Project planning

Well, I went to the LBS Saturday and this set me to wondering how people plan
their projects.

In my case, I work at a very small scale, but I'm afraid I don't plan that
well. I bought way more than I need but rationalized I can use the stock for
future projects. The beads are intended to complete an old project. One of the
first amulet bags I made was cursed, and this is about the 5th time I have
remade it, more because of the thread than anything else, but that is another
topic. It's going well this time, after having been punished by sitting in my
drawer for a year. This piece was designed as a result of problem solving more
than anything else, and looks nothing like the original pattern. I intend to
string the beads randomly for the neck portion, but am wondering about
balancing them, and how to do it without pulling the necklace apart too much. I
was going to just eyeball it as I go along.

What has put me in doubt of my methodology, was the presence of a Professional
in the LBS laying out a necklace with her client. She was clearly being very
careful about buying from the very beginning of the project, and buying
specifically only those things that she needed, by laying out the project from
the start.

Of course I am a humble crafting amateur, but if I were to do a layout I would
be more likely to do it in my own home. I find the LBS too distracting. The
other problem is that it is kind of hard to do when using seed beads. And what
happens to serendipity in design?

Meanwhile I'm pleased with the beads I bought. I likely won't use all the leaf
beads for this project, but they are very pleasing all mixed together in the
little Lee Valley tin. They look like a future project.

Dora

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from ospam
(Bungadora) :

]What has put me in doubt of my methodology, was the presence of a
Professional
]in the LBS laying out a necklace with her client. She was clearly being very
]careful about buying from the very beginning of the project, and buying
]specifically only those things that she needed, by laying out the project
from
]the start.

vj
that might work for some - never for me.
it's THE most expensive way to do it, for one thing.

I think it was a 'special' necklace, because I heard her tell the clerk she was
donating the labor on this one, and she had the client with her. I'm sure she
had her own stock, but perhaps not the variety to suit the job in a pinch of
time.

Plus I wonder about wholesale sources on a small scale in Canada. Not that I
spend all my time there, but I was beind a lady in the LBS who was buying $300
worth of silver, managed to drop the information that she was making jewelery
for sale, and ended up walking out when the clerk wouldn't tell her who was the
wholesaler. I thought to myself, you are at the scale where you're buying $300
worth of silver for jewelery for others, you have a gst number, and you don't
have any sources?

Dora

I've never used a lay out board, but I'm planning to get a couple. Mostly
for the measuring function.

I much prefer buying beads by the stand rather than getting just a few.
Doesn't cost much more, and you have the balance of the beads. If I must
get more beads, I'll bring along what I have and pay full price for a couple
of beads, but I do my planning at home.

As for seed beads, my way of "planning" with them is just to drape strands
over my hand to verify color blending.

Tina


"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
Well, I went to the LBS Saturday and this set me to wondering how people
plan
their projects.

In my case, I work at a very small scale, but I'm afraid I don't plan that
well. I bought way more than I need but rationalized I can use the stock
for
future projects. The beads are intended to complete an old project. One of
the
first amulet bags I made was cursed, and this is about the 5th time I have
remade it, more because of the thread than anything else, but that is
another
topic. It's going well this time, after having been punished by sitting in
my
drawer for a year. This piece was designed as a result of problem solving
more
than anything else, and looks nothing like the original pattern. I intend
to
string the beads randomly for the neck portion, but am wondering about
balancing them, and how to do it without pulling the necklace apart too
much. I
was going to just eyeball it as I go along.

What has put me in doubt of my methodology, was the presence of a
Professional
in the LBS laying out a necklace with her client. She was clearly being
very
careful about buying from the very beginning of the project, and buying
specifically only those things that she needed, by laying out the project
from
the start.

Of course I am a humble crafting amateur, but if I were to do a layout I
would
be more likely to do it in my own home. I find the LBS too distracting.
The
other problem is that it is kind of hard to do when using seed beads. And
what
happens to serendipity in design?

Meanwhile I'm pleased with the beads I bought. I likely won't use all the
leaf
beads for this project, but they are very pleasing all mixed together in
the
little Lee Valley tin. They look like a future project.

Dora

I have so many bead on hand I don't have to go searching for them from a
bead store to create a project. I start out with a focal bead or stone and
then look for complimentary colors in my stock on hand. I would find having
to go to a bead store to get them would discourage me from wanting to
complete a project. I have to create when I am in the mood to do something
and can't wait to go get beads to do it. Many times the things I think I may
want to make with the beads I have chosen sometimes don't work and I have to
change to something else. This would be difficult to do if you don't have
beads on hand.
Roxan

"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
Well, I went to the LBS Saturday and this set me to wondering how people
plan
their projects.

