The Pros and Cons of Bead Mats

For years I have been saying that I would never use a bead mat, nor would I permanently line my beading tray with any kind of fabric or fiber. To me, the idea of handling an unwashable piece of fabric or foam for several hours a day is kind of gross. Although we beaders don’t necessarily rub our fingers all over our workspace during a course of a project, the idea that I can take everything off of my bead tray at any time and give it a good wash is very reassuring. It doesn’t exactly get grimy, but dust is definitely a concern. When I’m beading, I like to know that my space and tools are neat as they can be.

A few months ago I got a simple bead mat as a freebie with a bead order, and it sat in my beading cupboard for ages, still in the package. Until a few weeks ago, I didn’t really have any reason to use it. But now that I’m juggling at least two projects at a time while making tutorials and designs for my shop, I need another mini workspace that I can easily put away. Since I still haven’t found a replacement for my dilapidated bead tray, I’m already behind. So, one night while moving from one project to the next, I decided to get out the bead mat.

Since the project that I was working on – the patchwork cuff tutorial – required a lot of bead colors, the bead mat did come in handy for keeping little piles of seed beads steady. It didn’t take long for me to figure out that I couldn’t simply place the mat on my table and start pouring beads onto it. I needed a portable backing for it, so I grabbed a cookie tray out of the cupboard. It looked a little awkward, but worked just fine for middle-of-the-night beading. Since then I’ve been swapping back and forth between my old bead tray and the new one when necessary, though I’m still on the hunt for something bigger and washable. To me, the cons still outweigh the pros with bead mats.

Pros:

1. The matte surface prevents beads and tools from moving around much.
2. It’s lightweight, and stores easily when not in use.

Cons:

1. I’ve only used it for 3 projects and it’s already starting to collect…stuff. I don’t know where those red and blue threads came from. All of my nymo is black and green.
2. It’s pretty small, and if I don’t use cups and saucers, the beads get all mixed together. It takes forever to clean up.
3. It’s square when everything else I have in my space is round. (That’s not really a con, but I ran out of complaints.)

Edit:
4. I'm afraid of what will happen if I wash it. Will it fray, or get filmy from the soap? And if I were to glue it down, I’d never be able to wash it, beyond shaking it out.

Over the summer I’ll be keeping an eye out for two suitable beading surfaces that will fit in my workspace and hold all of my beading implements at once. I considered momentarily using the cookie tray by itself, but it has a giant poinsettia in the middle and I’d really prefer a neutral surface. Until I find the perfect pair of bead trays, I’m stuck with one that’s falling apart and one that looks like I slapped a door mat on a cookie tray.

What kind of beading surface do you like to use? What features work best for you?

Mortira

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Copyright 2016 Inspirational Beading

The Ultimate Beading Idea Organizer

Staying organized is often a big challenge for any artist, and beaders are no different. Chances are you’ve got at least one – if not twelve – idea notebooks scattered around your home and workspace, perhaps a bulletin board covered with sketches, packets of project materials lined up for future use and collecting dust, or any number of scrambled brainstorming techniques taking up space but not being much use. It’s just what we do.

This weekend I discovered a fabulous new way to organize my life and my ideas in one place, with everything from work, blogging, and beading laid out every week. I got the idea from one of my favorite vloggers, who demonstrates a quick way to make your own custom weekly planner in her Agenda Hacks and Tips video. The stationery geek in me went a little nuts when I watched it, and I started making my own variation right away.

In my agenda, I’ve created a weekly layout that leaves plenty of room for idea sketches and allows me to make to-do lists that I can carry on from day-to-day. I never know what I’ll have the time or creative energy to accomplish in a day, so a flexible beading schedule is very important. I’ve got a spot for my day-job and appointment schedule, and everything else is dedicated to creativity. I can list my goals for the week, plus must-do lists for 2-3 day stretches. There’s also space for random idea lists, notes, and brainstorming. I’ve only done a few weeks’ worth of layouts at a time, so if I ever want to cut out and paste images from magazines and such, there’ll be space to include them.

Goodbye Scrap Paper!

Until now I’ve been using an ordinary pocket agenda to keep track of my timetable, but I was always frustrated that I didn’t really have the space to plan blogs or sketch out jewelry ideas when they suddenly arise. My workspace has also been constantly covered with bits of scrap paper with ideas and half-scratched out to-do lists that eventually get tossed even if I don’t finish them. I’m super excited to start carrying this book around so that I can keep my ideas rolling anytime and anywhere. The best part is that it will take a long, long time to fill up this book; I’ll be able to go back and re-think any unfinished ideas instead of losing them to the scrap paper graveyard.

