How Patrick Got Started In Beading

 

I started beading in 2018. I was taught simple beading techniques by Brodie Sanchez (a well-known Indian bead worker). I've always been fascinated with learning about beading. I started when I was a child and listened to everything my Grandmother taught me about beading. My next experience in beading was when Brodie taught me some techniques. I listened to what he was saying for how to bead medallions and necklaces. I struggled to enjoy beading that type of jewelry. Once Brodie caught on that I didn’t like this type of beadwork, he dared me to make something without help. Soon enough, I came back to him with a black and white choker. He told me he had never seen this type of bead work (and he has seen A LOT of bead work). He asked me how I made it and where I learned how to bead like that. I told him I didn’t learn this anywhere and just kind of did what I thought was logical. In my mind you just needed two rows of beads and then you loop more beads in-between the two rows. He was amazed and I showed him how I did it.

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When Brodie and I departed from each other, I was inspired to try and make a business out of bead work. I created an Etsy account and started making posts. I sold one piece of jewelry and a custom bracelet for a client. I didn’t know much about how to price these pieces of jewelry. So, I created an excel spreadsheet that took hours worked, materials, and shipping into account. Each piece of jewelry takes about 13 hours. After I submitted the numbers, each piece of jewelry came out to be over $100 each. That was how I priced each piece.

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Over time my hobby of beading turned into work and I started to dread beading. Around this time, I had read an article stating that, you don’t have to make each hobby a job. That’s exactly what I did. I decided to step down from my Etsy account and make jewelry exclusively for my family. My family loves my bead work. I find more enjoyment out of that rather than making money.