Beading again

In the last few weeks I’ve started beading again — which is what I call making jewelry with beads. You might remember that back when I moved to this house (three years ago in May), I found that a heap of my beads had been stolen. Foolishly I’d labeled the boxes BEADS, and it must have proven too strong a temptation for the sole female in the group of movers. 

That collection of beads had taken me years to amass, and there were some really expensive ones, too — whole boxes of lapis lazuli, amethyst, malachite,  pearls and more. Plus all the little spacer beads that go between the bigger feature beads — lots of different small black beads and 50 or 60 packets of small metal beads. I went through every one of my boxes several times, and even had a friend do it in case I missed something. All the boxes were l labeled,  and 4 or possibly 5 large boxes were missing. I  reported it of course, but nothing came of that — according to the police and the  moving company, it was their word against mine, and it’s hard to prove “missing.”

My initial reaction, after the frustration and disappointment of not being able to get my beads back,  was to head on-line and buy some more. And while I could — and did — buy some really nice gemstone beads on line, without the little metal beads or black “between” beads and the rest, it was almost impossible. And so depressing, thinking of all I had lost. So I lost heart and gave up.

For a long, long time — several years in fact — I didn’t make anything, apart from the little word bracelets I make each year for my retreat group.  I cooked and baked and gardened, but I still really, really missed making jewelry. It was such a creative release for me — while my fingers were playing with small things and designs, I often nutted out plot points, so it fed my writing. I know writing is creative, but once writing becomes a job, you often need a different creative outlet, and making jewelry was mine. (Another writer friend of mine does pottery for the same reason.)

Then a couple of weeks ago, I was emptying boxes — I still have masses of boxes of books to sort and cull — I looked at a large box containing an electric fan, and decided I didn’t need it and would donate it to charity. But when I picked it up, it was heavier than I expected. And when I opened it, I found I’d stuffed padded post bags all around the fan, and inside them were beads — including some of the little spacer beads I needed.

It gave me a boost, and I dug out some of the beads I’d ordered after the theft, and made this. I need to remake it — the beading was a bit loose — you can see if you look closely, but otherwise I’m very happy with it. I’ve forgotten exactly what material the big stones are — I bought them more than two years ago on line — but I think they might be  electroplated quartz. I bought the small in-between beads at a local bead shop — ironic since it was the discovery of some of the metal beads that inspired me. But I didn’t use them. Since I first started making jewelry, most of the bead shops have closed, so it’s hard to get stuff. I prefer to see the beads in person — photos on line can be quite misleading. — so I’m lucky to have this one.

My new blue necklace

Anyway, making this necklace has cheered me up no end, and over the last few weeks I’ve been combing through the on-line sites, looking for more beads to inspire me. I don’t make them to sell — just the making pleases me, and I would have no idea how to price them. And I think if I decided to sell them, it would put the making into the category of “job” and I’d lose a lot of the joy and fun. I do give them to friends occasionally, but jewelry is so personal I think people prefer to choose their own.

So I’m making jewelry again, and feeling very happy about it— the thieves didn’t steal my joy after all, just derailed it for a while. I’m now waiting for all the beads I ordered on line in the last week or so to arrive. A lot of them are coming from China, but the post from there is remarkably quick. I can’t wait.

A question for you — two of the large beads in the necklace above are brownish as well as blue. I could take them out when I remake the necklace, and maybe make them into earrings? Or leave them where they are?  What do you think — should they stay or go?