Shows and New Classes

by Mandi Ainsworth on October 7, 2011

my table at the Frisco Lakes Vendor Fair

Yesterday, I had the privilege of visiting with residents of Frisco Lakes about my new classes and upcoming shows. I am excited to be teaching 4 new classes at Artful Bead this fall: Feathered Bracelet, Glam Rope, Faux Bangle, and a Mini Ornament. I handed out Ferrero Rocher chocolates and schedules and had a great time. I will be coming back for their Holiday Shopping Soiree on Sunday, November 13 from 1:00-4:00p.

I am also happy to be showing at the Annual Contemporary Art Show and Sale held by the Craft Guild of Dallas. I got a tour of the new space in Addison last week, and everything looks amazing! I’m excited to reconnect with all the people I used to take classes with there, and maybe sign up for something new.

Here’s the show information:
The Craft Guild of Dallas
5100 Belt Line Road, Suite #400 Dallas, TX 75254
Opening Night Reception & Sale Thursday Nov. 3, 7-10pm
Friday Nov. 4, 10am-6pm
Saturday Nov. 5, 10am-5pm
Sunday Nov. 6, 12-5pm

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What does selling for “pin money” mean?

by Mandi Ainsworth on October 4, 2011

I know several bead pattern sites and designers that give permission to sell what you make from their instructions for pin money. I want to look at some definitions and talk about what they mean because my fear is that beaders may underprice their work because of this wording.

Dictionary.com defines it as “any small sum set aside for nonessential minor expenditures” and formerly “an allowance of money given by a husband to his wife for her personal expenditures.”

So basically it means pocket money, or spending money. I also feel like this can mean different things to different people.

I’ve seen beaders comment on forums that it means to “pay for your hobby.” Bead Patterns Boutique defines it as “You, as in the person that has purchased the pattern, may make and sell the project that was completed using the pattern as a guide. You may not employ others to make or sell for you as this constitutes commercial use.”

I like the idea of everyone covering their costs and that BPB’s definition is a little broader.

Then, I searched further into the origin of “pin money” and found this story via sacklunch.net: “Catharine Howard, wife of Henry VIII., introduced pins into England from France. As they were expensive at first, a separate sum for this luxury was granted to the ladies by their husbands. Hence the expression “pin-money.”

My opinion is colored by the fact that I have the mindset and the goal of making a living as a bead artist. My hope is that others selling their work for “pin money” do not equate that to mean “cheap” and ask a fair price for their work. The phrase started out meaning a separate sum for a luxury item, and I believe a beautiful piece of beadwork falls in that category.

What do you think? Do you have another perspective as a beader or designer? Please share with us in the comments below. I know people are passionate about this topic, so thanks for keeping it constructive!

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Premiere 23

by Mandi Ainsworth on September 20, 2011

I am so excited to be showing at Premiere 23 presented by my friend Alexis Boots of Red Kru Production!. It will be held this Friday September 23, 2011 from 7:00pm-11:00pm at Visit ADDISON! My fellow artists and I have each donated a piece of work to be auctioned off, and the proceeds will be going to the North Texas Food Bank. It was hard to choose a piece, but I knew I wanted to donate a little work of art that a man or woman would appreciate. I decided on a bead embroidered art card, and chose the one below. It’s abstract but you can still see elements of slides, sandbox, and monkey bars, too!

"Earthtone Playground" by Mandi Ainsworth

We will have our work displayed for purchase as well. I have been working hard on my leather wrap bracelets that are looking great on my new display stand! I will also have beaded and feather earrings, beadwoven bracelets and necklaces, and more bead embroidered art cards.

The evening is by invitation only, so if you wish to come email Alexis Boots at: artgala13@yahoo.com It’s $20 a person at the door for food and wine, and there will be some fabulous door prizes donated by local restaurants. The attire is cocktail, the event will be catered and have beer and wine, children will stay home, so arrange your sitter ASAP and we all hope to see you there!

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How To Become A Beading Master

by Mandi Ainsworth on September 15, 2011

my freshly finished Delight Cuff

I received an email the other day asking about how I “mastered” beading, and if I had any tips to share. I wrote a pretty detailed email with all my tips and suggestions, and I think it really boils down to two things:

  1. Be a Sponge
  2. Apply Yourself

What does it mean to be a master?

