Beadstringing...

Anybody can do That!

Well...not exactly. Of the 20 or 30 media (including variations) I've tried, stringing remains perhaps my favorite. It certainly is the craft I've practiced longest and feel most competent.

Because the initial learning curve is so low and the initial outlay so small (you can buy all the tools you need for $50), and because, frankly, it's so often so badly done, beadstringing has an undeserved reputation as not being ``real'' art.

I beg to differ. It's the idea, not the medium, that ultimately makes the difference. I would even argue that it's the idea, not virtuosity, that really counts. That said, stringing can be as challanging and difficult to do as any other medium. Beadstringing may look simple, but to make a long lasting and attractive necklace requires some attention to detail. There are tips and tricks to stringing, as with everything else.

Whether I'll ever get around to scanning some of the really old images (those available on paper or film) remains to be seen, but I think the following gives some sense of my ideas. Stuff with lampwork is gonna be newer (2000s). Stone bead focals mean the piece is probably made in the 1990s. And gee, just to make it obvious, I've put price tags on the stuff that's for sale. If you're interested, email me. I also do commissions.

Multi-strand necklace featuring customer-provided fuchsia freshwater pearls, amethyst, garnet, copper, silver and glass beads made to match a pair of earrings. Private collection, 2007.

 

Multi-strand freshwater pearl, moonstone, white pixie and bali silver bracelet made to match a similiar necklace. Originally posted 09dec06. (Private collection.)

 

I finally got around to moving all the bead curtain stuff to its own directory, which also includes the three recent howto posts from 01 and 04 April 06; also 5 2006 strands posted 26jul--04aug06: the ``---new sep/02'', has been updated 05may06, 18oct06. Collection of the artist.

 

Freshwater pearl and silver necklace. Strung summer 06, originally posted 18oct06. (Private collection).

 

Two multi-strand freshwater pearl and silver bracelets 2002, originally posted 17oct06. Whereabouts unknown.

 

Moss Necklace originally posted 19jul06. Available for purchase: $395

 

Faux Ametrine necklace featuring hollow lampwork and PMC, originally posted 22jul06. Available for purchase: $450

 

An actual new piece of stringing, the first in months. Multistrand garnet, onyx, glass and silver necklace with antique curliQ focal, ending with 8 strands of fringe. (Well, not counting those two bracelets I made for my sister, that I had to cobble together without access to my studio and its thousands of beads...or even my friend Page's studio and its thousands of beads:) 17sep04.

 

Another post a long time in the making: I started the necklace around the end of 2004, maybe. Failed to do a very good job photographing on the first two tries, finally got something marginally acceptable on the third. Originally posted 19apr06 Avaliable for purchase: $600

 

I made this...um, I think before we moved. Say it's five years old or so. At any rate, I couldn't sell it, couldn't even give it away; it was such a resounding failure I tore it apart to harvest the beads for the lowly bead curtain. Now that silvered stringing cable is available, I wouldn't even string this piece on thread, but I photographed the technique, which wasn't bad. Originally posted 31mar06 (destroyed)

 

I've collected the various odds and ends that so far constitute my stringing howtos, along with a few decent (and clearly labeled) purpose-made instructions that have accumulated over the years in the HowtoString index page. updated 05may06

 

Here's a necklace I can pretty precisely document: I started it St Patrick's Day; worked on it the 23Mar, completed it 03apr05. And finally got around to making & posting a page 23aug05. (private collection)

 

See also the index page I created specifically to document collaborations between Page and me. 23aug05

 

An idea a decade or more old finally comes to fruition---with a couple of techniques (bead crochet and glass beadmaking) added along the way. 18nov04. Available for purchase: $350

 

A clean multistrand design. Status unknown.

 

Pink rhodonite flower serves as an accent.

 

Cats and fish chase each other in a silvery sea---new sep/02 Collection of Ms. Agnes Clark.

 

Trading is fun: polymer clay by Imagine. Collection of the artist.

 

My favorite opaque stone, or the-multi-strand-into-a-silk-braid style reaches its height. Collection of the artist.

 

Something old, something new, something blue... (private collection)

 

3 strand fantasy---another old necklace (new page, 27dec03) (private collection).

 

Early freeform designs, one by Page Kaczynski. Collection of the artist.

 

Turquoise & Pink Rhodonite

 

Unakite in many hues. Collection of the artist.

 

Two old necklaces in one of my classic patterns get posted. (28jan04) (private collections.)

 

...and it continues to evolve.

 

A clean singlestrand design (private collections)

 

My first really inventive design. Collection of the artist.

 

The start of a series... (whereabouts unknown)

 

Though the necklace is old, the page is new. (07dec03)

 

My favorite transparent stone, or two tourmaline necklaces, one showing `2into1'. Collection of the artist.

 

Serpentine & shell strung with kumied silk. Collection of the artist.

 

Bead curtain directory & howtostring index added 05may06; moss & ametrine lampwork; fwp pieces; prices for items available for sale, and blurb, all added 18oct06...