Every hobby has its own lingo. For instance, beaders talk about stitches, tools, and materials. I learned some new hobby lingo the other day as I was reading a copy of another Kalmbach Publishing publication — Model Railroader. This magazine is to model railroad hobbyists what Bead&Button is to beaders. I was intrigued to read about “scratch building,” “detailing,” and (my favorite) “kitbashing.”

I think we need to add these words to beaders’ vocabulary. Scratch building refers to constructing a building without a kit, using materials that are not pre-cut or stamped out. Beaders do that — we take a tube of beads, some thread, and a handful of findings and, following a set of instructions, create something unique.

Detailing is the process a modeler uses to make the model railroad layout look authentic. It’s all the little things — miniature people, signs, model trashcans, and imitation gravel. Beaders do their own detailing to give a piece of jewelry a finished look.

Kitbashing involves taking the parts of various kits and combining them to create a completely different building than what’s pictured on the cover of the box. How many times have you taken beads from different kits and combined them to make something extra special? What kits have you kitbashed lately? What was the result?

Yes, we all have our own way of talking about our hobby. At times it may make that hobby seem exclusive to those in-the-know about its intricacies. But hobbies should be for everyone. Have you shared your beading hobby lately? Take some time and teach someone something about beading. It’s more fun when lots of people can talk the lingo.

Happy beading.

Lynne