What's your favorite way to keep track of ideas and projects?

Mortira

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Tool Spotlight: Bead Coasters

Readers often ask me where I got the stainless steel beading cups that I use to hold each of the bead types I’m using for a particular project. Since these are my go-to tool for keeping my seed beads and other materials separate and accessible while I work, there’s always at least one or two on my bead tray each week. The trouble is, I can’t say for sure where to get the exact cups that I use, since I repurposed them from a mug set that was gifted to me years ago.

I recently went on a hunt for similar coasters that would be perfect for beading. It’s surprisingly difficult to find coasters of just the right design. Most are simply flat slabs of one material or another, and don’t have a rim that will keep beads in. Others have an enormous rim, which defeats the purpose – the reason these coasters work so well for beading is that they don’t get in the way of needling up seed beads one-handed.

I was able to find a few coaster designs that fit all of the criteria, and a few that are just so stylish that it might be worth it to have them in your workspace even if they’re not perfect for the job. These are my favorites:

These Elegance stainless steel coastersare by far the best of the bunch. Although I don’t like to use metal materials in my work, I do like it for my tools because they’re better for the environment than plastic overall, and very sanitary. These coasters could be soaked in warm soapy water if needed, and will be dry and ready to use again in seconds. They’ve got a smallish rim for keeping beads in place, and no extra decorations to take up space. The only downside is the holder. Unless you go long periods without doing any beadwork, or clean up completely between every single project, it’s not likely to get much use.

This InterDesign Rain Coastersset has all of the size and shape features that I like, but sadly isn’t made from glass as I thought when I first spotted them. To be fair, the plastic coasters would be very lightweight, making them nice for taking a project on holiday. Plus, they're just as washable as a stainless set.

This handmade ceramic coaster from Pottery by Saleek is gorgeous, and has a nice ridge, with some inspiring decoration. The only downside is the size – it’s meant for wine bottles and takes up a whopping 5 ½ inches. This one would be great for bead soups or anytime you only have a single material to work with.

These bamboo coastersby HealthPro are very pretty and have all of the right features, minus the unnecessary holder. They should be fairly lightweight, which is always a bonus. The only real downside would be that they’d have to air dry after washing. If you’re a disorganized or procrastinating beader like me, you might struggle with timing clean ups for periods when you won’t be needing them.

Another handmade ceramic set, these coasters by Laura Harmon Pottery are really lovely to look at. The decorative edge would take up a lot of workspace, so these probably wouldn’t do for a bead tray like the one that I use, but they’d be great for an open workspace. Washability is definitely a bonus, and they wouldn't be prone to shifting around your workspace or spilling unexpectedly.

Although the rims are much too high for beadwork, I couldn’t resist including this vintage coaster set from DayJahView. The design is gorgeous, and the holder could double as a tray for tools, finished projects, or just about anything in your workspace that needs a transportable home. While not ideal for seed beads, these coasters would work really well for larger beads and other materials that don’t require a needle to pick up.

I also found some great DIY projects for making your own coasters. The most functional one is this tutorial for mosaic coasters made from old jar lids on Running with Sisters. If you’ve already experimented with resin pouring, it should be a snap. You could easily create coasters with the rim height that you want, and include an inspiring design.

I highly recommend checking out the thrift shops in your area and scouring the housewares for coasters that would work in your beading space. Even if you can’t get a matched set, these bead holders are a wonderful addition to your tools, especially if work with plenty of tiny seed beads. You can also keep an eye out for mug and coaster sets with the right features. Use the mugs for coffee or to hold your other tools and pencils!

Do you have any repurposed tools in your workspace?

Mortira

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Giveaway: Beads and Babble Super Beading Kits

Every beader knows that there’s no such thing as too many beads. The more you’ve got, the more choices you have when designing amazing jewelry. Great tools are also a must, whether they help you visualize your next design, or provide a professional finish to your pieces.

I am very pleased to present an amazing beading kit giveaway that is sure to inspire some amazing designs! You might already be familiar with indie bead shop Beads and Babble, which has a truly amazing selection of unique Czech glass, seed beads, and findings. Owner and curator Shannon has put together two amazing bead starter packs for hungry beaders!

