Are you out there?  Stringers or weavers?

I do some beading when I have time and space to do it. I also do some chain work. I want to make a rosary when Im up to the task. I also make these nifty bracelets and belts out of soda can tabs.

~raises hand~  I'm a beader....among other things!!

I've been making a lot of earrings and bracelets for my personal use.   It's taken me a few weeks to get back into it from a year's absence. 

~kelly jo

I'm a beader also.   I mostly do weaving, but some stringing.   The Bead and Button show in Milwaukee is 2 weekends away, and I can't wait.

Kellie -

How awesome that you're IN Milwaukee where teh B&B show is.  I've always wanted to go, but the airfare plus hotel just prices it out of my affordable range.  I do get to go to BeadFest in Philly which has been moved to August this year.  I guess it's the next best thing.

I'm a stringer mainly - though I do weave now and then.   I also sell my work - right now I'm in an earring mode.  I currently work with vintage lucite, polymer clay and lampwork beads; but have a small collection of gemstones that may or may not make their way back into my work sooner or later.

I'm actually off work today and catching up on organising and entering inventory (components and stock) into my database.   That's the business part that I'm not so good at.  It gets done - usually later rather than sooner.

I'm a wanna-be beader. I've got some beads, findings, books, etc...now just to find the time. Too many craft projects and too little time.

Me! Me! Me! I am a beader and I sell on line and at craft shows. We have our first of the year this weekend. I mostly string but have done some weaving. I wish I could go to the Bead and Button show or even better, go to Arizona in Feb. Sigh.... I just can't afford it. Maybe some day...

Susan I basically taught myself every technique I know. I watch demonstrations on TV or see something and deconstruct it so I can figure out how its made. There are several sites that have instructions too.

I so scored at Wally world. I bought a necklace with 73 inches of sterling silver chain for $5 it also had some sterling saftey pins and a few charms on it. Im deconstructing it too so I can use the chain in other projects. The safty pins are going to my niece. She wears them as earings she is gauged out to a 10 so they might actually be a bit smaller than what she wears.

Marci- You're right.  I'm very lucky to be right in Milwaukee for the B & B show.   It only takes me about 20 minutes to get downtown, and I usually take off Friday from work so I can get there bright and early.  On the not so good side, I spend WAY too much money there because it's so convenient.  lol     That's too bad you can't go.   Milwaukee is a nice city to visit with alot of different things to do and see.  The Lakefront Festival of the Arts is the same weekend as B&B, so I think alot of people visit both events.  Maybe someday you'll be able to make it.   A little advice though.  Plan a budget before you go because it's easy to go overboard.  I'm living proof.  :o)

Kellie -

I'm so green with envy...  One day I will get there - and maybe take a few classes. :)

I was hoping that my brother would have gotten the job he interviewed for in Madison - then I could have driven over for a day visit, but it didn't happen.   So I'll have to wait another year.

As for budgets - yea, I know how that happens.  I set myself a limit at BeadFest every year and I usually come close to hitting it, sometimes a bit over.  It used to be in October (right around my birthday) but they've moved it to August now.  It hits on a payday weekend this year, so I'm budgeting a bit of mad money for me.  

Perhaps 2008 or 2009 I'll do B&B just to say I've been there, done that. :)

Chris, I'm going to have to teach myself also, because I'm out here in the middle of nowhere. Wow, you really did get a good deal at Walmart! I like the idea of deconstructing, using parts of this and that to create something new.  I have a lot of vintage and semi-vintage jewelry from my BIL's estate (he was a "junk" dealer).  I don't consider myself very creative as far as designing and that with my perfectionist personality seems to be one of the reasons I haven't jumped in and really started with the beading.

I would have fun playing with your stuff. Im notorious for buying "junk" jewelry at yardales and remaking it into something cool and new.  You basically only need a few skills and a few tools. A set of needle nosed pliers (two is better but one will work), a set of wire cutters, and a bead board (you can live without it but it makes it so much easier.) Well and materials. I also get beaded trim that I find all over the place and deconstuct it and reuse it. Its a good way to get neat beads for very little money.

Oh and heres a trick for stringers who use elastic string. Thread a needle and put a piece of tape at the end of the string. Then string your beads on that. When you get it all beaded carefully take the tape off and put your elastic cord through the string and pull the needle through. It makes it soooo much easier.

I'm a beader and beadmaker. I seed bead, string and bead embroider as well as create my own designs. I've been making beads for over 6 years out of polymer clay (I think my profile has a link to my website) and before moving I was getting started in lampworking to make beads in glass. Books and beads and art are my passions. :-D Books about beads or beading are high on my WL. lol!

I have beads submitted into Bead Dreams, the beading competition by B&B that I made. I also submitted a bead embroidered purse that got rejected. But I was thrilled anyways to have something in the final running that I wasn't too upset. lol!

I too love to do beading:) It's very relaxing too:) I wish I could find a way to sell - I just signed up w/Etsy - but nothing so far:)

Take a look and tell me what you thinK?:)  http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5167087

I'm in the midst of putting some inventory on etsy - only have one item up there so far and it's not complete yet. :)    Same user name there is you want to have a look. :)

I'm on etsy as well. valeriebeads.etsy.com

had my first sale about 2 weeks ago, but nothing since.

I like to do both. Rings N Things trade show is going to be in my area next week. To bad I just took a vow of not buying anything new for 90 days. It's probably better for my pocketbook. LOL.

Kim

Kim -

I'll be there next Saturday and will go with budget in hand and not spend over it.  Managed to hold myself to $100 last year and I think I'll be able to do the same this year.  I'm set for gemstones, but I really want some resin beads again.  Loved the ones I got last year and wish I had purchased more.  :)

Have fun at the show! I was given an opportunity to help a company sell in Tucson last winter but I was smacked with terrible allergies and was in bed with a sinus infection and MISSED it! All expenses paid for and I would have been given time to browse too. It was such a bummer!

Just got back from the Bead and Button show in Milwaukee.  I was pretty good this time and kept my spending to a minimum.  Would have been less if I just would have walked out when I said I was going to instead of stopping at a few vendors on the way.   I've gotten so that I know which vendors I like and where their booths are so that I don't have to walk up and down every aisle, which can literally take all day long.   It was fun.  Can't wait to play with my new beads.

Has anyone tried the beading supplies from orientaltrading.com? My beading supply place went out of buisness so I cant get my basic supplies as easily anymore.

Chris - my opinion, overpriced and not the best quality. 

However, I say that as one who sells my work -- if you're just looking to make stuff for yourself and friends, that might not be an issue.  I am a snob when it comes to beads though.   *laughs*  Yea, I'm a snob and my favourite medium at the moment is vintage lucite.   I'm playing with plastic!  *g*

What do you consider your 'basics'?  I might be able to point you to a source.

Head/eye pins, tiger tail, wire, crimpers..... I dont need the beads I get them from stuff I take apart. I just need the stringing/beading supplies.

Hey guys, not only am I beader but I also owned my own wholesale and accessories and trimmings business for years. I have an ENORMOUS stock of beads and findings that I'm currently liquidating --only glass beads and metal findings. I advertise on craigslist and other local sites, and have also sold on ebay since 1998. My beads are sold WAAAAAAAY below wholesale in bags from $5 -$10 a bag with a retail value far greater. The assortment alsways includes lampwork, vintage, czech, venetian and other lovely glass beads.

If you'd like to know more, just PM me with your email addy and  I'll send you some pictures of the types of bead assortments available.