Flipping through my new copy of Ornament magazine yesterday (the 30th anniversary issue - vol.30 no.1), I was surprised to come across this ad from the ISGB. OK - I even let out a little squeal. It's always fun to see my own work in print. And this is especially cool because I'm there with none other than the amazing Art Seymour. There's a back story to this...

Art happens to be a long time friend of my uncle and aunt, David and Robin Miles. They go way back to the good old hippie days in Nevada. When I started making beads ten years ago, I was pretty dazzled by the connection. I got Art's card from Robin, who had just shown me an amazing strand of Art's chevron beads, and wrote him a letter introducing myself and humbly asking for any words of wisdom he might have to offer. Either he didn't get the letter - it was on paper... this was before I had email or even a computer! - or he did get it and ignored me. I'll probably never know, and can't guess what he was or wasn't thinking. But it kind of hurt my feelings in a silly newbie way...

I've still never met Art, though he's still a friend of the family, and I still tremendously admire those beads he makes. At this point, ten years later, I'm as tickled as can be to appear in this ad, alongside one of the greatest beadmakers in the world. And I realize that I actually did learn something from him. I go to a lot of effort to answer all my email personally. It takes a lot of time. But I feel like it's important to stay connected with those who take the time to write to me. Sometimes I'm super-brief, because I've learned to spot the people who just want whatever it is they think I have. But when I get a letter from someone who's new to beadmaking and asks my advice, I try to give them a thoughtful answer. They mostly ask the same things, and I write the same answers over and over again. It goes something like this... It takes a lot of time, patience, and practice to make good beads. Make a lot of beads. Make a lot of ugly beads, because that's the way to stretch and learn. Don't take too many classes, and avoid copying other beadmakers you admire. Close the bead books and go for a walk. Go to an art museum. Go to a movie. Go to a shoe store. Go to a used car lot... Anything can be inspiration for new work. Take your time. Get to know the glass. Find your own style and voice and the bead world will be a much more interesting place...

Funny to come to this place now, to be the one giving advice instead of asking for it. But you know... don't listen to me! Listen to you. Maybe Art Seymour was right to ignore me. When we find the answers for ourselves, they mean a lot more than if someone just hands them to us.