Precious Bead Time

Isn’t it amazing how we look forward to beading? I mean, while my son is playing in the morning after breakfast, I count down to when I can have my bead time during his nap. As it gets closer, I find myself cleaning up the play area, putting dishes into the dishwasher, changing a load of laundry and whatever else I need to do in order to be one thousand percent free and clear to bead. Then when I tuck him into bed with his blankie and close his door, I turn and do the funky chicken walk into the office where my precious project is calling to me from my desk! BLISS! I mean, this is serious time for me. Don’t bother calling me because I won’t answer. You can stand in front of my front door ringing the bell and I’ll ignore you. Unless I hear emergency vehicles coming my way (God forbid) I won’t budge from my chair. I may get between two and three good hours with my beads! What a sweet little boy who lets me bead for so long! Mind you, some days I have to do yard work or something that interferes (!) with my beading, but mostly I can just bead to my hearts content. Life is good.

People do knock. And they call, too. But when I hear the answering machine going I put my fingers in my ears and sing the LA LA LA I CAN’T HEAR YOU song in my head. And you’d be amazed at the amount of beading one can accomplish when you take advantage of little bits of time here and there. Some people devote a half hour every morning to yoga or stretching. Others will spend an hour with their book or walking the dog. These are wonderfully meditative and even necessary for us to be whole well-adjusted people. Beading is amazing therapy. Beading is like a vacation from responsibilities and chores. It can be orgasmic! Ok, that may be a bit far, but you have to agree that 30 minutes of beading can rejuvenate the most weary of beaders.

There’s a wonderful quote about time that I heard from someone, but I don’t remember who told me and I don’t remember who said it originally, but its good enough for me to want to share it. Its says something in response to people who say they don’t’ have time to bead, or sew, or cook or do the things they wish they could. The quote spells out that we all have the same amount of hours in the day that Einstein and Mother Theresa had. Look at what can be accomplished if you invest your time into areas that are worthy and that celebrate your God-given gifts. Our good friend Tom is always saying that you should invest your time, talent and treasure into what matters most. Wise man.

How much time are you spending on your beading? And is it restful and fulfilling time? Because anything done with haste or that you don’t enjoy isn’t time well spent, and that will show up in your project no matter how simple or complex it is.

Here’s what I like to do: Get a cold drink, put on some slippers, grab the baby monitor (that’s optional for you! :-) and sit in my comfy chair. I make sure the dogs in the house so he won’t be tempted to bark outside (usually at a moth he hears in, I don’t know, say…on some lawn in Pasadena somewhere!). I don’t even need to listen to music on the radio. I like the quiet. Sometimes I’ll pop in a cd or listen to talk radio, but mostly I just like the quiet. When I hear my little guy starting to wake up I know my bead time is coming to an end for the day. I may be able to squeek in some time at night, but dinner has toe be made and I have a cute husband who wants attention. Not to mention all the unexpected things that intercept your day that need to be dealt with. Some days I don’t get any beadwork time because of how the day pans out. I feel it by the end of the day and I find myself falling asleep that night with day dreams of turquoise strands and sterling spacer beads and the like. What a relaxing way to fall asleep! Not quite the same as beading, but still very nice.

Do yourself a lovely favor. Make a point to incorporate some bead time into your day every day. Things like visiting a bead store and cleaning out your bead case do count, but its still not quite the same as actually beading. Always keep a project going, no matter how simple or quick they can be. You’ll be a more relaxed and happy person. Beading for the soul! Its good stuff.

Happy Beading!

The Bead Belle