Before discussing how to become a master, it is important to think about what that will look like to you. Does it mean learning all the stitches and techniques in the bead world? Does it mean utilizing them to create your own designs or to be able to complete advanced projects? Maybe it means to explore one aspect or technique of beading thoroughly, and to develop your own style much like Sherry Serafini and bead embroidery. Maybe you’re a visionary like me and want to elevate beading to art. Whatever you choose, I hope you enjoy the journey.

my stack of Beadweaving Master Class books from Lark

Be a Sponge

When I first started, I didn’t take any classes or have access to bead stores. I just became a sponge of learning from books and magazines, and when I mastered one thing, I would try something a little harder. The Beadweaving Master Class series by Lark is amazing, and I subscribe to both Beadwork and Bead & Button magazines. With the internet its even easier! There are some really great free tutorials online, and Christina of Good Quill Hunting has rounded up some of the best in this list.

Many designers sell their tutorials on Etsy and Artfire, so it’s easy to search and find something you’re interested in. Some of my favorites are Smadar Grossman, Mikki Ferrugiaro, Carol Dean Sharpe, and Heather Collin just to name a few.

Learning from videos is great because you can pause and rewind as often as you like. The Auntie’s Beads Channel on You Tube has a wide variety of tutorials, and they are easy to follow. If you would like to learn some fabulous projects from masters like Jill Wiseman and Maggie Meister, give Beaducation and CraftEdu a try.

Beading Forums like the one at Beading Daily are great resources for asking questions and showing off your creations.

However there’s something to be said about learning from the masters themselves. I just signed up for a class with Laura McCabe through the Dallas Bead Society. I also learned more about being a bead artist in my 3 days with NanC Meinhardt than from anywhere else.

Apply Yourself

If you want to become a master, make your beadwork a priority. I know for some of us beading a necessity of life, so this part is easy for us! Doing a little reading, learning, and practicing can go a long way, even if you can only find 30 minutes a day. If you think you will have trouble finding time, consider my 5 ideas for making time to bead. Another great resource is the free E-book titled Time Management for Creative People by Mark McGuinness.

I have been following Mandy Duffy’s blog about “365 days of a beginning beader’s self-taught lessons” and have been impressed with her progress. I think it’s so inspiring for other beaders to see, and she’s proof that this stuff works!

Final Thoughts

I wrote my thoughts on this topic to inspire and encourage those that have a passion for beading, and want to become very good at what they do. I also feel that its important to think about what that means for you, and not to compare yourself to other people. I’ve been guilty of that myself. What I want for all of us can be summed up in my tagline for this site: to learn, grow, and elevate beading to art. Thanks for being a part of the bead circle.

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3 Tips for Working With Your Creative Process

by Mandi Ainsworth on September 8, 2011

I shared this story with my subscribers, and thought it would make a great blog post. I’ve been wanting to share it but was a little hesitant, maybe because I wanted you to think my design process is magic and rainbows, but it’s not. I rip apart and start over and deal with tangling thread just like some of you. So, I hope you enjoy the story and benefit from the 3 tips.

As I worked on my new Waterfall Lariat design, I started to think more about the creative process. I got my idea last spring and asked my friend Bonnie to create some custom lampwork beads with a waterfall theme. She blended the blue and the white glass beautifully and created some textured swirls going around the bead representing the turbulent, crashing currents.

Waterfall Lariat kits are now available under "Bead Kits"

The beads are so inspiring, but I got stuck in the execution. I wanted an odd number of fringe, but the method I liked best resulted in an even number. As I worked on the length and bead counts, the nymo started tangling something fierce! I threw it in one of my handy plastic storage boxes to simmer.

A year later, while beading at a friend’s house, the solution came to me! I immediately sketched it in my notebook. I started working on it again last month. To solve the thread problem, I decided to give Fireline a try. I was back on track and the kits are now available!

We all get “stuck” sometimes, and I wanted to share some tips for working with your own creative process:

1) Think: I wonder what would happen if… Maybe you change bead sizes, types, counts, colors, or weave back through instead of forward. This has helped me open pandora’s box :)

2) Try working on another area, then you can go back and connect the original idea to the new idea.

