Me....all weekend!

The Berkley - Fireline saga

Last week I was contacted by the the Senior Brand Marketing Manager from Berkley concerning the issues that some beaders have been experiencing with Fireline.  At that time he told me there had been no change to their formula, that there were no EPA regulations on biodegradability that they needed to comply with and that they knew of a bad batch (or more) of Crystal Fireline and provided the spool numbers should anyone wish to return it to where they purchased it from.  The batch numbers are: A-28-14-3, E-6-14-1, A-21-14-2 and they are all Crystal 6#.

I replied to his professional and thoughtful email by letting him know there were still unanswered questions, such as issues with Smoke colored Fireline, what the "Improved" packaging meant if there had not been a change made, and the fact that representatives from Berkley had replied to more than one inquiry that there had been a change made in their formula.

Yesterday afternoon I received a conference call from this gentleman as well as two other officers from Berkley.  They too were polite, engaging and open-minded with their questions and comments.  They were eager to hear about my own personal experiences with Fireline as well as that of my customers and peers.

I explained to them the problems I had experienced and relayed comments from my customers that lined up with my own experiences.  They asked several questions to confirm and learn more.

They then replied saying that the beading industry is a large and important part of their Fireline sales and that our concerns are very important to them.  They are aware of EPA regulations but they have to do with lead content, of which Fireline contains none.  They said there had been an improvement made to the coating on the Fireline to help with abrasion and while this improvement was originally designed for the fishing industry, they felt it would also be a benefit to beaders as we also deal with a level of abrasion on the line as we drag it though bead holes.

While they were not aware of any issues from their end with Smoke Fireline they were very interested in learning about and helping to solve any issues I had mentioned to them.  As such they will be sending me samples of line to test.  I said I would be able to recreate the same project I was beading when I first experienced issues and would be happy to test each of the samples on that same project and let them know my experience.

I also asked them, once all testing and quality issues had been explored if they would be so kind as to provide me with an official statement from their company that could be shared with Planet Bead.  I feel strongly that they do have our best interests in mind at this time and that they are willing to work hard to solve any issues that may have occurred with their product so that it remains a reliable alternative for us to use in our beadweaving designs.

As soon as I have further information I will pass it along. 

Happy Beading,

Fremont Bead Guild Kit Colorways

Moonflower is available in

 Turquoise/Teal

 Copper/Purple

Arabesque is available in

Original Colorway - Purple/Topaz/Fuchsia

 Gold Iris/Turmaline/Purple

Copper/Teal

 Sage/Lavender

The Time Keeper is available in

Blue/Bronze

 Purple/Green

Your baby...

One day you have a “twinkle” in your eye.  Before you know it you have conceived.  Your excitement cannot be contained.  Can I really do this?  Am I old enough?  Am I smart enough?  Will I have the resources to protect this baby from harm?  Will I know how to raise it properly?  Too many questions!  But oh how excited you are!

You clean and paint and prepare with ever growing anticipation.  The day is drawing near.  You tell everyone you know and beam with pride when they share in your joy and congratulate you.

You stay awake nights wondering….what shall I name it?  Will it be healthy?  I hope I’m not doing anything wrong!  I would hate to harm it in any way.  I am just so excited….it’s almost time now!

And then!!......all the sweat, all the tears, all the money, all the exhaustion, all the excitement leads you straight to that beautiful day….when you flip on the open sign to your brand new bead store!

She is unique…one of a kind!  And you put so much of yourself into her creation.  The pride can barely be contained.  And then the visitors come and they praise you on how beautiful she is, how fresh and new she looks and smells, how happy they are that she is finally here and they will come and visit her often.  And they do.  And she grows.  And you continue to nurture her and put in every waking moment - and many sleeping ones - into her well-being.

As she grows you watch over her carefully…not too fast now, you’ll bust out of your britches!  But not too slowly either…the excitement of new people coming to see her is amazing.

She is a joy and brings you comfort and joy and you find that all you put into her comes flowing back over you easily.  You have made her a success!

And then one day she gets a little hurt…maybe someone said something to hurt her feelings, or maybe another stepped on her toes in their rush to pass her by?  Maybe the area she lives in isn’t always easy to get by in?  Maybe she had to watch some of her friends close their eyes for the very last time and she wonders if it will be her turn next?

But you keep putting your heart and soul into her well-being. 

And then one day she really stumbles hard.  She is bruised and shaking and bleeding pretty badly.  But once again you pick her up in your arms and put all of your energy into making the hurt go away.  You work hard once again to fix her back up.  But this time the hit was really hard and one that she will never fully heal from because it remains a daily threat.  It is huge and looming and lives high up on the hill and is constantly throwing rocks at her like a bully would. 

You taught her to have pride.  To be honest.  To be fair.   You taught her to learn to adapt.  To never confront the bully as that just gives the bully more fuel for their fire.  You taught her to just pick herself up, dust herself off and try again, and again, and again.  Sometimes daily.  She knows this road well.  She has been walking it now for many, many years.  But always around the corner lies another obstacle.  Some days they are so huge it seems there will never be a way to overcome them.  Some days she wonders if it is worth it. 

