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Creating your personalised beadwork jewelry symbolizes an innovative hobby that allows you to develop unequaled art objects for yourself, family and friends. It is an appreciated avocation that can be expanded into a home line of work. Here is how you can get started.

If you inquired yourself “could not I create that myself?” When you searched through and through rows of bead bracelets, necklaces or earrings at a stylish boutique, the response follows “certainly”. Beadwork represents an originative and amusing hobby that not alone will have you produce extraordinary, handmade items of jewelry, but will in addition to comprise a great source of bighearted ideas for family and friends.

The first step would be to find a good local bead shop. There are wonderful mail order catalogs and websites that will sell you all the supplies, look for a business that provides support and advice. A retail store might also offer a number of beginners’ classes that would help you learn basic techniques (if there is no bead shop in your town, some introductory books such as The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Beading will have to do).

Begin with a simple project, such as a bracelet or basic necklace, and do not go overboard with costly beads and findings (clasps, hooks, and so on.). You may want to use Swarovski crystal, sterling silver and valuable beads immediately, but you’ll be able to bring yourself up to that later on. Many stores will even stock packaged starter kits that include a beadwork board (which aids you with your project arrangement), a a couple of basic instruments, beads, wire, findings and a how-to-book.

You should then set up your “beading space” preferably an uncluttered, well-lit area. You might have to invest in a good lamp, maybe one combined with a magnifying lens. Remember, you will be stringing some rather tiny objects! Make sure you have plenty of containers to keep different types and colors of beads separate nothing will spoil your joy of beading like having to hunt for a single bead in a jumbled pile. Beading stores will sell you various storage systems (including beading bags for the beader-on-the-go), but you can also experiment with inexpensive plastic containers meant to hold small hardware or fishing tackle.

Well, there you are ready for your first bead jewelry project! Don’t forget to protect your beading space from curious cats and toddlers. Happy beading, and have fun wearing your hand-crafted jewelry!

Craftsman and Author Ethan O. Tanner shares his expertise the joy of Beading the process forselecting beading suppliesfor your task. You are welcome to reprint this article – but get your own unique content version here.

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Forget the debate about the chicken or the egg. What really comes first should be the chicken coop.

Lots of folks love the idea of raising backyard chickens, and for good reason — it’s a great idea. But the logistics of keeping chickens — all the unknowns about breeds, poultry housing, chicken feed, and city regulations — might keep some people from getting started.

So to ease some of the stress from the myriad of questions, here are a few simple tips about building your own chicken coop. The best coops will have the following properties:

1) Proper Overall Size — Your coop needs at least 4 square feet per hen. That means that for 8 laying hens you should have at least 32 square feet in your chicken coop floor plan. You also need to consider the size of the outdoor run at well. Typically you should have at least 6 square feet per hen for free range space.

2) Above Ground Level — The nesting area needs to be raised up off the ground anywhere from 6 inches to 18 inches to protect the hens from predators and cold, damp soil.

3) Efficiency — You need to consider how you will get into the nesting boxes for cleaning and for collecting the eggs. A poorly designed coop can turn these chores into back-breaking work. Something as simple as adding an access panel, such as a hinged roof panel or hinged door, might suffice.

4) Proper Size of the Nesting Boxes — The subject of nesting box size is debatable. Every expert seems to have a different opinion. In general, however, they seem to agree that something in the range of 12×12 inches up to 18×18 inches is best for two laying hens.

5) Attractive Appearance — Your chickens may not care what their coop looks like, but chances are that your neighbors will. But don’t let your neighbors’ taste worry you. There are many chicken coop designs that are downright cute, and some that are even more adorable than most playhouses.

6) Appropriate for Your Climate — Be sure to choose a design that works well with your region and your climate. For example, warm weather typically calls for better ventilation, whereas colder weather calls for more insulation.

7) Portability — Not all chicken coops need to be portable. But for smaller coops, portability is a major benefit. Moving the coop periodically will provide your chickens with fresh grass and a change of pace.

If you keep these factors in mind while choosing or designing your coop, you will already be ahead of the game.

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So you’re thinking about raising chickens in your backyard. What a great idea! But where do you start? Or, more specifically, where do the find the right chicken coop? Unfortunately, that’s not an easy question to answer.

All coops are different because each person’s (and chicken’s) situation is unique. How big is the breed you are planning to raise? How hot or cold is your climate? How much space do you have? Do many predators lurk in your neighborhood? The questions seem limitless.

Well fear not. Sure, there are lots of variables, but you really have only three choices:

1) Buy a pre-built, ready-made chicken coop – Pre-built coops are a fine idea. They are usually well made and well designed. But they can also cost an arm and a leg. New ready-made coops start around $500, but most cost well into the $1000’s. And that doesn’t even include installation. Also, don’t forget the costs of shipping too.

2) Design and build it yourself – You could just “wing it” – no pun intended. You can start from scratch and build it yourself, even without a plan. Sometimes that will work, but often it doesn’t. As the builder, you will likely end up frustrated and confused, and your chickens could be a bit unhappy too. Unless you’re the handyman or carpenter type, this option is probably not the best for you.

3) Buy plans and build it yourself – An excellent compromise is to buy your plans from an experienced chicken farmer, and then build it yourself. That way you can be sure that your needs and the needs of your chickens have been considered in the design. But be sure the plans are clear and easy to follow, especially if you’re not the handyman type. And look for designs that can be built from standard, inexpensive materials so that you can save money on construction.

Whatever coop you choose, congratulations on making a decision and moving forward toward backyard chicken raising. May you and your hens enjoy your coop for many, many moons.

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