand for any length of time, there’s no place to do it, I don’t have any money, I can’t use a computer, ETC.
You are talking about me – yes, me. Listen:
If you can put two fingers together, YOU CAN DO IT. (You’ll need the other hand too)
If you have a lighted magnifying lamp, YOU CAN DO IT. (You may need an extra bulb)
If you have a 4’X4’ space, YOU CAN DO IT. (That’s rather crowded though)
If you can spare $10, YOU CAN DO IT. ($20 might be better)
If you have a child, grandchild or IT friend you can
implore or employ them and
YOU CAN DO IT!
WHY?
IT’S FUN! (It really is)
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Chapter 2
Tantalizing Tools
Very basic: Strong stringing material
Pliers, Cutter and Crimper
Millimeter Ruler
Suggested: Pliers – I use all of these and you will want them also: Chain Nose, Flat Nose, Round Nose (also called Rosary), Crimper, Flush Cutter, Side Cutter, and Bent Nose
Chain Nose
Crimper
Side Cutter
Round Nose
Flat Nose
Flush Cutter
Where do I find them?
May I suggest www.firemountaingems.com, 800-355-2137. If you contact them, they will send you a 1322-page catalog with just about anything you could want or wish for at no charge, and the more you buy, the less you pay. Another catalog you may like is RioGrande – www.riogrande.com 800-545-6566. Note: I have used Fire Mountain Gems and RioGrande for a number of years and find them very reliable and helpful. You will also receive a small catalog bimonthly from FMG.
Also advisable: A bead and pearl diamond reamer and a few small files, polishing cloths, one or two displays for photographing, bead boards to lay out your designs ($3-$5), a rawhide mallet, and a magnifying light. Besides organizer trays, I find that Space Saver Jars, found in the FMG catalog, are good to keep beads, silver and gold supplies. They come in three sizes and although I have all three, I prefer the larger 2 3/4” and the middle size 2”. They cost about $2-4 per set of five or six.
One of my four bead boards
You will also need glue. I like GS Hypo Cement ($3-6), Loctite 409 & 454 ($4-8) and E6000. Then you will need some small boxes and large bubble envelopes for mailing.
There are a number of stringing materials, but my favorite is Accu-Flex wire – 49 strands of stainless steel in various colors, sizes and lengths. I use all three - lightweight, medium and heavy, but mostly the light and medium because, for pearls, you need a very lightweight wire. They run about $8 -15, and more in longer lengths.
If you want to make watch bracelets or use a watch as a pendant, you can buy watch faces at FMG or over the internet from various suppliers. There are several different makes – check the prices and also buy extra batteries. I always send an extra battery with each watch bracelet – people appreciate that.
If you wish to do soldering, you will need to buy a torch and a number of other materials that you will use. The catalogs will give you information concerning these.
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Chapter 3
Fantastic Findings
I call “findings” all those necessary little things and pieces that I need to finally put my beautiful piece together and get it to market. I’ll list a few:
Jump rings are small, necessary round or oval pieces of metal wire that I connect something to, or hang something from - made in different materials, sizes, and gauges (width of the metal). They can be closed (soldered) or cut so you can open them. You can easily buy them, but I make my own – it’s cheaper.
Bails hang from some type of wire and connect to pendants, donuts, beads or just about anything. If you want something larger or fancier than a jump ring you can use a bail. There are many types, including: snap-on, ice-pick, donut, cone, pinch, bond-on-style, and terminator. They come in all metals, with rhinestones, polished, antiqued, plain or fancy.
Earwires come in different styles, but do exactly as they are named. They are a wire that connects to your ear. There are: Fish Hooks, Leverbacks, Screwbacks, Clip-Ons, Omegas, Earstuds, Ball Posts and Saucers, Open Loops, Ear Cuffs, and Marquise. They come in different sizes, styles colors, metals, and gems
Headpins and Eyepins are metal wire, used to go through the bead or beads to make a connection to something else. There are different lengths, gauges, styles, and metals. An eyepin is used when you want to make a connection to a jump ring or other components. If you want to hang a pendant, you may just want to end it with a ball or fancy ball on the headpin. You may need to make a loop with some round nose pliers on the other end. The possibilities are endless.
Sterling Headpins
Vermeil Eyepins
Bead Caps are caps that go around, or over, the ends of beads. Most are fancy cut, filigreed. hand-formed, lacy or plain, silver or gold plated, vermeil (22kt gold over sterling), copper, pewter, and on and on. Wonderful selections await you.
