Since my studio in Berlin was so large (80 square meters!) I had plenty of room to spread work out on tables and pursue different projects simultaneously. One of the projects I took up was jewelry-making and so I learned how to bead and bend metal. As with everything new that I try, I completely immerse myself, working through book after book and project after project.

Beads are incredibly satisfying to work with, though I was as bad at following beading patterns as I am at following knitting patterns or cooking recipes. I just can’t do it, so I was always veering off into experimentation, which sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t. Occasionally I mixed assemblage with jewelry arts, coming up with odd, quirky pieces. I own almost none of these pieces anymore. Almost all adorn friends and I’m always happy to see them being worn.

As with the weaving, I eventually ran out of steam. I do have some larger bead weaving and embroidery pieces I’d like to undertake in the future, but I don’t have plans to start them soon.