3) Let it simmer. If you work on something else, your solution may present itself. Hopefully, it will only take you an hour or a day instead of a year like it did for me!

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Maven Meld Challenge

by Mandi Ainsworth on August 30, 2011

The Bead Mavens have come up with an exciting new challenge they are calling “Maven Melds.” It involves combining techniques and/or design elements (melding) two or more Bead Maven tutorials. I love this idea because it challenges both new and seasoned designers to really get innovative and push themselves creatively. That’s why I want to enter, well that and the fantastic prize list!

Cynthia's Meld of Nancy's Trellis design and Mikki's Arianne Bangle

Here are the details from the Bead Mavens website:

The Rules

  • You must use two or more Bead Maven tutorials…these can be any of the tutorials in our stores or any of the free tutorials we’ve posted on this blog. You are encouraged to add your own design elements, but the piece must include elements of the two (or more) tutorials you chose.
  • The tutorials can be from the same Maven or a mix of different Mavens.
  • Tutorials you have purchased from us previous to the beginning of the contest are fine to use.
  • Only two entries per person.

    • How To Enter

  • Send two good (clear, crisp and well-lighted) photographs, one showing the whole piece, one a close up or detail of the piece to theBeadMavens@gmail.com
  • Write a paragraph (up to 100 words) about your design and creative process, and what inspired you about the tutorials you chose.
  • Email your entry to us by October 15th, 2011, midnight EST.
  • Include your e-mail address, the title of your entry and your full name in your email, please!!!!!

    • Judging

  • Pieces will be judged on compatibility of tutorials chosen, technical skill, color harmony, and overall design.
  • The Bead Mavens are not eligible to place in the contest or to receive prizes.
  • We will choose three winners and one honorable mention from the entries.

    • Check out the example Maven Melds

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    Dainty Brick Stitch Earring Tutorial

    by Mandi Ainsworth on August 25, 2011

    The very first thing I learned to bead was a pair of brick stitch earrings. I learned from thin book that I have since lost track of, but I got hooked and made every pattern in multiple colors. I’m starting to see them in retail stores, and thought it would be fun to create a cute design and share the tutorial. I hope you enjoy making them for yourself or a quick gift!

    The 1st pair is the prototype in delicas, the 2nd pair is the example used in the instructions, and for the last pair, I swapped the colors of the fringe.

    Supplies:

    • size 11 seed beads in 2 colors
    • 2 crystals, 4mm
    • earwires
    • needle and thread

    Choose which color of size 11 seed beads you would like to start with (color A) and ladder stitch 7 beads together. Make sure you leave a tail long enough to weave back in later. If you need help with ladder stitch, you can view this tutorial.

    Begin brick stitch, beading right to left: 1 bead of color A, 4 beads of color B, and 1 bead of color A. If you need help with brick stitch, view this tutorial.

    Decrease your brick stitch and bead left to right: 1 color A, 1 color B, 1 color A, 1 color B, 1 color A.

    Decrease your brick stitch and bead right to left: 1 color A, 2 color B, 1 color A.

    Decrease your brick stitch and bead left to right: 1 color A, 1 color B, 1 color A.

    Decrease your brick stitch and bead right to left: 2 color A.

    Your thread will be coming out the top of the left bead. Add 7 beads of color A, and go down the right bead. Needle up through the left bead and follow the path again to reinforce the circle of beads. Later you can attach your earwire to this loop.

    After you reinforce the circle, your thread will be coming out the bottom of the right bead. Pass through all the beads on the outside edge of the triangle. Take your needle off your working thread and put it on your tail thread. Weave the tail into the triangle securely and trim the end. Put the needle back on the working thread, and you are ready to start the fringe.

    String on 9 color B, 7 color A, and 9 color B. Needle up through the outside edge bead on the other end of the triangle, and then right back down into the very next bead.

    String on 7 color B, 5 color A and 7 color B. Then, needle up through the second to last bead on the opposite side of the triangle.

