ultra Q: Susan Beal

It’s a time for a lot of newness for Portland’s ultimate multitasking DIYer, Susan Beal. Beal, one-fourth of PDX Super Crafty and co-author of the book Super Crafty, has a new book out, a new house, and a new baby on the way. This is in addition to the crafty goods she makes, the blog she writes, West Coast Crafty, her column for getcrafty.com and other writing gigs. She teaches, speaks about craft, and performs occasionally with her husband, artist Andrew Dickson.

April 7, at 7:30 PM, Beal launches her new book Bead Simple: Essential techniques for making jewelry just the way you want it with an event at Powell’s (1005 W Burnside). ultra reviews the book this weekend, but for now, know that this big, beautifully photographed book is frontloaded with the basic tools and techniques (clearly illustrated) you need to make your own jewelry and then dives into dozens and dozens of inspiring, completely customizable projects. If Sew U is the modern starting place for budding seamstresses, Bead Simple is the perfect square one for the new jewelry designer.

Recently, the busy Beal took a minute to answer the questions of the ultra q.

Qualities you most admire in design: Simplicity and open spaces here and there.

Qualities you least admire in design: Fussy overdone-ness.

Reading: Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, Sunset, and Craft in America.

Listening to: Elvis Perkins, Magnetic Fields, and the Birds of Avalon.

Dream project: Designing fabric. I would really love to get to do a whole collection of prints.

Secret superpower: Doing a lot of things at once.

Tragic flaw: Saying yes to too many of those things in the first place!

Favorite virtue: Kindness.

Favorite vice: Dark and Stormys, but while I’m pregnant, Burgerville milkshakes.

That which keeps your afterburners firing: Coffee, always.

What you’d like to be when you grow up: Slightly better organized.

Portland’s best kept secret: I have a few online favorites — DIY Alert and Around the Sun are both fantastic resources to keep an eye on. Out and about, my best tip is that if you’re shopping at the 40% off sale at Fabric Depot, be sure to get everything cut and ring up at the wholesale counter off to the side, instead of wading through the mayhem in the middle of the store. It will save you at least an hour and a lot of your sanity.

Portland heroes (sung or un-): My husband, Andrew Dickson.

Interesting on the horizon (PDX): Next week, the Buckman Bash, and next season, the Blazers!