Have you got ‘bead radar’ like I do? Do you notice people’s beadwork before you really notice them? Do you see trucks on the highway carrying large pipes and think of bugle beads? Do you buy make up and think, I want that eye pencil...it matches my F648 seed beads. If so I guess we could call you a bead-brain, too. Join the club of millions! If your radar is acute, then you’ll notice that beads have invaded our perception of the world and you don’t have to look very far to notice them.

Beads have certainly invade our thought process at random times of day, and thank goodness for that because it keeps the creative juices flowing. You’ll think up new project, and tips on how to do your work easier. Keep a journal to list your bead tips in, so that you can reference them again later, when the cobwebs have settled in and you need a refresher. Here are a few for you to start with...

An easy way to make sure you measure equal lengths of chain is to put the end of the already cut chain on a headpin or piece of wire and the to-be-cut chain on the same headpin or wire. Then suspend them at eye level to see where to cut the 2nd piece of chain to match the length of the first exactly.

Don’t know what to do with left over head pin wire? Make a loop at one end, add an odd bead from a mix, and then loop the other end. When you have another, chain link it onto the first. Soon you’ll have a strand of fabulous and diverse beads to put a funky pendant on.

If you’re using seed beads that have a coating on them, and you’re worried the coating will wear off, try this tip. Place your seed beads in a ziplock bag. Spray Krylon® into the bag and seal. Squish the beads around until they’re evenly coated. Allow to dry. Now the color is safely on the bead!

Don’t know what to do with your broken beads? Save them! Store them in an out of the way container, and when you have enough, use a glue gun to attach them around the edge of a picture frame ormirror. Make sure you glue them in a way where to broken part doesn’t show.

Have a vintage pin that you want to wear as a necklace? Make a strand of beads and crimp a lobster claw to both ends. Now you can attach each end to the pin back, or to the filligree sides. Just check to make sure the clasps aren’t showing.

Velvet boards work great for a work surface, and they were made for that purpose. But before they came along, we used a terry cloth washcloth or hand towel. Beads stay where you put them, and its portable. You can fold it up and it only takes up a small space in your bead bag.

Store your sterling silver wire in ziplock bags to prevent it from oxidizing (tarnishing). For that matter, store your sterling jewelry in ziplock bags in your jewelry box for the same reason.

Remember to be good to your body while you’re beading. Take breaks to stretch out your arms, legs, neck and don’t forget your fingers. Get them limbered up by opening and closing them into a fist over and over, and then wiggling each finger around. Sit in a chair that’s an appropriate height to the table you’re working at, and remember your good posture. I know too many times I’ve been so into my project that I forget to pay attention to how I’m sitting… and the hours tic by. The next thing I know a headache has settled in and I’m stiff and sore all over. So be good to yourself while you bead. And don’t forget your eyes, either. Good lighting and glasses if you need them can make a big difference, too.

Sometimes bead tips can save you a lot of time and effort. So every so often we’ll be offering a bead tip article for you… to help make your bead adventures more pleasant! If you have any that you’d like have posted, you can send them to us by e-mail, and we’ll post them in a future article. Share the knowledge! Click Here to contact us.
Please include whether you’d like your name posted along with your tip, or if you’d like to remain anonymous. Until then…