Finding Treasures in the Labyrinth (and on the Streets of Amsterdam)

Last week, Andi was here in The Netherlands. You might know from my personal stories that in Amsterdam, you can find treasures on the street if you keep an open eye. So many pieces in my new home were once abandoned, waiting for me at the right time and the right place! Here, we prefer to refurbish and reuse what is still in good condition instead of throwing it away. We even have designated spots where we can leave what we no longer need so our neighbors can pick it up—mostly books, furniture, and kitchenware.

So, of course, we had to carry it home. It wasn’t a huge distance, but the midday sun made this weighted walk demanding. We tried different strategies: me carrying the shelves with my left hand, Andi with her right. Then the opposite. We tried removing the inserts, dividing the weight of the frame and the extras between the two of us. By the time a kind neighbor held the door open for us as we entered the building, we were catching our last breaths. 

After that unexpected workout, we decided to take it easy. I craved a nap. However, Andi noticed that I rarely let myself get taken care of by someone else… I cook my meals, I do my shopping, and I tick off all flat-related tasks from my to-do list alone. I am happy to do these “big girl” tasks, but doesn’t it feel absolutely amazing when someone takes one of those responsibilities off your shoulders?

While I was asleep, she baked a crunchy, cheese-filled Turkish pastry and whipped up a refreshing tomato, lime, and cilantro salad for lunch.

Moreover, she cleaned the bookcase so it was ready when I woke up. I could immediately start arranging my plants, cute little decorations, and my “clever books.” I decided to keep my self-help, psychology, and personal growth books here. It has become a beloved hobby of mine to learn about myself and the world around me, expanding my knowledge for my tasks at Beadingschool. I have accumulated so many books over the years, and it will come in handy to keep them in this separate new space so I can easily find inspiration when I need to refresh a thought!

There is one specific book I placed on that shelf that means a lot to me. Andi recommended it to me a few years ago when she was expecting her baby boy. At the time, I was terrified. I wasn’t sure if I was prepared to take care of the whole Beadingschool Team and all the responsibilities on my own while she tended to her growing family. I supported her fully—and I love seeing her blooming as a mom!—but inside, I was really scared and felt too small to lead our people and stay in touch with all our partners alone.

The book is a parable about mice living in a labyrinth. Sometimes, cheese appears without explanation. However, one day, it becomes less and less. None of the mice know where to find more, or if their usual spot is the only place where they can satisfy their hunger. One mouse stays behind, hoping the old cheese will reappear. The other decides to start exploring the dark, unknown labyrinth…

And guess what? After getting lost multiple times and getting very hungry, he not only finds more cheese, but also entirely new types that he has never tasted before.

The Lesson: Trust that unexplored territories are waiting for you with beauty you can’t even imagine yet. But first, you need to take the leap.

Finding Your “New Cheese” on the Bead Mat

This thought is something I want to carry with me through life, and it feels especially relevant right now as we play with the Coral Garden Beadingschool Academy Theme Box. Taking that leap applies to your bead mat when you are exploring new colors, shapes, and stitches, just as much as it applies to life when a new chapter unfolds.

The fact is, you never feel completely prepared. You only get real experience beyond theory by trying. At first, there is a good chance you will fail and need to restart. You might feel inadequate and frustrated. But day by day, you will get better. Trust yourself, and trust that you will find the resources to learn from. Trust that there is more “cheese,” more beauty, and that even the learning process can be fun!

For me, creating asymmetrical jewelry used to be super scary—especially when incorporating unusual objects that weren’t originally intended for beading, like the ones in the Borneo and Safekeeper necklaces I showed you recently during #CoffeeTimeWithErika. I didn’t dive into a massive piece right away; I took tiny steps. So tiny that sometimes it barely felt like moving. But little by little, my brain got used to this new way of thinking, and I started finding it easier to create visual balance without slipping into an unorderly look.

