Getting My Butt Kicked

Stringers are kicking my butt! You might think I'm kidding, but really I'm not. FYI - stringers are just like the glass rods but thinner for more detailed design on the glass. I read up on them before I got involved, and was told to not place the stringer into the flame, but I just couldn't get it to melt outside of the flame. I started to get the hang of that, but decided to ask my original teacher about it the next time I saw her... she suggested that I'm not getting the bead hot enough. So I made the adjustment & was only working with black as the base bead since you can see the temp. of the bead easier. But I must've gotten the bead too hot because when I'd place the streamer onto it it'd just keep going into the bead... no good. It's been real frustrating & I know many of you that come by my blog won't know or care what I'm talking about... but in case any beginners stop by I want them to know their not alone in their frustration. So I'll keep practice, practice, practicing & I know one day I'll be like "ah-ha!" I just wish it would've come sooner. Can you tell I've got a real issue with patience!