Beads Please

My craft interests seem to jump from here to there and back again over the course of time. I love scrapbooking, making cards, designing save the date cards, invitations, and favors, making napkin holders, making custom photo boards, designing centerpieces, and much, much more.

Eventually, I'd like to learn to sew better, but I'm intimidated by my mother and sister-in-law who both are excellent seamstresses who work (or did work) in the NYC/London fashion industry. They both made my wedding gown -- a knock-off of three different $6000 dresses that we combined in to one for less than $600! The alecon lace and silk satin fabric was luxurious and MUCH better quality than a dress I could have gotten at David's Bridal for the same price. Here's the sketch my sister-in-law made combining the three dresses (lace from one, sweetheart neckline from another, and mermaid flair from a third) and a back shot of the dress on the big day.

I think it's their old Singer sewing machine that intimidates me...I can't even figure out how to thread the thing. And then they sew on it so fast my eyes are spinning in my head. My mom is giving me her much more current sewing machine and while I know that "real" seamstresses swear by the old Singers, maybe I'll be a lot less intimidated if I can actually figure out how to thread the thing! If I knew how to sew I could have fashionable clothes at a fraction of the price as well as outfit my future home for much less. And I see all the cute things that others are sewing on their blogs and it makes me wish I could sew too. Anyways...I digress.

Lately, I've really gotten into beading. Here's my first project:

I have a long way to go and I need to learn how to photograph the finished product better, but I really enjoy it and am scouring the web and craft stores for affordable, high quality beads. So far, the best website I've found is Firemountain Gems. Does anybody else know of any other high quality but affordable sites? I'm hoping to get good enough where I could sell them along with some of my other crafts but we'll see where God leads. For right now, I'm just going to enjoy the time and talent He's blessed me with as I aim to craft for His glory.