Recently I challenged fellow glass beadmakers to donate/dedicate an hour of their torch time a week to make beads for Beads of Courage. I’ve committed to do it myself. This was my first hour of beads:
So, while this may not look like much, compared to the huge stashes of beads that people send in, it’s a start. They will add up. If I did this many a week for a month, that would be 40 beads. Fifty in a 5 week month.
Now, if you’re reluctant to give up your time, consider these benefits to my challenge (besides the warm fuzzy you’ll feel from donating and knowing that you’re helping to give hope to a child facing life-threatening illness)…
1. For all of you self-employed beadmakers: you get to play for an hour.
Being in the biz, how often do you really get to do that? Usually your brain is filled with what order you need to fill, what show you need to prepare for or, ‘what will people like enough to buy this season.’ Take this as an opportunity to be child-like and play again…for the benefit of a child!
2. You can try new techniques.
No silver or reduction glass on the surface, please, but other than that, what have you always wanted to do but never tried? Give it a whirl.
3. Practice your skills.
Is there something you’re not good at or would like to be better at? Repetition and practice makes you better…use this time for that. Maybe you want to learn to handshape bicones and you think, why would someone want that? Sprinkle some frit on it, put some dots, do it in a bright color and you’re bound to make a fun bead.
4. Use up that glass.
Do you have colors of glass that you bought because you thought you had to have it and it’s been sitting and collecting dust? Or a different brand that isn’t compatible, having the best intentions to work with it? Why not use it this one hour a week. It will go to a good cause and make you feel better knowing your putting it to good use. Even ugly glass can be used…make your bead, cover it with enamel and make it a new color.
5. What about all of those short ends lying around?
Fuse them together into one rod…mix and match colors and wind it onto a mandrel. You might be surprised at the new color combinations you come up with by layering that way.
6. Indulge your guilty pleasure.
What? For example, I love making dot beads but there are so many dot beads out there that I don’t use that technique in my work so much because I try to be different. This is my one hour a week that I indulge myself in making dot beads. It just feels sooooo good. What technique do you like but haven’t found a way to incorporate into your work? Use this hour to enjoy it and know that someone else will love the finished product.
See? That one hour a week can be a positive experience in more than one way. Will you give it a try?
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