Beading for Boys, and Beading Daily

I know someone else here subscribes to or visits Beading Daily, because they linked to the interview with Kandice there.

I get a post most days, which I find interesting about half the time. They had a post, with additional subscriber comments, on Beading For Boys which I commented on as follows: I think the comment about men having trouble with bracelets or longer necklaces clanking and catching is interesting, since those are objections I have too. And I never make jewelry tougher for men than for women, since I also require very tough jewelry, with practical toggles. And on Spectra line instead of Sofflex, which will deform if stuffed in a pocket.

I gave my future son in law two necklaces (before I'd even met him) which were both very successful. One was quite simple: a cylindrical borosilicate lampwork bead on 4 mm braided leather with a couple bali beads on either side, and heavy bali end caps. The other was more ornate: a full set of

10-12 mm borosilicate lampwork (Beads of Passion) with 12, 10 and 8 mm pyrite rounds and lots of bali. Larger findings cost more but provide a visual balance. Intricate work in subtle colors worked well.

I've also made traditional 3 or 4 strand chokers with bone hairpipe or dentalia.

My husband loves the beaded crochet bag I made him. Single crochet cotton, through both top threads makes it almost indestructible: a variegated pattern of blues.

A long haired hippy musher postman wears big beautiful beaded barrettes his wife makes.

Zipper pulls work better for me than cell phone charms, but for my daughter's wedding I'm making uni-sex pendants that can be used for a necklace, cell phone, zipper or key chain.

I haven't been successful with necklaces for my bearded husband, though a mountain man necklace is in the works for him to wear at my daughter's wedding. I bead around walking sticks, and also made a peyote bezel around one of his healing stones.

Tina