Creating beaded jewellery started out as a hobby for Lydia Sheridan but became her "saving grace"
during a period of convalescence from back surgery.
"[My daughter] Bec and I were up at Noosa 12 months ago and we found a lovely bead shop," she said.
"We thought we'd like to come home and make our own.
"We found it so interesting we kept on at it and then I got obsessed with beads."
Lydia had surgery in September and was virtually confined to the house in the following months.
"Really I don't know what I would have done without that interest," she said. It has kept me sane.
And eventually I hope it will become a little business.
"What I aim to do is sell at markets and in-home displays. That way people can have a look at things.
I'm working on getting a collection of jewellery together so when I go somewhere I've got variety."
She admits to being surprised at her new passion.
"You get totally obsessed with beads," she said.
She laughs when she recalls her first order of four beads in three sizes.
"I thought that would be enough," she said. "But the size and shapes and
colours of beads are unbelievable."
She now has thousands of beads, all coded according to colour and type.
Her collection includes monks' beads of bone, horn and rosewood, glass beads from
India, cloisonne and handpainted porcelaine from China, beads from Indonesia,
ceramics from Peru, and glass and crystal beads from the Czech Republic and Austria.
"I'm just moving into gemstones," she said. "They're lovely to work with.
They've got a natural look and blend in beautifully."
This has extended her collection to include freshwater pearls, chips of coral,
shell and turquoise, and beads of rose quartz, amethyst, peridot, garnet and citrine.
Lydia aims to have a stall at the next Irish Woolfest, Boorowa, New South Wales,
Australia and is already planning her business with a registered name "To Bead or Not To Bead"
and a stylish business card, featuring Ladybead Lydia Sheridan.
Asked if she had always shown an artistic flair, Lydia hesitates but her daughter was quick to answer.
"Yes, she did," said Bec. "Before her back injury, she used to be a passionate
gardener. She got it from her mum who does open garden schemes. She might be
modest but she is creative. She always won prizes at the Show."
Irish Woolfest
The Irish Woolfest originally started as Wool Week, to promote the fine wool of the region.
It was suggested that the Irish section be added due to the strong Irish connection in the area.
"The Running of the Sheep" at Boorowa’s Irish Woolfest, is likened to the "Running of the Bulls"
in Pamplona. Full wool merinos rampage down the main street of Boorowa leading the colourful street
parade which meanders along behind, with the NSW Irish Pipe Band, and the Canberra Celtic Pipe Band resplendent in their Irish kilts.
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