Jakie and the Beadstalk

Sometime in 1996, two friends, Cielpot and Ago, introduced me to the wonderful world of beading. I have always been interested in beading and in wearing beaded items but making them altogether was a totally exciting idea. They taught me how to string beads and make a simple flower bead. I never imagined that such simple craft would get me addicted to the hobby of accessory-making (not to mention that it's a way to earn extra money!)

From the simple stringing, I have now "levelled-up" to the more difficult beading styles like the use of wire, knotting, etc. I even join bazaars to sell my ware and I get orders from my officemates nowadays.

It's a good thing that my high school best friend, Yheng, introduced me to this fab mag, Bead Style Magazine. It features new yet easy- to- follow designs. I don't like the advertisements in the magazine though, since the craft stores are all located in the US and because they take up a lot of space in the magazine. But the featured designs are really great, and they provide beginners with Beading 101 lessons and tips. I never buy the new issues since they are priced at 400 pesos up but I buy back issues from Booksale. One just has to really look hard since these are not so easy to find.

Beading is great! I get to see my creation after a couple of hours; minutes, if it's a simple pair of earrings. For someone as impatient as me, this is really good since I get to see my finished product right away. And besides, I can be as bold or as subdued as I want to my products to be because I am not limited by any pattern, as compared with cross stitching or paper tole.

What's more satisfying is seeing other people appreciate the finished product. I like it too when people notice the tiniest details in the bead's texture, the color palette used in the accessory or even the handicraft.

And it's really really nice when I see people wearing what I have created. This, I think, is more valuable than the price that they pay for my work.

Jakie and the Beadstalk is my trade name for my beaded crafts.

3rd. photo courtesy of http://ebookee.org/Bead-Style-Magazine-Vol-4-No-1-January-2006_523340.html