    Weave through the brick stitch portion until you can exit down into the center bead of the bottom of the triangle. Add 1 color A, 1 crystal, and 1 color B. Pass back through the crystal, the color A bead, and then the center bead of the bottom of the triangle. Weave your thread securely into the brick stitch portion and trim the end. Add an earwire to the top loop and you’ve finished an earring. Make the other one and then strut around modeling your new earrings! ;-)

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    Advantages of Bead Kits

    by Mandi Ainsworth on August 23, 2011

    Kits are a pretty hot commodity in our beading community, and I love to buy them, bead them, and create my own. Jill Wiseman started posting on her status when she was makingthekits (yes, all one word) and now others in the Facebook beading community post the word as well. There is also a nice range of difficulty of kits from basic beginner to advanced. So what is it about the little bags of beads, smartly labeled and complete with instructions? Well, in this article, I try to answer that question by outlining the advantages and benefits of bead kits.

    Tila Tornado Kits, available when the Bead Circle Kit Store launches September 1st!

    1. Everything You Need- Kits include everything you need so you can jump in and get started on a project without worrying about putting it aside later because you lack materials to finish it. For this reason they are also portable, so you can throw it in your bag along with your basic beading supplies, and take it on vacation or to a bead society meeting.

    2. ONLY Get What You Need- When you buy a kit, you get the quantity of beads you need for the project instead of buying strands or tubes with standard amounts. This makes budgeting easy and prevents overspending on unnecessary supplies.

    3. Accessibility- There are times you want to learn a specific technique or design, but there are no classes available, or you can’t travel to learn from a specific instructor. Many designers and instructors offer kits on their own websites or other websites making them more accessible to a wider audience.

    4. Fun with Colorways- Beading a kit in which the designer has chosen the color palette offers several advantages. It can help you break out of your color box, or presents you with interesting color combos you haven’t considered before, or helps you see a color used in a new way. For advanced beaders, it may be difficult to tell from the picture and supply list which color or type of bead goes where, and it may be easier to do it in the designer’s colors first before choosing your own color palette.

    5. Experience New or Not Readily Available Supplies- Learning to work with new materials is enjoyable and helps you expand your beading repertoire. Sometimes these materials can be hard to find, or your local bead store may not carry them. Examples are CZs or maybe a specific piece of filigree, and the kit will include it so you can try it without having to track it down.

    6. No Expiration Date- Another great thing about kits is they will wait patiently for you to work on them. I’ve talked about decision and no-decision projects before, and kits are great when you want to get in a zen state of beading along without making any color or bead decisions.

    7. Support Your Favorite Designer- Many designers and instructors make a living from selling their kits. When you support them with a purchase, it enables them to come up with more designs and kits. Also, many designers are also willing to give extra help beyond the instructions if you get stuck. I would be happy to do that for any of my kits.

    These are mostly logical reasons to buy a beading kit, but I believe there is an emotional element as well. I know for myself and my bead sisters, it goes something like this: I see it, I love it, I want to wear it, I buy it! Then, all the logical reasons justify the purchase, hehe.

    What do you think? Tell us what you love about kits. Do you purchase kits for any of the reasons listed or is it a certain “something”? Please share with us in the comments!

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    Shreveport Bead Retreat 2011

    by Mandi Ainsworth on August 15, 2011

    I decided to carpool with Ralonda to the Shreveport Bead retreat held August 4-7 this year. We have sort of a Bead Mastermind where we share ideas and encourage eachother, so talking in person instead of using all our cell minutes was a great benefit in addition to saving on gas. Also, Ralonda made us spinach and bacon quiche for breakfast…Yum! We swooped in on Friday afternoon, and after a whirlwind of greetings, hugs and setting up our kits, it was time to gather our table-mates and head to lunch at Monjunis.

    Killing time by playing on phones at Monjunis.

    The anticipation was killing me as I clutched the plastic bag full of paper envelopes close. Ralonda and I had spent a “play day” making nickname tags for our friends, and I couldn’t wait to see their reactions. We passed them out and everyone loved their name tags, and laughed at the funny ones that were too true. It was a good distraction since our food was taking longer than usual, but I loved my Neapolitan pasta and toasted ravioli. Full and happy, Bead Geek, Soul Sister, Garden Goddess, Blessed, Sparkle Slut, Project Ralonda and Sticky Note (me) headed back to the hotel to do what we came here for: BEAD!

    Of course, the PURPLE colorway was the most popular.

