Questioning the new hobby

It seemed like such a good idea.

Last summer, Jan taught me how to bead. In one short afternoon, I left her house with a new necklace and matching earrings, designed by my own self. I so liked the organization of it all. Little beads in little containers, a pattern repeated over and over on the necklace. Just the sort of hobby my anal little mind craves.

"When the rains hit, I'll bead!!" I declared with much enthusiasm and planning.

So the rains -- and snows and ices -- hit so Jan accompanied me to The Beaders' Mecca (aka Craft Warehouse) and helped me get set up. I walked away with a 3-pack of pliers -- not all that different than what Rob has in his tool box, other than the pastel handles and the 50% crafters mark-up. I also had wire and a whole mess of silver beads, envisioning a nice silver necklace for Mom for Christmas. Feeling optimistic, I also bought supplies to make matching earrings. Today I sat down at my Beading Table (today's name for the game table) and got to work.

Jan really likes Variety Packs of beads. There's an element of surprise as to what you'll get, plus you get to organize and separate the beads yourself (is there any wonder why I like Jan?). Two hours into my back-aching separation task, I decided the thrill of organizing only goes so far. "Next time I'm buying pre-separated beads."

Somewhere around the 3rd hour of "Dr. Laura," I had a pattern I liked for Mom's necklace. I carefully laid out the beads on my special Designer Tray. I was very impressed with my complicated 1-4-1-3-1-4 pattern. "Beginner -- HA!" Just as the next radio program began, I had my necklace stringed. It was very pretty. I realized earlier that I had neglected to get the 'other end' of the clasp. Naive beader that I am, I assumed you got both ends of the clasp in the package. Silly, uninitiated me.

So with half a clasp and a wire full of teeny tiny, bouncy beads, I carefully walked into the kitchen to get a piece of tape. Just like Jan taught me, I planned to tape the naked end until I attached the 'other end' clasp. Standing in the kitchen, with very hard tile, I gave the Scotch tape a little tug. Just as I did, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy beads all over my kitchen floor.

I'm proud to say I didn't swear. I did, however, make a pained noise of the sort that summoned Rob in a flash, ready to call 9-1-1. Wonderful man that he is, he gave me a big smile and promptly got on his hands and knees and started scooping up the bounced and nearly invisible beads.

Having committed the 1-4-1-3-1-4 pattern to short-term memory, I redid the necklace in record time. Didn't even get to the national news. I still have to go buy the 'other end' clasp. I'm thinking it's an excuse to go out to wine with a little dinner.

A few things I've learned about beading today:

- Moderately long fingernails do NOT help in beading, unless you want an additional place to store your teeny tiny beads.

- Silver beads on a tile floor look a lot like cat litter.

- $52 is a lot to spend on a homemade necklace that looks, well, homemade.

- Variety Packs are not to be referred to as Fun Packs.

I'm not real clear on how -- or if -- this new hobby will progress. All I know for sure is I'm going to wear my iPod when I vacuum the kitchen.