Okay, so you’ve bought all the candy, you’ve dragged your trunk full of disco pants down from the attic, you’ve dusted off your wigs, and you’ve shoved the kids into their respective disguises. Now what?!
As we like to say here at Brazos Collection… there’s always time for beading. Always.
Check out some of these cool Halloween inspired, spooky jewelry pieces that you can put together to scare the neighbors!
Although you prefer your tidy workspace, where the sun enters the room at the perfect angle to illuminate your work station, and everything is arranged just right – it’s important to consider that you may not always be working on your craft in the comfort of your own home. You may need to bring your beads for jewelry making with you. Especially with the holiday season approaching, it’s helpful to start thinking of ways you can bring your craft with you, wherever you go. You might find your beading tools especially handy during a lengthy family picnic, at a layover stop between flights, or on a long road trip.
Reflecting on all the times I’ve dragged my beading supplies on long road trips and weekend get-a-ways, I realize that perhaps my experience as a traveling jewelry maker has provided me with insights that are worth sharing.
Sometimes what you bring with you is just as important as what you leave behind. Before you being to think about how to pack and transport your loose beads, be sure to consider the conditions of your travel experience. For instance, if you are traveling in a small car, seated closely to other people, you may want to leave your fragrant craft glue at home. If you are traveling with children, you might leave your large needles or other sharp jewelry making supplies at home. When traveling on a plane, you will not be able to bring any knives, scissors, extra needles, or wire clippers on board. I recommend leaving your wire in its original packaging when you go through security, showing that the wire is designated as a jewelry making accessory. Heightened airport security also means you will likely be prohibited from bringing glue, adhesive, or other liquid products often used to seal knots and secure loose ends of beaded jewelry. Unless you find bottles of these products that meet the 3 ounce regulation, I recommend bringing a bottle of clear nail polish. You will have no trouble getting through security, and it does the job of glue or adhesive – at least until you arrive at your destination.
After you have decided what to leave behind, you’ll want to be sure that what you do bring is packed well, and placed in a safe container. If you are traveling by plane, and want to carry your beading supplies on the plane, I recommend packing them in a small foldable lunch kit. You can separate your items within the lunch kit using small plastic bags, little cardboard boxes (the kind you receive jewelry in), or even emptied out raisin boxes. Glass beads in one bag and crystal beads in another. The lunch kit will fit nicely into your carry-on item. If you pack your supplies in your checked luggage, I recommend placing items in small, clear plastic Tupperware containers. These containers can hold their shape and remain securely closed amongst the other items in your suitcase. Because the containers are clear, it is easy for you to find the beading supplies you need when you reach your destination. If you will be traveling by car, you’ll want your supplies to be easily accessible and easily manageable. For the car, avoid the plastic Tupperware, it’s easy to lose the lids. Instead, try small plastic zip-up bags in a shoe box or a lunch box with small compartments. Again, you can separate each compartment by color or by type of bead. For instance, jade beads in one bag, and clay beads in another.
If you plan to travel frequently, you may consider creating a permanent travel beading kit, separate from your everyday supplies, that lives in the closet. Pick up the kit and take it with you anywhere, anytime. It will always be ready.
No matter how you decide to travel with your beads, you will be glad to have them with you. And hey, if you get crunched for time and forget to purchase holiday presents, you’ll have your beading supplies ready to create last minute fashion jewelry gifts!
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” – Margaret Mead.
While the beading community may not make up a large percentage of the entire population, bead enthusiasts around the world are making a big difference to make our world a better place.
Whether they are paid for their work, or simply driven by their passion, jewelry makers are using their talents to affect positive change.
Most jewelry makers can agree that getting out your beading kit, working diligently on a beading project, and creating a beautiful piece of handmade jewelry brings much personal satisfaction. So, why not share this passion and bring happiness to others? You can help bring satisfaction to someone directly, or bring satisfaction to a group of people working towards a common goal.
There are many ways you can incorporate beading into volunteer efforts, charity donations, and other worthy causes.
You can invent your own projects, with a theme tied to the organization you wish to support. For example, you can create decorative pet collars, key chains, or other beaded jewelry for pet lovers – using beads to spell out pets’ names or create paw print patterns. Use glass beads, natural stones, crystal beads, or even animal print breads – get creative! You could even try selling your products at local pet shops. Use the proceeds from your sales to make a donation to the local animal shelter or The Human Society.
You can also use your beading skills to create a fun event. You can arrange a trash clean up in your neighborhood. You can promote your event with an announcement that each piece of trash a participant collects is redeemable for one bead. At the end of the event, participants will get to string together the beads they collected to create a piece of beaded jewelry. This hands-on experience will give participants something fun to take home.
If you would rather participate in an on-going project, you could find organizations with guided activities and specific donation requests, using a service like Volunteer Match.
Below are some examples of what jewelry makers and bead enthusiasts are already doing to make a positive contribution around the world.
Beads of Courage: Beads of Courage is a non-profit organization based in Arizona that provides arts-in-medicine programs for children with serious illnesses. Their programs are now established in over 60 children’s hospitals in the United States, New Zealand and Japan.
Beaders Voice for Nature: Beaders Voice for Nature is European organization dedicated to raising awareness of nature conservation and habitat protection. The group uses crystal beads and glass beads to create leaves and flowers that are hung on trees that have died. The beaded ornaments bring light the issue of nature destruction. The beaded projects also give the organization an voice, with the message that nature should flourish again.
Beading to Beat Autism: Beading to Beat Autism is a charity based in Kentucky, founded by teenager, Michala Riggle. To date, Michala and her team have raised over $350,000, created a private foundation (Michala Riggle Beat Autism Foundation Inc.), assembled a board of directors, and announced part two of her fund-raising plans: Sell one million bracelets in every state, build the most comprehensive autism research and treatment center in the world, and eradicate autism forever.
Today we are going to focus on teaching you to make a custom earrings using beads you bought from Brazos. After all, the more you know the more you can make yourself. Follow the instructions in the video below to learn how to make your own bead earrings.