    Friday night, I worked on finishing up a second Waterfall Lariat sample so I could have one to display and one to wear. Then, Karen (aka Garden Goddess) and I made some Mojitos. I stayed up a little later beading away because I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I was so excited about my 8:30am class!

    It was so fun having the beautiful Belinda in my class. Here I'm telling her about my new Waterfall Lariat kit.

    I did get some sleep, and even managed a trip to Starbucks for a double tall latte. My class was the Tila Tornado bracelet and I taught 11 amazing gals. The general consensus was: “I bought some Tila beads when they first came out, but I’m not sure what to do with them now.” I’m such a fan of this design because it uses a hot bead, and you can really put your personality into it with variations in bead colors, sizes, and counts. We decided on one edit to the instructions: Supplies, 50 crystals (or 100+ crystals if you believe there’s no such thing as too much bling)! Two of the students I’ve had in class before, and for another two it was their first retreat. We had so much fun, and several students wore their bracelets back to their tables!

    Spicy Julie and me wearing my completed necklace, Olivia, designed by Maggie Meister.

    Also on Saturday, I finished my Olivia, which is a Maggie Meister design. I have now officially completed all my Beading by the Bay projects! I made it in garnet and black, which is a huge contrast to Maggie’s green and gold. It’s for my sister in her style of colors, and I think she’ll love it. Saturday night we went to Albasha, which is my all-time favorite place to eat in Shreveport. We had fried cheese, cabbage rolls, chicken shawarma, fried kibbe, and baklava. We watched Amber do some belly dance performances and she danced with a sword balanced on her head! Amazing day of friends, food, and beads.

    Julie with redneck wineglass in one hand, art doll in the other.

    Sunday morning I decided to sit it on Ralonda’s Beaded Art Doll class. Julie (aka Sparkle Slut) worked on her new doll, and I continued my work on Raja. He’s been a work in progress for nearly 2 years, and he wants more beaded stripes. I made some great progress on his belly, and it was great to hear Ralonda talk about her doll ideas and see her inspiring examples again. Julie and I got a great idea to have a round robin with art dolls, and I’m so excited about it! We had a group trip to Jo-ann to choose our fabric, and I decided that the theme of my doll would be “free spirit.” There are 10 of us, and we created a beading schedule that would allow us to exchange our completed dolls at the August Shreveport Bead Retreat next year!

    Bead Sisters: Me, Ralonda, and Cathey

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    The 5 Best Bead Organizers Ever

    by Mandi Ainsworth on July 10, 2011

    I’ve gone through many different storage systems trying to find the perfect way to organize my beads and projects. Here are my top 5 picks, how I use them, and where to get them.

    If you need help organizing your bead stash from start to finish, register for the July 12th online class: Organizing Your Bead Space for a Creative Explosion.

    1. Snap ‘N Stack Organizer

    These are the best project boxes I have ever used. I label the outside with the project name, and they all stack so nicely on my shelf. They are portable, and many ladies in the bead society use them to take projects and supplies to meetings. You can sometimes find them at Target, here at Jo-ann, and here on Amazon.

    2. Screw-top Vials


    I like these to hold accent type beads and strands. Without taking the lid off, I can see everything that’s inside and it makes finding things easy. If I’m pulling beads for a project, its easy to take out only the vial I need. You can find them at Michaels, here from Jo-ann, and here on Amazon.

    3. Bead Pavilion


    These are perfect for holding many tubes of beads in a small space so you can see all the colors. I like to have my whole palette out to inspire my designs. You can find them here from Sova Enterprises and here from Beadaholique.

    4. Photo Boxes


    These come with 6 cases or 12 cases, and they are perfect for storing beads you have pulled for a project. If the project is small, you can work out of the case and makes great traveling storage. You can find these at most craft stores in the scrapbooking section, and here at The Container Store.

    5. Design Save’n Go


    These are perfect for storing work-in-progress, and I wrote a glowing review of them a few months back. I like that the mats hold the beads in place so they don’t roll around. It’s perfect for bead retreats and classes. I work whatever I want on the first board during the free beading time. When its time for class, I don’t have to go through the hassle of cleaning it off and putting all the beads away. I can just grab the second board and use it for the class. You can sometimes find them at Jo-ann stores, but not their website. Fire Mountain also carries them here.

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