Vermeil Bead Caps
Crimps are what you use to finish your piece and hold your thread in place. There are many different kinds, but I have always liked the plain silver tube, 2-3mm with different IDs (inside diameter). The choice is yours. These are what you need a Crimper tool for. And then there are Crimp Covers which some beaders do not use. However, I think they add a finishing touch that, if not used, the work would have a naked look. There are online videos that will show you how to use them. Sometimes they can be frustrating when they don’t close properly, so it takes a little skill.
Crimps and Covers
Also, there are Bead Tips, Cord Ends, End Caps, Cord Coils, Pin Backs, Cabochon settings, Mountings and Connectors.
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( In Between Thoughts )
Chapter 4
“I don’t have a creative bone in my body”
Have you ever thought, “if only” and then thought, “no that wouldn’t or couldn’t happen” or have you thought, “if only” and then thought, “well, perhaps”. People often spontaneously imagine alternatives to reality when they think beyond, “if only.”
During the 90’s, it was said, “Creativity is the ability to illustrate what is outside the box from within the box.”
Being open to new experiences may be one assessment to creativity. Creativity can be explained as the generation of an idea, curiosity, motivation and confidence (producing, sharing and finally implementing).
There is a wealth of literature concerning the development of creativity and how it has been accepted. However, expectation of conformity runs contrary to the spirit of creativity. In other words, is it safe or am I running a risk? Will people like it, will the public go for it, will it sell or will it bomb?
Making a bracelet for yourself is one thing. Putting a price tag of $200 on it in the market is another thing. And finding the person who absolutely loves it and would buy it at any price is the third thing. Creativity lies somewhere in between, along with common sense.
How can one be creative in beading if they don’t know anything about it, or feel it’s beyond them with negative thoughts as to their capability. There is a process to creativity – perhaps starting with curiosity and motivation again. From there it is mostly upward. Believe me, many times I thought, how can I do that, I don’t know how to. Oh, I made a mistake, what will I do now? Relax! Think! Read! Get some information! It’ll work out! OK, it’s fixed !
One month, I sent a shipment of 15 pieces to a very upscale women’s shop and I was later told by the owner that a lady came in, saw this one special, most expensive piece (over $600) and said that’s what she wanted. That was it. A recession was in place in that town and elsewhere, but she WANTED that piece. It was a creative necklace with a hunk of Amethyst, as a focal point, and covered in sterling with other little goodies.
Someday, you will be working on a special piece, then put it aside for a day or two. You take it up again and put something else in place, take something out, look at it and say, “That’s it.” You will string it up, finish it with some beautiful handmade silver, hang it on a mannequin, look at it and a feeling will come over you as you realize it is beautiful beyond words, it’s certainly out-of-the-box, and you created it yourself. Halleluiah!
You may then realize it was Divinely Inspired as Western Culture originally believed creativity was. I do also.
It Doesn’t Have to be Elaborate
Exodus 31: 1-5
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts – to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship”.
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Chapter 5
Genuine Gemstones
Gemstones come from every country and come in every variety, shape, and color. Today, many gem merchants try to give the stone a magical, psychic gift, saying it heals, protects, promotes harmony, joy, divine guidance and so forth. They say, “Want more pep in your life? Buy a Carnelian and you will feel the energy flow to you. It will give the insecure person strength and even increase your appetite.” Perhaps you believe that, and that is your prerogative, but I don’t. However, it is a beautiful orange-red stone, mentioned in the Scriptures, and I always keep them for use in my jewelry. You can buy stones in various shapes – cabochon (rounded), faceted, flat, coin, pear, and bright, shiny, dull or matte.
Carnelian beads with Amber on Frog
Lapis Lazuli is a stone I love, especially when it is slightly brighter and with lots of Pyrite in it. It’s ancient and the Egyptians used to bury a Lapis scarab with their dead and the earliest cultures believed it more valuable than gold. It’s composed of lazurite, pyrite and calcite. There is also a paler blue variety, now called Denim Lapis. It is caused by greater calcite content and is a lower grade Lapis with a dealer-friendly name.
Lapis Lazuli
Coral is now known to contain living animals called polyps, – the result of accumulated skeletal masses from these polyps. Coral colonies become reefs and they obtain their color from the algae they host.
Sea Coral
Watermelon Tourmaline is a rare stone in nature that displays three different colors (just like its namesake). The colors occur 100% naturally. Found in South Africa, Brazil, Mozambique, Madagascar and Sri Lanka. It is fairly expensive to buy, but a favorite of mine.
