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Beading - Paying it Forward
Mar. 5th, 2010 07:15 amLast night a still-new friend came over because she was craving prayer beads and wanted to make some. We'd been partnered at the last women's circle meeting and she saw how I used my friendship strand as a way to ground and focus, and she wanted something similar. I was more than happy to oblige.
She came over last night with two strands of medium-small amethyst rounds and a set of pendants from her jewelry box which were too small for her to wear as necklaces. I got out my bead stash and tools and spread it out, and then asked her some questions about intention, using my own strands (some made by me, many gifts from my teacher) as examples of purposed strands.
I tried keep my own energy to myself as she started touching and comparing beads, but was pleased when she liked my idea of pairing the amethyst with same-sized hematite rounds. (I'm a big fan of hematite for my strands, since I like the way it helps me ground.) She arranged the beads by specific number and laid out her charms. I also ended up giving her a couple of charms -- a spiral and -- when it became clear she needed a rosary format not a toggle bracelet because of the size -- an Isis charm for the terminal pendant.
Everything worked out beautifully, even the crimping at the end. I knew the project was a success not because my friend was happy with how it looked (although it was gorgeous indeed) but because she couldn't stop caressing it.
I was pleasantly surprised that I felt very easy about sharing my supplies with her. I honestly wasn't sure how that would go. Beads (and charms) can get expensive, and I can be very possessive, but I found that I was delighted to be able to contribute to her piece. She helped balance that by gifting me with an ankh charm with a stone in it which she brought to use but decided it was time to pass on.
During my first visit, my teacher was very generous with her supplies and her time and experience in helping me create my initiation necklace. Learning how to make necklaces and strands has been a real blessing, and I took great satisfaction in being able to pass on some of what I've learned and help someone else get started.
She came over last night with two strands of medium-small amethyst rounds and a set of pendants from her jewelry box which were too small for her to wear as necklaces. I got out my bead stash and tools and spread it out, and then asked her some questions about intention, using my own strands (some made by me, many gifts from my teacher) as examples of purposed strands.
I tried keep my own energy to myself as she started touching and comparing beads, but was pleased when she liked my idea of pairing the amethyst with same-sized hematite rounds. (I'm a big fan of hematite for my strands, since I like the way it helps me ground.) She arranged the beads by specific number and laid out her charms. I also ended up giving her a couple of charms -- a spiral and -- when it became clear she needed a rosary format not a toggle bracelet because of the size -- an Isis charm for the terminal pendant.
Everything worked out beautifully, even the crimping at the end. I knew the project was a success not because my friend was happy with how it looked (although it was gorgeous indeed) but because she couldn't stop caressing it.
I was pleasantly surprised that I felt very easy about sharing my supplies with her. I honestly wasn't sure how that would go. Beads (and charms) can get expensive, and I can be very possessive, but I found that I was delighted to be able to contribute to her piece. She helped balance that by gifting me with an ankh charm with a stone in it which she brought to use but decided it was time to pass on.
During my first visit, my teacher was very generous with her supplies and her time and experience in helping me create my initiation necklace. Learning how to make necklaces and strands has been a real blessing, and I took great satisfaction in being able to pass on some of what I've learned and help someone else get started.
