Lazy Bloggers & Ravishing Rosettes

You know what really annoys me? When I follow a blog that I really love and then the blogger gets too busy or distracted or just plain lazy and doesn't update their blog!

So now I feel like an ass (and a hypocrite) for becoming that busy, distracted, and lazy blogger that hasn't updated my blog in weeks! Sorry to anyone out there who is actually reading this....

Initially I was waiting patiently to post my Reveal of the Beading Babes projects...but the deadline for the reveal has been pushed back a few weeks in order to allow enough time for everyone to participate.

Then I got busy trying to force myself to make earrings every day...and trying to finish up some beaded squares for the Bead it Forward: Beaded Quilts to raise money for Breast Cancer Research(deadline is March 1st)...and finishing up my trays full of UFOs...so I have neglected this diary. But I have been beading and that's the really important part right?

Back to the Beading Babes: the projects that we chose this month have provided the group with some challenges, which is kind of awesome if you think about it. And it has been really nice to see this group work together to figure things out and find the root of the problems!

I think one of the main issues that beaders face with these Projects is that when Beading Magazines publish Tutorials, they edit them down to 2 or 3 pages...and sometimes this edit can leave out some important information. Also each diagram tends to include an entire series of steps rather than a clear diagram for each individual step...which can make it harder for some people to follow, especially less experienced beaders.

A few little sentences in the "Artist's Tips" section would have solved most of the problems that our group stumbled upon in this challenge!

I also think it would be interesting and very helpful if the Magazine Editors would think about using regular beaders, like any of us, to test their edited version of the Tutorial before the Magazine goes to print.

A test group like this would help them catch those little things that beginning beaders may not always know...the little details that a Technical Editor may not even think twice about because they do this every day. These little extras that should be in the "Artists Tips" if they aren't in the actual step by step directions. That is a job I would happily volunteer for...not that it wouldn't be awesome to get paid for it too!

However, I think this is one of the great things about a beading group like this...by choosing patterns that are published in magazines we become a sort of 'self appointed test group' of beaders with various levels of experience. Working on something like this as a group helps us to strengthen our own beading skills, challenges us to try something new and brings us together in friendship with other beaders from around the world!

I had a great time working on the projects this month and getting to know some of the members of the Beading Babes. I also really like my Ravishing Rosettes necklace, and while I thought it looked nice in the magazine, it is not one of the ones I would chosen for myself. So I would have missed out on this wonderful design if I had not joined the Beading Babes group!

I did however decide to rip out the Runway of Pearls bracelet...well, I ripped out my embellishment beads, not the RAW cuff base...it's just not worth all that work ripping out RAW stitches to save a few grams of Triangle beads!

And while I didn't have any technical difficulties with the pattern, I just didn't like the end result all that much. I used the beads that the designer used, and I followed the pattern (except I added an extra inch to the RAW base knowing that it would shrink when embellished) and it turned out just like it should, but I just don't like it. It ends up as a fat little 'tube' of embellished RAW that makes for an awkward bracelet....

I am excited for the Reveal and of course for the announcement of the next project! I can't wait to see how everyone else's projects turned out and to see everyone's color choices too! So look for the Reveal on March 12th at Releases by Rufydoof.

And until then, Happy Beading!