Beaded beads for the BWG
It’s no secret that I’m a long time member of the Beadworkers Guild here in the UK, and love getting my quarterly Journal. As a previous Editor of the Journal I enjoy being an occasional contributor.
The July issue includes a project from me. ‘Typography is our theme’, Rowena the Editor said. That gave me pause for thought, beaded alphabets, individual letters? Nathaniel Hawthorne immediately sprang to mind, would BWG members want to bead themselves a scarlet letter? The written word was my next thought, Ancient scrolls, Illustrated manuscripts, Author’s thoughts in books we love… definitely more my thing.
I thought about how words freeze time in snapshots of thoughts, ideas, emotions, power and persuasion. Some days the current ‘news’ leaves me incandescent with impotent rage, when people in whom we put our trust behave abominably. My friend Huib Petersen introduced me to the concept that we best help the world when we wield our weapons of mass creation, it's a good way to channel the negativity into something wholesome.
Like making a calm safe place in zoom classes, where we bead and laugh and talk of gentle things. Creating designs that inspire people to pick up needle, thread and beads and escape into their creative bubble.
Back to the project commission, with some careful snipping of newspapers, I made rolled beads which can be read as a testament to the state of our world. It felt good to create a tiny subversive statement. But, as this is a project for our lovely Guild members, I also created a version made from a copy of an early manuscript page, and love the soft colours of the faded inks. To showcase the paper rolls, I designed dainty beaded end caps, and some cute little pearl motifs to sit between the scroll beads.
Any pretty print will make gorgeous paper beads. If you meet me when I’m wearing mine... and are allowed close enough to read it… we will have a meeting of minds, or we will not.
The Beadworkers Guild committee and volunteers work tirelessly to keep our wonderful craft alive. International Beading week (July 25th - August 2nd) is packed full of free stuff, social gatherings and events to share the bead love. Here is the link to find out more.
To become a member and enjoy the quarterly magazine by post or digitally, sign up here.
