That saying applies to this beaded cuff as well. I have invested at least twenty hours so far and depending on where this beading adventure takes me, I may be investing another twenty hours. I’m designing as I go along and I never quite know the outcome of a piece until it is finished. I visualize a design, select beads and colors, pick up needle and thread, and just go with the flow. Often there are false starts as I realize, after working several rows, that the finished piece will be too small or the colors aren’t working together as well as I had thought. Such a scenario adds even more hours to a piece. This is just one of the reasons why I seldom sell my beaded works. The other reason is that I don’t enjoy doing repairs and almost any beaded work that is worn a lot will eventually need some repair. This piece is taking shape quite nicely. I’m very pleased with the intricately patterned design in the flared wing and I’m liking the pointy little horns rising like tiny mountain peaks from the band. I hope to have this cuff finished in the next few days…stay tuned!
It looks great. So if you don’t sell your bracelets, do you just keep them all.
Is it a case of, make the bracelet, and then sell the pattern with the beads?
Jen, that’s the plan, although I usually have to make a least one of a design to test it and then make another to take the step by step photos and write the pattern. I seldom wear the piece that I’ve created a pattern for…rather I keep that particular piece with the pattern for future reference should I decide to submit the design for national or worldwide publication. The prototypes, of course, I get to keep and wear…I’m their mother so it’s difficult to part with my “children”.
Barbara it looks as though it’s going beautifully! I look forward to seeing the finished piece – though I can certainly visualize how lovely it will be right now 🙂 Just finished ripping some stitches of my own :/ Since I hear my “baby” crying for me to get busy again, I guess I’ll go do just that. You are right – they do seem like our children.
Fortunately, they are far less demanding than real children!
Looks absolutely gorgeous so far!
Thank you, Megan! I’m almost finished and can hardly wait to wear it!
Very beautiful, lovely colors and great “pattern”. My wife is amateur and loves beading. Here are of her works also including training works:
Beads as hobby.