Each pack includes a bead board, nipper tool, crimping pliers, beading wire, and oodles of amazing beads. There are seed bead hanks, gemstone beads, glass accents, and pendants; rounds, tubes, daggers, and so much more! Each kit includes an abundance of inspiration to make some show-stopping designs, all hand-picked for you by Beads and Babble.

How to Enter:

For a chance to win one of the kits shown, visit Beads and Babble and check out the gorgeous array of beads available. Then head back here to InspriationalBeading.Blogspot.com and leave a comment on this post, letting us know what your favorite is. Anything goes!

Due to the very large size of the prize packs, this draw is open to readers from the US. Two lucky readers will be drawn on Saturday, November 21st. Please make sure to leave a contact link or email with your comment so that I can reach you if you win! Unclaimed prizes will be re-drawn on November 25th.

Good luck, and happy beading!

Update: This draw has closed.

Mortira

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Copyright 2015 Inspirational Beading

Work in Progress: Intermission

I am very happy to report that all of the beadwork for my secret project is now complete! I feel like I’ve just crossed a finish line - not least because I need a bit of a break. Right now my bead tray is almost completely empty. Apart from the usual apparatus, the only things on it are a cup of freshwater pearls that I forgot to put away the last time I had my pearl bead box out.

I won’t be starting on any fresh new projects for at least a few days, as I’m using my normal beading time to work on this year’s felt Christmas gifts - tiny pillows with Minecraft faces on them. I’m also whipping up a “tacky Christmas sweater” for my a school Christmas party. Apparently they are all the rage this year, and everyone is going to be wearing one to show school spirit. We went with some simple felt shapes like ornament globes and a beribboned gift.

There has been one new addition to my workspace this week. I was shopping for stocking stuffers and decided to treat myself to a pencil and paperclip caddy. It’s absolutely perfect for storing and organizing excess bead packs while I’m working on a project. It also keeps materials out of my elbow space until I get around to putting them away.

What are you making this week?

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Quick Start Peyote Cards

Anyone who has attempted to learn peyote stitch knows that the first 3 rows are the biggest hurdle. One of my favorite tips for getting the hang of peyote stitch is to gain the muscle memory for the weave before tackling those difficult first rows. Weaving peyote from another raised bead stitch such as right angle weave or picot trim allows you to practice the stitch from a steady base, creating the familiarity needed to get a smooth start when working from traditional peyote.

As far as ingenious inventions go, one of the best for the beading world is most definitely the Quick Start Peyote Panel. These simple tools offer a makeshift base for starting peyote stitch that perfectly mimics the raised beads of a second row. With these cards, beaders can practice the weave without other stitches, and turn first pieces into beautiful finished projects. The deceptively simple tool allows any beader to get perfect results the first time.

The cards are really simple to use with either Delicas or round seed beads - set up takes about three seconds and then weaving begins. You can use all or some of the slots in the card to start a row of peyote in even-count, odd-count or two-drop. Once you’re ready to remove the card, the beadwork is easily released and ready to finish as desired. Reusable Quick Start Peyote cards are available in a variety of popular seed bead sizes, including 15/o and 8/o. They can also be used to start other stitches like right angle weave and Ndebele herringbone. To see a peyote panel card in action, watch the Even Count QSP video on YouTube.

Have you tried Quick Start Peyote cards before?

I would like to thank Deb Moffett-Hall at PatternsToBeads.com for allowing me try try Quick Start Peyote Cards. Inspirational Beading has not received compensation for featuring products in this post.

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Jewelry Display Makeover

One of the great things about being crafty is having the ability to adapt when things go awry, or to find creative solutions to problems like tricky storage or broken tools. Why buy something new when you can fix it yourself?

A while back one of my favorite jewelry displays took a tragic fall and broke into several pieces. The polystyrene hand that I had been using for ring photographs lost a finger, making it just about useless. Luckily, it didn’t shatter into millions of pieces like porcelain or other materials might have. All it needed was a little glue.

I first tried repairing it with what I had on hand - some Gem-Tac with tape to hold it together while it dried. Everything seemed fine at first, but after a day or two the pieces just came apart on their own. I really wanted to have this display intact for the craft fair, so I needed a different approach.

