Beads, Dogs, and Disaster: Crafting With Pets Around

Let’s set the scene: it’s a sunny morning, the kettle’s just boiled, and you’re finally sitting down to string that bracelet design that’s been in your head all week. You’ve got your gemstone beads laid out in neat little rows, elastic cord cut to size, and you’re feeling inspired. That’s when it happens…

Enter: the dog.

Tail wagging like a metronome of chaos, tongue hanging out with an air of innocence, and absolutely zero regard for your carefully arranged workspace. One enthusiastic sniff, and whoosh — your green aventurine beads are now rolling across the floor like tiny marbles in a gemstone escape plan.

Sound familiar?

He can look quite regal when he isn't creating chaos!

The Joy (and Peril) of Crafting With Pets

Crafting with pets around is like trying to thread a needle on a rollercoaster. One minute they’re snoozing peacefully at your feet, and the next they’re attempting to help by investigating every sparkle and string as if you’ve laid out a snack buffet just for them.

My black Labrador is the ultimate “creative assistant.” He insists — without fail — on lying directly on my feet every single time I sit down to crafting session. It’s sweet… until I need to stand up, at which point I find myself pinned in place by a warm, snoring paperweight.

Let me keep your feet warm!

Then there are the disaster stories. Like the times I'm preoccupied with something else and he sends beads flying. Or when he decides a pile of cardboard packaging doesn't need to go in a shredder or recycling, he's more than capable of tearing it all up into small pieces for me so it's nice and manageable (it's his way of helping)! It’s always something!

Strictly Business (Upstairs Only!)

Of course, I keep things professional when it comes to the beads I sell. He isn’t allowed upstairs, where I store and package the gemstone and shell beads for Hessle Cliff. That space stays calm, clean, and dog-free — no fur, no wagging tails, and definitely no impromptu bead avalanches.

No dogs allowed!

Personal crafting time? That’s where the chaos happens. But when it comes to fulfilling orders, everything’s strictly business.

Tips for Pet-Proof Crafting

If you’ve got a curious companion of your own, here are a few hard-won tips:

• Secure your workspace. Lidded trays and bead organisers are your best friend.

  
  

• Avoid leaving things unattended. That half-finished necklace may be too tempting for little paws.

  
  

• Keep tools safely out of reach. Scissors, needles, and wire cutters are a no-go for noses.

  
  

• Accept a little chaos. Sometimes, the best designs come from unexpected interruptions (like remaking a bracelet your dog just “rearranged”).

  
  

Final Thoughts

Crafting with pets can be unpredictable, messy, and occasionally a bit frustrating — but it’s also joyful, full of surprises, and always better with a wagging tail nearby. So next time your dog makes a guest appearance at your crafting table, take a deep breath… and maybe snap a photo before you clean up the mess.

At the very least, it’ll make a great blog post.