I love bead stores. I love the colors, all the sparkly, glittery, glowy bits and pieces. I love the sense of endless possibility.

Usually, I know exactly where I’ll gravitate: Oh! that cobalt! Mmmm, this glows like a ruby. Ahhh, sparkly crystals like snowflakes! And… this looks exactly like the necklace I made last year. Oh.

Listening to My Intuition

Something different happens when I’m making a gift. Before I go into the store, I’ll pause to think of my friend: the last chat we had, that long night in college when we drank too much wine, the way she walks down the street, the flea market finds she ogles but won’t let herself buy. As I walk around the store, I try to hold her gently in my mind. And then I see what jumps out at me.

Huh. Funny. I never noticed those cloisonné beads before. And this Venetian glass pulls out the turquoise in the cloisonné. I wonder if she likes turquoise. I can’t stand turquoise. Wait, aren’t her eyes turquoise?

Why are those frosted flowers singing at me? Those must be the palest pink I’ve ever seen. They look spectacular with the glass. Does this hematite work? NO! Maybe add some gold spacers, and… Wow. That looks like Rebecca.

Getting Out of My Own Way

I’ve tried other methods: sitting down and thinking carefully about my friend’s wardrobe, about what would “go.” Or even asking about favorite colors. The problem is, I get mired down with all my color theory: Alison’s favorite color is green. Here are some pretty green beads. And to compliment the green… let’s look at the color wheel… a bit of red? That’s not Alison, that’s Mrs. Claus.

When I use my intuition, I get out of my own way. Things I didn’t even know I knew about the person rise to the surface. And the design is always better: not based on theory, but on beauty and gut instinct and kinship.

Intuition is a Muscle

The more I used my intuition, the better I got at it. Once, I was in a bead store for something else entirely, when a strand of rutilated quartz shouted out at me: Make me for Denise. I didn’t even know Denise that well, but I made the necklace, and Denise cherishes it to this day. She wears it to meditate, and tells me it helps her to see visions.

Beading Tips

If you like the idea of beading (and intuitive beading) but are new to the process, here are some ideas to get you started:

* Look for variety: in size, shape, color, and texture. I like to use no fewer than 5—and as many as 10 or 12—different beads in a necklace. Toss in some complimentary spacers or seed beads for breathing room.
* Don’t over-think. Toss stuff together, and see how it looks. Take something away. Add something new. Let your eyes tell you when the mix is right.
* You can use the special trays in the store to plot out a symmetrical, repeating design, but I prefer a cheerful jumble—I think it has more life.
* Buy a handful of extra beads and make a matching pair of earrings.
* Ask for help, and buy your findings (little metal bits such as clasps and earring hooks) and thread or tigertail while you’re there. If there are no bead stores near you, there are excellent online resources.

[Photo by ||!prliignore12||]