After adding some E-6000 to my supplies for knotting projects, I had what I needed to do the repair right. Once the pieces were back together, the display still needed a makeover to cover up the cracks and leftover glue from the first mishap. At first I considered using decoupage with a layer of paint over top, but knew it would be both time consuming and too likely to go wrong. Although the texture might have been a nice effect, it was really an unnecessary step. Instead I gave the display 3 coats of paint to match my other displays - 2 out of 3 mirrors from a set I bought for the show. They made perfect bowls for displaying rings, while the largest mirror I saved for helping customers try out pieces that they liked.

It’s great to have this piece back in action! Have you rescued any beading tools or fixtures recently? How did it work out?

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Three Beading Quick Fixes

When you’re passionate about something, you tend to take it pretty seriously. If you eat, sleep, and breathe jewelry making, you probably want to make sure that you always have the best tools and materials, and that your techniques are the best they can be. But when it comes to the little things, sometimes you really just need to go MacGyver to get the job done. These are some of my favorite little tricks for making a day at the workbench go smoothly.

What would MacGyver do?

Broken Needle Disposal

No matter what kind of needle you like to use, chances are that it will eventually be too bendy to use. Sometimes needles snap - if you’re fond of Cellini spiral this might happen to you a lot - and sometimes the eye will give out. It doesn’t happen very often, so saving up needle scraps for salvage isn’t exactly an appealing idea. You can’t just toss them into the trash, either - who knows where they’ll end up?

To make a broken or otherwise useless needle safe for disposal, all you need is a few centimeters of clear tape. Use whatever you’ve got on hand to seal the sharp scraps in a little envelope of adhesive, and you won’t have to worry about it poking out of the trash or ending up in your vacuum cleaner.

Sharpening Scissors

Whether you use Fireline or Nymo, sharp scissors are essential to prevent frayed threads, and give clean cuts when you’re trimming tails. If you’re like me - without the time or patience to visit a scissor sharpening service - you can freshen up your blades right at home in minutes, practically for free.

All you need is a foot or so of aluminum foil from your kitchen drawer. Fold the sheet in half three or four times to get a thick sheet. Then snip it several times with your scissors, using a single cut (don’t saw right across the foil). Give the blades a quick rinse and dry, and they’ll be ready to cut threads clean again. The results don’t last as long as a professional sharpening, but the convenience is worth regular re-dos.

Extending Battery Life

I always use rechargeable batteries in my digital camera. They’re incredibly expensive, although they stand up to the demands of a digital camera really well and pay for themselves after only a few uses. I’ve only got the four that came with the charger, and I’m not ready to invest in any more. So when the second pair runs out of juice, my choices used to be borrow the batteries from the TV remote, or wait a day for mine to recharge.

Fortunately, good batteries never really die! A few weeks ago I was right in the middle of a shoot when the batteries gave out. On a whim, I pulled out the cells and swapped them. Placing the batteries in opposite slots (in the appropriate +/- positions, of course) provided just enough power for 20 or 30 more photos, not to mention saving a lot of time.

Do you have any quick fixes that you like to use to make beading easier?

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Tutorials: How to Make Pin Cushions

Of all the tools and materials shared by both bead rooms and sewing rooms, none are more charming than the humble pincushion. Though they’re small (usually), and serve only one purpose - to keep our needles and pins safe and secure - even the tiniest of pincushions can transform a workspace. There are so many different styles and designs, from the classic tomato to stuffed chickens, that a pincushion can be just as important to our inspiration and beading zen as the beads themselves.

Although I love my Don’t Poke Me pincushion by Gloomstopper, I do love to see what other fun designs are out there. One of my favorite pincushion artists is Jen Segrest, who makes everything from lifelike flowers to spooky eyeballs for you to stick your pins in. Just like posting your favorite clippings on the wall, or having a pot of flowers nearby, I think having a pincushion that you love can really make a difference when you sit down at your workspace.

Here are a few fantastic tutorials for making and customizing your own perfect pincushions!

Pin Cushion Jars Tutorial by Make It and Love It

I love this project - you can fill the jars with absolutely anything.
It would look fabulous filled
with broom beads or vintage buttons.






Floral Donut Pincushion Tutorial by Truly Myrtle

This one is very decorative,
and would be perfect for a permanent setting,
like a work bench or desk.






Mini Decorative Pincushion Tutorial by Jen Segrest on CraftStylish

Everything is better in miniature form!
These teeny tiny pincushions start with a repurposed soda bottle cap,
and then the sky’s the limit.