The bully will never go away.  And more bullies join it over time.  Sometimes coming out of nowhere.  She feels the pressure as more and more of them join in.  She sees her friends all over the country, all over the world dealing with the same issues she is confronted with daily from the bullies.  Some days that gives her strength, some days it makes her wonder when it will all stop being worth it.  Some days she feels she has very little breath left in her.

And then she sees all of her friends waving her on.  Smiling and supporting her and reminding her how much she is loved.  And she picks herself up yet again….

Dear friends,
The next time you walk into your local bead store, (or whatever locally owned business you may visit), take a moment to consider your words.  If you say something hurtful, consider the connection that store owner has to their business.  If you compare them to another similar business, think of how that could hurt if someone said their child was better than yours.  They are proud of their business, whether they conceived it from infancy or adopted it along the way.   They carry a love that runs very deep for what is held between those four walls.  Consider how some of us actually view them as our babies and the time and energy and love we’ve poured into them. 

Consider the time that has been put into making this a special place for you to visit.
Consider the obstacles the business has to overcome, sometimes on a daily basis, to provide you with something you want or need. 

Just be kind.  You never know what they may be dealing with.  Some days just a smile can help them climb that next hurdle.  And every day your support is priceless in more ways than you can ever imagine. 

Thanks for listening to my heart express how I feel about my own bead store.  I’m pretty certain all those other little stores sprinkled across Planet Bead feel a lot like I do.  

Class Options for CCBS

Name: Arabesque
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $$
Description: 

Using the brand new Czech glass two-hole triangle beads, you'll create Arabesque motifs that are joined together to produce this stunning bracelet. The same technique, when turned at various angles, creates a limitless number of designs.
Students will Learn: 

A modified and embellished version of herringbone; color placement; finishing techniques to enhance your beadweaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: Enchanted
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: Full Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $$
Description: 

Embellish like crazy!
Peyote bezel around a gorgeous Czech glass button, then cover the back with intricate net stitch.  A working bail will be added so you can attach your new pendant to different necklaces depending on your mood or the occasion.  Branch fringe loaded with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and assorted Japanese seed beads complete the look of this luscious pendant.
Students will Learn: 

Peyote, Netting, Fringing.  A very fun class that will teach you about color placement of beads to create a balanced and attractive piece of jewelry that you’ll cherish forever.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: Moonflower
Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
Duration: Full Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $
Description:
Bezel around Swarovski chatons, then using a modified peyote stitch technique create petals that bloom from each bezel to form the lovely little ‘Moonflowers”. Three variations of the flower rest upon a modified St. Petersburg chain and one flower finishes the hidden snap closure. 

Students will Learn:
Create texture and depth in beadwork by layering various elements upon a beaded base; create eye-catching embellishments with splashes of color; finishing techniques that will enhance your bead-weaving skills. 

Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: Pearls DeVine
Skill Level: All
Duration: 1/2 Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $+
Description:
Beautiful beaded elements wrap around lustrous Swarovski crystal pearls to create this dramatic necklace. Imagine the various color possibilities that can change the mood of this necklace from sweet-and-tender to Gothic-and-intense.
Students will Learn:
This modified right-angle weave technique will broaden your ability to create a myriad of designs; create individual beaded elements that will be connected and embellished; color theories and finishing techniques will enhance your bead-weaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: Second Season
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day or Full Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $+
Description:
Create a beautiful trellis with beads with a lush floral theme dripping with beaded flower petals and Swarovski crystals and pearls.
Students will Learn:
This modified cubic right-angle weave technique will broaden your skills at creating decorative ropes while the fringing techniques will allow for a fun and colorful time to just play; color theories and finishing techniques will enhance your bead-weaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: Shapeshifter
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: 1/2 Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $+
Description:
Using several of the new bead shapes you'll create a bracelet with a totally unpredictable thread path.  These skills can be used to explore how the various new 2-hole beads can be used in conjunction with one another to create visual beaded works of art.
Students will Learn:
This modified right-angle weave technique will give you the skills to see unlimited variations of the interplay between different bead shapes; color theories and finishing techniques will enhance your bead-weaving skills.
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: The Snake Charmer
Skill Level: Intermediate Advanced
Duration: Full Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $$$
Description:
A sinuous rope of cubic right-angle weave gently curves and binds several sparkling Swarovski Elements into an enticing shape. Beautiful netting encloses the back of the elements for comfort and protection against wear.  
Students will Learn:
How to bead decorative peyote stitch bezels with a beautiful web of netting attached to secure the stones; use of various colors to create the illusion of movement in the cubic right-angle weave rope that bends around the beaded crystals; color placement details; finishing techniques.  
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.

Name: The Time Keeper
Skill Level: Intermediate
Duration: Full Day
Kit: Yes
Cost: $$
Description:
Sections of right-angle weave capture a sparkling Swarovski Rivoli in time. Beautiful netting encloses the back for comfort and protection against wear. The completed pendulum is suspended from a decorative Spiral Rope.
Students will Learn:
How to bead decorative peyote stitch bezels with a beautiful web of netting attached to secure the stones; right-angle weave sections attached to the edging of the Peyote as well as to itself with embellishment beads; colorful spiral rope; a decorative beaded toggle clasp; color placement details; finishing techniques.  
Prerequisites: Ability to work with 15/0 seed beads helpful.
Project will not be completed in class.