I recently posted about workspace, with some tips and tricks for making your beaded flower workspace easier and more efficient to work in. Now I’d like to talk about setting up a workspace that will help us work more safely. These are things I’ve read about for many years, but it wasn’t until the past year or so that I began to take it all seriously, realizing how important some of these things may be in our crafting experience. Well, actually, it was because I started to hurt! I should have been more aware, and began to suffer chronic back and neck pain.

There are ways to avoid or lessen these problems, though, that are pretty easy to do. First, good posture is essential, so be sure to sit straight without hunching over, and sit fully on your chair. Sit with your feet flat on the floor, and keep your arms and wrists relaxed in a neutral position. A great aid to good posture is using an appropriate chair. I found an office chair a few years ago that adjusts up and down and is very comfortable for me.

I’ve also found it helpful to take frequent breaks, every 30 minutes or so, to walk and stretch. I often find my muscles getting tense, and doing a few stretches usually alleviates this tension.

Creating French beaded flowers and Ganutell does not require a lot of tools, but those you do need are available in different versions. Look for a size and shape that fits your hand and is comfortable to work with. Try the new ergonomic versions … they’re really helpful in reducing the stress of working with your hands.

Good lighting is critical to avoiding eye strain, and I often use a magnifier as well. There are some excellent lamps available …. The photo at the right is an Ott light that I love to use. It has a Truecolor bulb so I see the exact colors I’m using, and I can direct the light onto my work. Click on the photo to view detailed information on this lamp.

Lastly, have your workstation set and ready for use. While this may not be an aid to health and safety, it surely keeps the frustration level down when I don’t have to interrupt my work to go find another tool or supplies.

Beaders in general, not just those of us working with French beaded flowers and Ganutell, are prone to repetitive strain injuries as well as other back, neck and vision problems, so it’s important that we’re conscious of the causes. Take a good look at your workspace and see of there’s something there that needs attention. Then sit down and bead something pretty!

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The encyclopedia describes a muse as coming from Greek mythology and meaning a goddess or spirit who inspires creation. In contemporary times, though, a muse can be just about anything from another person to an object; we are all inspired by many things.

For me, inspiration for a new Ganutell blossom or French beaded flower comes from everywhere … I can be inspired by a new color combination, or a flower blooming, or simply shopping for beads. It can be anything, anywhere, that strikes my fancy and sends me to my workspace.  Sometimes I have no idea what inspires me to create a beaded flower;  suddenly I can see it in my head and am motivated to create. This happens a lot when I wake in the early morning hours — not my favorite inspirational moment, for sure.

Then there are times when nothing comes to mind …. my creativity dries up like the desert …. and I find myself frustrated and disappointed. I’ll start a project, only to decide I don’t like it. Putting it down, I’ll start another and give that up as well. Aaaaarrrrgghhhhhh!!!

I’ve found there is really no way to avoid these times, but to simply wait them out. Often I won’t work on beaded flowers for days, but stay out of my studio and find other things to distract me and fill the time. Creating Ganutell and French beaded flowers is my passion …. perhaps I need to take time to refresh and regroup. It’s always my experience that suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, I envision that new piece and become excited with the prospect of making it. Glorious moment, that.

I don’t think there’s anything unusual in this experience, and that everyone goes through similar frustration. Let me invite you to respond to this post …. leave a comment and tell us what you do when you lose your muse.

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Anyone who works with beads has a bead stash, and mine rivals the best of them. I probably have enough beads to make beaded flowers and Ganutell well into the next decade without buying another bead. Not that I won’t buy more, of course. I also have a beading book stash. I love beading books, and I have bought most of the books available on French beaded flowers. I’d have a considerable collection of books on Ganutell, too, but there’s only a few of them in existence.

As time permits, I want to tell you about some of these books, and today’s post is about my most recent purchase, “Beads in Bloom, the art of making French beaded flowers” by Arlene Baker. At first glance, I wasn’t sure about this book. It seemed it might be only for beginning beaders, but I’m so very glad I ordered it. “Beads in Bloom” is a beautifully illustrated softcover book that has it all. The author tells us about supplies, general information and techniques, then gives us some really unique patterns to try.

The section on Things to Know includes some neat tips on making beaded flowers, such as using old fashioned hair clips as an extra pair of hands. The section on Fundamental Techniques is just that. Well illustrated, this section takes us through the basic techniques in a very clear manner; a beginner should have no problem learning here.

In Flower Assembly we learn how to put it all together, including shading and coloring techniques, as well as how to shape the petals with wonderful finishing touches. We’re given a beautiful Gallery of finished beadwork, then several Projects that are quite well written with easy-to-follow instructions. My first post to this blog includes a photograph of a rose pin that I did following a pattern from this book. Here’s a close-up photo of that piece.

“Beads in Bloom” indeed has it all. Being long on instruction and short on projects, the main focus seems to be for beginners, but there’s plenty in this book to interest and inspire beaders from beginner to advanced, and it remains one of my favorite beaded flower books.

At the time of writing “Beads In Bloom” is available at Amazon at about 30% off normal price. Click here for details.

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In my last post, I promised to talk about my workspace for creating French beaded flowers and Ganutell. I still plan a post on avoiding back strain, etc., but this mention generated some emails requesting informaton on some of the items I find to be really helpful, so I thought I’d share that with you now.

The corkboard tile I mentioned in the earlier article was found at a local office supply store. These are quite inexpensive, and at just under 12×12 inches, they’re a good size to fit on any table or work surface. The cork is fairly soft and helps to keep things from rolling around, but sturdy enough to protect your table when you drop tools.

Speaking of things rolling around, I like to use a small bead mat when working with loose beads. It holds them in place, and makes it easier to pick them up as you need them. If you’re not a beader, you won’t know what this mat is … it’s a square of soft, thick fabric made specifically for this purpose, and is available where beads are sold. I understand from other beading enthusiasts that they’ve used old blankets or other fabrics, so if you have something like this around the house, give it a try.

Last, I have to tell you how lucky I am to have room for two workspaces in my home. I’ve converted a spare bedroom into my studio, with lots of shelving and storage spaces. I love to work there, but sometimes it feels a little confining, and I like to work in my dining room near a front window where I can wave to neighbors walking by and enjoy a change of scene. I learned early on to keep a complete workspace there, with all the tools I need, so I’m not having to constantly walk back and forth because I’m missing a tool or supplies. I also use a small drawer unit to hold those tools and supplies, that I can tuck into the corner out of the way when I’m not working (I just love this thing). 

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Beaded flowers have been crafted for centuries. The French beaded flower technique is only one of several, and it is not exclusively French, but is believed to have been born in France and in Italy, and was popular throughout Europe for centuries. I recently came upon information regarding the vast production of beaded flowers in Venice during the nineteenth century. In Victorian times, bead flower sprays and wreaths were often used as wall hangings and memorials.

During the 1930’s American families decorated their homes with French beaded flowers imported from Europe, but it wasn’t until the 1960’s that the technique itself became popular. With the publication of instructional books by Virginia Nathanson, Virginia Osterland and others, crafters learned to create French beaded flowers, and the technique flourished through the 1970’s. Patterns found in these books are still used extensively today.

Currently, French beading has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, and with the availability of new instructional materials and patterns we are seeing lots of interest in learning the technique.

I’ve been excited to find more contemporary designs in these new patterns, with a fresh and whimsical style, and the availability of glass beads in a vast array of colors and textures. What great inspiration - positively makes one’s mind spin with new ideas!

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