Okay, this is getting serious; maybe I need an intervention.

I'm getting addicted to beading. If you haven't heard about "beading," it means that you make your own jewelry (or items that you sell to others), using semi-precious gemstones, pearls, or even cheap glass beads. You can use handmade beads of polymer clay, lampworked glass, and other materials, and add anything else to your creations, like tiny charms, stamped metal discs, vintage buttons, silk ribbons, chains, and so on.

I'm loving this hobby, but you really have to watch out, or you'll go head-over-heels for the expensive stuff. I've found lots of handmade beads on Etsy that I can hardly resist. At least anything goes, when it comes to designing a necklace or bracelet. Beaders mix mix rough-textured pieces with Swarovski crystals; sterling silver charms with marbled glass beads in swirly colors, and much more.

Yesterday I looked through a book about making lampwork beads, but then I caught myself. To make glass-type beads, you need lots of equipment, like a kind of blow torch--way beyond my skills and way, way beyond my budget.

For now, I'm sticking to reasonably-priced things I can order online (okay, the cheap stuff), and clipping coupons for Michael's and Hobby Lobby. I got a whole bag of seed beads, which are tiny, multi-colored glass bits, for a couple of dollars, and there are enough in one bag to make several pieces.

Here's a pix of one of my first attempts at a necklace.



Granted, it's a hodge-podge of elements. I used a bronze-looking butterfly charm and a brass leaf pendant--and there are green glass beads mixed with crystals and seed beads in shades of amber, topaz, and brown--and I'm not sure it's pleasing to the eye when you mix THAT many kinds of materials AND have an asymmetrical design, too. But it so far I like it, 'cause it's sparkly and I love the colors.