Here at the Bead&Button office I’m surrounded by beads. My desk is piled with beads I’m using for current projects. The shelves in the magazine’s workroom are filled with beads I can use for future beading projects. My work area at home is also piled high with my own bead stash.

Well this weekend I’m going to take a break from beading. My husband and I are spending the Labor Day weekend with out-of-town friends. We’re going to hike at a state park, eat at our favorite restaurants (no dish washing this weekend), and have an in-home movie marathon (this year’s theme is French movies). And I’m not going to think about beading or pick up a beading needle.

No matter how much I love beading, I know it’s a good thing to occasionally take a break from it. I need to regularly recharge my creativity battery and the best way for me to do that is to shut down the beading side of my brain. It usually takes a little time to turn off the beading brain functions — thinking about how I’ll word a set of instructions, draw an illustration, or solve a design problem. I’ll still write myself one or two notes about something I have to remember to do next week when I’m back in the office. And then I just force myself to focus on something else.

And next Tuesday when I’m back at my desk, I’ll look at the projects I’m going to edit for the February 2008 issue and I’ll be enthused to start writing instructions and making the copies of the pieces of jewelry. I also know that while I have not consciously thought about beading, the beading part of my brain has still been working in the background figuring out solutions and organizing options.

I hope you have an enjoyable Labor Day weekend. For most people, having a long weekend is a great opportunity to work on a beading project. We all know beading is a relaxing hobby that can take your mind off your daily home and work routines, and help you express your creativity. Think of me when you’re happily settled in with your beadwork and the latest issue of Bead&Button. I’m going to be just as happy taking a break from beading.