When you are learning something new, it is a huge help if someone shows you a paved road first. After walking hand-in-hand with a mentor, you will feel safer on your own journey of mapping out what works for you.

To help you build your confidence with asymmetric jewels, we asked Italian jewelry designer Giuliana Verdelli to create an exclusive tutorial for you!

🌊 What you’ll learn: Giuliana will guide you through beading, connecting, and decorating various elements to compose an asymmetrical necklace with a harmonious, organic, underwater coral reef feel.

🎁 How to get it: The tutorial is not available for purchase separately. It comes as a special gift when you purchase the Mini Box + Imitation Coral Bundle!

Inside the “Coral Garden” Mini Box 🪸📦

You can use your own seed beads, pearls, and cabochons from the Beadingschool Bead Shop, and add these fun, unique elements from the Mini Box to customize your creations. Each box contains the same type of content, but the colors of some components may vary to let you play with new combinations!

There are 120 pieces altogether in the box!

• 2 pc(s) — 43×44.5 mm Coral Bead Imitation Surprise color

• 10 pc(s) — 11×12.5 mm Sea Snail Beads Imitation Sea Green

• 1 pc(s) — 14×21 mm Shell Beads Imitation Light Salmon

• 10 pc(s) — 10×11.5 mm Scallop Beads Imitation Coral Pink

• 10 pc(s) — 8.5×13 mm Sea Rose Imitation Dark Red

• 6 pc(s) — 11×12 mm Greek Islands Round Bead Imitation Beige

• 10 pc(s) — 8×10 mm Magnolia Flower Beads Imitation Yellow Green

• 12 pc(s) — 7×8 mm Flower Bud Coral Beads Imitation Surprise color

• 10 pc(s) — 10×12.5 mm Flower Coral Beads Imitation Surprise color

• 10 pc(s) — 10×11 mm Rose Flower Coral beads Imitation Surprise color

• 10 pc(s) — 11 mm Round Coral beads Imitation Surprise color

• 1 pc(s) — 33×44 mm Algae Bead Imitation Yellow Green

• 20 pc(s) — 6 mm Flower Coral Beads Imitation Orange Red

• 6 pc(s) — 12×17.5 mm Shell bead Imitation Surprise color

• 2 pc(s) — 10.5×34 mm Teardrop Coral Flower Bead Imitation Surprise color

• 🔮 Round Coral Beads: These are super easy to include in your beadwork! Simply substitute your standard glass beads with these imitation coral beads to add that instantly recognizable, rich color.
• 💧 Teardrop-Shaped Beads: Perfect for hanging below earring motifs! They are drilled top-to-bottom, so all you need to do is bead down, add a tiny seed bead, and bead back up again. 🧵
  💡 Tip: After crossing the bead from the motif that will hold this extra part, it’s highly recommended to repeat the thread path for extra security!
• 🪸 Rare Coral Branch Components: These can be wonderfully featured in your bead embroidery! Bead a base motif and attach the branch right on top, adding a strand or two of 15/0 Miyuki beads at crucial attachment points to keep the branch exactly where you want it to be. 📐
• 🐚 Flattish Shells: These are perfect for being sewn down directly onto Ultra Suede to become a textured focal piece of your bead embroidery. 🪡
• 🌸 A Multitude of Flowers: Use these to add extra personal, playful touches! They make fantastic dangles that sway gently with movement. 🎐
• 🌹 Center-Drilled Rose Beads: These can be attached flat to a Right Angle Weave (RAW) square, allowing you to build and decorate gorgeous beadwork all around them. ✨

Susan already has her Mini Box, and during the weekend she completely finished the necklace of Giuliana!

“My first attempt at making something asymmetrical-Giuliana’s Living Harmony.

I thought I was finished but see a few spots to add some more beads. This was really fun to make!”

Reading that Susan already has more ideas to continue, after beading Giuliana’s necklace, put a huge smile on my face. This is exactly what I was hoping to see! Dipping your feet in asymmetry through the tutorial, then start playing on your own, step-by-step.