I suppose at this point, with 8 fully drawn foundationless frames, going foundation-ful would be kind of like locking the barn door after the horse has been stolen. I appreciate your concern for me and your desire to help me embark on this adventure using methods that will guarantee success. But I'm a stubborn old girl, and I want to do it foundationless. Yup, even with my messes.
Where did I learn about it? I wondered about foundationless before I even heard about it, while I was sitting in my extension office beekeeping course. Then at the field day, during lunch, a longtime beekeeper showed me pics of his foundationless frames, as if he had been reading my mind. Great conversation. THEN I started to research it. (And I'm reading every book I can get my hands on.) That was a year before I found this fabulous forum. So don't blame anyone but me--I put the foundationless bee in my bonnet all by myself.
I really like the way the members of this forum have different methods and opinions, and are free to express them. Nothing like a good discussion, I always say. Seems to me a great way to learn. I like to do things naturally as much as I can, even though my experience has been that it's harder and it takes longer.
Everyone's circs are different, and everyone has to make his own decisions. I have only one little hive, and I don't depend on it for a living. I want my (and my neighbors') fruit plants pollinated--which is happening--and hopefully some honey and wax. If the hive doesn't make it this year, I'll try again next year, hopefully learning from the many mistakes I fully expect to make.
Sorry I'm rambling so long! The day I picked them up, I almost hyperventilated--I don't like to be sticky, and I don't want to be stung--why am I doing this? But so far I am loving having bees, and hope I can graduate to keeping them. I'm hooked.