Agate is powerful; the most famous place they are mined is Idar-Oberstein in Germany and it’s one of the oldest stones in recorded history. Many today are wholesaled from China and up to 20mm round. Especially beautiful are the Devil Veined Agates and the faceted Agates. eBay has these if you look for them, and today there is quite a lot of free shipping because of an agreement between China and the USA. They can be purchased online from a number of wholesalers, but I found eBay to have the best selection and much more reasonable in cost.
Devil Veined Faceted
Agates
Sliced & Dyed Agates
Chalcedony is found in large rocks known as thunder eggs – often associated with beds of ash. The material is found in Turkey and Namibia, but the finest blue is found in the US, especially in Nevada, named Mount Airy Blue. Chalcedony has a waxy luster, and may be semitransparent or translucent. It can assume a wide range of colors, but those most commonly seen are white to gray, grayish-blue or a shade of brown ranging from pale to nearly black.
Chalcedony Gem Set in White Gold
Emerald (beryl) is usually green. If it has too much blue in it, it’s then an Aquamarine. If there is too much pink, it’s a Morganite and if there is too much yellow, it’s Helidor. The Egyptian mines date as far back as 2000 B.C. A fine emerald must possess not only a pure verdant green hue, but also a high degree of transparency to be considered a top gem. The legendary mines of Cleopatra in Egypt are believed to be the earliest mines supplying most of the emeralds until the 18th century. Now Colombia is a terrific source for the gem.
A number of years ago I took my first trip to the Tucson Gem Show in January when the gem show I believe was in its infancy. My son and I walked into this tent - yes, tent – and I was blinded by what I saw. As I walked in the sawdust to the rough counter, there was a man with a small shovel, taking his precious Emeralds to shovel them into a box as it was near closing time. The gentleman next to him was doing the same with his Rubies and the man next to him was shoveling sapphires. These shovels were like large hand shovels you use to mix dog food. I’ve never seen that since.
Three years ago another son and I were in Tucson at the Gem Show and there in a beautiful showroom (not a tent anymore) my son came across a man behind a brilliantly lit showcase with Emeralds. The gentleman and his son were from Colombia, their first trip to the US and to Tucson. He must have had about 10 pieces of the most beautiful emeralds my son had seen. I came up near to where they were talking and, looking at the large Emerald my son was thinking of buying, it looked just too, too perfect to me. I said, “This isn’t real, it can’t be.” But after investigating, we found it to be very real indeed. Since it was their first trip to the US the gentleman was anxious to sell his gorgeous emeralds and didn’t want to take them
back to Colombia, so he was willing to sell them at a bargain price that day - much to my son’s delight!
Colombian Emerald
On a family cruise about 10 years ago, our ship stopped in Colombia so, naturally, we all headed for the one large showroom and many selected an emerald piece. My husband was of Irish descent so I purchased this one, about a carat, and proudly brought it home.
My Emerald
Aquamarine with Pink Sapphires
Malachite is always green, usually in bands varying from light to dark. Many times found together with Azurite. Namibia and Congo are both reliable sources for the gem. Also found in the US.
Malachite Cylinder Beads
Azurite
Apatite is mainly seen at retail in its blue color (very beautiful) but can be found in other colors. It is found in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Spain. The blue and green colors are dichroic, showing a second color when viewed from a different angle. One year in Tucson I found a gorgeous pair of earrings with a larger apatite gem in the center surrounded by tanzanite smaller gems. I couldn’t resist them and paid $300, the wholesale price. I think I overpaid, but the color of the apatite is what sold me.
Apatite center gems with Tanzanite surrounding them
Diopside is seen most often in its green variety, much of it coming from Russia. A lovely blue-violet form comes from New York state.
Amazonite is the gem variety of feldspar, from the US, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Russia, Australia and Namibia. It was named after the Amazon women warriors in the Bronze Age; however it wasn’t found near the Amazon.
Fluorite can be found in many colors and was first discovered in England in the 16th century. It can be found today in Russia, Norway, China and in many states in the US. When heated, some of it glows in the dark. Even with its low Mohs rating of 4.00 it enjoys a growth at retail. During the 18th century it was used to treat kidney disease, being ground to powder and mixed with water.
Moonstones belong to a large mineral group of the feldspars, known as adularia. They are almost transparent with their bluish shimmer and unique light effect. The light rays are refracted and scattered in the stone, producing the shimmer. They are found mainly in Sri Lanka and India, although there are some near the Alps.