Looking After Finished Beadwork

For most of their life my finished beadwork sits in my bead cupboard.

The beadwork gets packed away in acid free tissue paper or small grip seal bags and bubble wrap with a few silica packets to absorb any moisture (changing them every so often). I store all beadwork in labelled plastic boxes or jewellery cases.

To ensure I can easily find designs I store everything for the current year in one box (as I may need them more often for reference) and then every January I distribute them into their categories e.g. Christmas, ornaments, pen toppers etc. This seems to work well for me, and keeps the beadwork looking as new.

With all antiques and heirlooms, the worst things for beadwork is light and moisture. I have beadwork many years old that is still in immaculate condition, so I guess what I am doing must be working.

I never put beadwork in the sun (windowsill, conservatory etc) or anything that has extreme temperatures (attic, conservatory, over a fireplace, on a radiator etc). The sun will fade beadwork and extreme temperatures can crack the beads (especially beads under a lot of tension). I also avoid putting beadwork in rooms with too much moisture like a bathroom, kitchen, garage etc as this can affect the thread and the finish of the bead (like plated ones).

I also don’t display the items for long (a couple of months at most), preferring to rotate. By changing the position when I come to display the beadwork again it doesn’t “fade” in the same spot each time.

When I do display beadwork I always keep it under a glass dome or in a display case to stop any dust getting on the beadwork. You can dust the beadwork with a make-up brush, but I am a bit lazy and prefer not to, so I keep it under a cover.

Additionally, it’s probably best not to handle the finished beadwork too much as oil on the hands is not good for beads. Only handle with freshly washed and dry hands. In summer weather I also apply this when beading, if I find my hands are getting a bit greasy and sweaty from the heat I will wash them before continuing to bead.

Having said that, don't worry! Delica beads are quite hardy and they will put up with a lot, I am taking so much care as I want to keep the beadwork in immaculate condition, just a little bit of care will keep your beadwork in good condition for many years.

What do you do if you give someone beadwork and they don’t appreciate it?

Remember beading is your hobby and something you are doing for enjoyment. Everyone is different with different tastes, and whilst we can look in wonder at a piece of beadwork and appreciate the effort that has gone into a design, other people, especially if they are not very crafty, will just see the piece as a whole and if it is not to their taste they won’t value it.

It happens to us all, you spend hours making something thinking that someone will like it, only to find you perhaps don’t even get a thank you. But don’t let it get to you, just remember never to make something for them again, there are plenty of people that will appreciate your work and share in your joy of beading.

So if you are planning to give beadwork as a gift here is some advice:

• If you want to give someone a piece of beadwork and they haven’t expressed an interest in your beading before, don’t put in a large amount of work unless you let them know your intentions first and how much work you need to put in. They may have suggestions of things they would like instead, or ask for different colours.
• When it comes to jewellery, this is a very personal thing. See what sort of jewellery they are currently wearing, is it similar in style to what you are planning to bead? Is it of a colour that would go with the clothes they wear? Will they have opportunity to wear it and enjoy it?
• The same goes for home décor, is what you are making something that they are likely to display in their home? Will it go with their other décor? It is something that reflects their personality and interests and do they have somewhere to display it or a use for it?
• I always find seasonal items are great for gifts as they are something that don’t always have to be on display. At Easter, Halloween, Christmas etc its more a case of “anything goes” when it comes to décor so people are usually happy to have a little beaded seasonal display out or a new bauble on the tree, even if it is not quite their taste. I always think its nice that each year they can unwrap the beadwork and remember the friend who beaded it for them.
• You will find that a gift that is given with thought is usually the most successful and well received. When I am beading something I usually know who the recipient will be, who would appreciate it the most, but sometimes I make something that I don’t know who would like it. Then I put it in a little box until I find just the person or sometimes I let someone take a look in the box and pick something out for themselves. (They sometimes pick out something you would not expect them too which is quite fun, and as they really like it they treasure it all the more.)

Above all, remember this is your passion and you have enjoyed the process of making an item. Don’t dwell too much on the journey your beadwork will take after you have given the gift, it will end up in the hands of someone who will appreciate it eventually, I am sure.