In my case, I work at a very small scale, but I'm afraid I don't plan that
well. I bought way more than I need but rationalized I can use the stock
for
future projects. The beads are intended to complete an old project. One of
the
first amulet bags I made was cursed, and this is about the 5th time I have
remade it, more because of the thread than anything else, but that is
another
topic. It's going well this time, after having been punished by sitting in
my
drawer for a year. This piece was designed as a result of problem solving
more
than anything else, and looks nothing like the original pattern. I intend
to
string the beads randomly for the neck portion, but am wondering about
balancing them, and how to do it without pulling the necklace apart too
much. I
was going to just eyeball it as I go along.

What has put me in doubt of my methodology, was the presence of a
Professional
in the LBS laying out a necklace with her client. She was clearly being
very
careful about buying from the very beginning of the project, and buying
specifically only those things that she needed, by laying out the project
from
the start.

Of course I am a humble crafting amateur, but if I were to do a layout I
would
be more likely to do it in my own home. I find the LBS too distracting.
The
other problem is that it is kind of hard to do when using seed beads. And
what
happens to serendipity in design?

Meanwhile I'm pleased with the beads I bought. I likely won't use all the
leaf
beads for this project, but they are very pleasing all mixed together in
the
little Lee Valley tin. They look like a future project.

Dora

The lady in the store was using a felt cloth, not a board, but the necklace was
in such a precise semi-circle that I think the cloth was marked. A roll up
board would be extremely handy.
Dora

"Christina Peterson"

I've never used a lay out board, but I'm planning to get a couple. Mostly
for the measuring function.

"roxan"

Many times the things I think I may
want to make with the beads I have chosen sometimes don't work and I have to
change to something else. This would be difficult to do if you don't have
beads on hand.

Yes, even if the beads are the right color, they might be the wrong size or
shape. I finished stringing my necklace tonight, but my eyes go straight to the
beads I have coming directly out of the purse. They are a bit too orange and a
bit too square. So I'll let it sit overnight, look at it in a different light,
and probably restring that strand tomorrow. If I had to go shopping again the
purse would sit in the drawer for another year, or at least another month, but
I can restring using the beads on hand.

I suspect the LBS stringer made changes once she got the necklace home and on
the worktable.
Dora

I bought a box of that new Glad wrap, thinking about some sort of rolled
up-able "board". Haven't used it yet, though.

Tina


"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
The lady in the store was using a felt cloth, not a board, but the
necklace was
in such a precise semi-circle that I think the cloth was marked. A roll up
board would be extremely handy.
Dora

"Christina Peterson"

I've never used a lay out board, but I'm planning to get a couple. Mostly
for the measuring function.

You mean to use the glad as a cover for a board or as a board alone?
Dora

"Christina Peterson"


I bought a box of that new Glad wrap, thinking about some sort of rolled
up-able "board". Haven't used it yet, though.

Tina


"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
The lady in the store was using a felt cloth, not a board, but the
necklace was
in such a precise semi-circle that I think the cloth was marked. A roll up
board would be extremely handy.
Dora

"Christina Peterson"

I've never used a lay out board, but I'm planning to get a couple. Mostly
for the measuring function.

I don't spend much time in that aisle of the grocery store (I do a lot of
recycling and haven't bought a roll of plastic for a long itme), and haven't
watched tv for a year, so I'm afraid I don't know what this stuff is.
Dora
"roxan"

I think she is talking about the new Press and Seal wrap.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
You mean to use the glad as a cover for a board or as a board alone?
Dora

"Christina Peterson"


I bought a box of that new Glad wrap, thinking about some sort of rolled
up-able "board". Haven't used it yet, though.

Tina


"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
The lady in the store was using a felt cloth, not a board, but the
necklace was
in such a precise semi-circle that I think the cloth was marked. A roll
up
board would be extremely handy.
Dora

"Christina Peterson"

I've never used a lay out board, but I'm planning to get a couple.
Mostly
for the measuring function.

I think she is talking about the new Press and Seal wrap.
Roxan
"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
You mean to use the glad as a cover for a board or as a board alone?
Dora

"Christina Peterson"


I bought a box of that new Glad wrap, thinking about some sort of rolled
up-able "board". Haven't used it yet, though.

Tina


"Bungadora" wrote in message
...
The lady in the store was using a felt cloth, not a board, but the
necklace was
in such a precise semi-circle that I think the cloth was marked. A roll
up
board would be extremely handy.
Dora

"Christina Peterson"

I've never used a lay out board, but I'm planning to get a couple.
Mostly
for the measuring function.