Ring Pincushion Tutorial by My Little Nook

Pretty and practical, this project
combines jewelry and tools for
one handy pincushion.






Turtle Combo Pincushion by Craft Passion

This project includes both a tiny turtle pincushion,
and a turtle sewing caddy for scissors and such.






Cathedral Window Pincushion Tutorial by Moda Bakeshop

This project is a little more sewing-heavy,
but the results are beautiful.






Felt Cupcake Pincushion Tutorial by The Starter Home

This project is so clever - the sewing pins
become part of the decoration in these tasty pincushions.
A few 8/o beads on stick pins could do the same!






Sweetheart Pin Cushion Tutorial by Happy Together

This project uses scrap fabrics and a simple pattern,
so you can make one that suits you and your workspace perfectly.

What kind of pincushion do you like to use?

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Craft Space and Bead Storage Ideas

If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to organize and de-clutter your craft space, you’re probably contemplating some new and improved storage solutions. Although we might fantasize about living in a bead store, since a never ending abundance of supplies in one big room would remove the need to constantly shuffle our stash around, it still wouldn’t help with the little things. Every opened package, cut strand, and salvaged treasure needs a home - preferably sorted by size, color, or shape! Add to that all the extra things that we need to keep on hand, like tools, packing materials and finished designs, the need for dependable and stress-free storage creates a never ending battle for beaders.

Today I want to share with you some of my favorite handmade and store bought storage ideas, plus a few more that I’ve discovered along the way. Many of these handy tools help to keep beading supplies together in a single limited space, and organized enough to know exactly where everything is. The less time you have to spend looking for things, or finding a home for new beads, the more time you can spend creating!

Tackle Trays

It’s interesting to note the little things that all hobbyists have in common, and one trip through a tackle shop or sporting goods store will give you a sense of connection with fishermen and fly-tyers. This is one of the best places to find affordable and reliable storage solutions for beads and jewelry components.

My personal favorite is the compartment tray, especially those with a variety of compartment sizes. These little trays can hold a lot of beads, don’t take up a lot of space, and are very stackable. Clear trays allow you to easily grab the beads that you need, but there’s always plenty of room for labels along the sides. One tiny spill can be a huge disaster though, so I like to store beads in their original packages, and use the compartments for organizing by size and color.

Traditional tackle boxes, like those with hinged, stacking trays inside, are also excellent for materials, tools and larger beads. The locking lids and handles also make them ideal for traveling and beading on the go. Smaller tackle containers like space saving jars are very handy for sorting and organizing small quantities of beads.

Cereal Boxes

Anyone who has ever visited an elementary school has probably seen magazines stored in cereal boxes, which help keep the flimsy booklets upright and easy to browse through. All you have to do is remove the top flaps and cut out a wedge from one side to make a handy book receptacle for beading magazines.

This easy upcycled solution is also great for storing and sorting supply invoices, tutorials and printouts, and packing materials like envelopes and tissue paper. The leftover box tops can also be cut and taped together, making handy bracers for storing beaded bangles.

Food Containers

Food containers of all shapes and sizes can make ideal homes for our materials and tools. Once they are thoroughly washed and dried, baby food and spice jars, dairy tubs, and even cookie trays can make a little space go a long way. To make containers absolutely spotless for bead and jewelry storage, I triple wash them with hot soapy water and a generous amount of baking soda. It works as a mild abrasive that also deodorizes and disinfects.

Totes

For a more professional feeling craft space, there are a wide variety of bead storage options available to choose from. Personally, I find a lot of them too fiddly for my taste, and each one has it’s limits for bead sizes and quantities. But for beaders who are on the move a lot, storage totes can provide both organization and security.

Bead Tube Tower by Beadsmith

Drawer Displays

I can’t say enough good things about these upcycled beauties. Even though we all know hanging isn’t good for beaded jewelry, it’s hard to resist these pretty little compartments. Something about them is just ideal for the magpie in all of us. In a studio, these refurbished printer drawers would make great displays or storage space for bead strands and hanks.

Jewelry Display by Blue Bird Heaven

Other fun vintage and upcycled options include commercial baking trays, science lab accessories, and sewing kits - thoroughly cleaned, of course.

Home Décor

If it has cubbies, hooks, shelves, or drawers, chances are it can be used for storing craft supplies. Any bed and bath or home improvement store will have a treasure trove of storage options for beading and craft spaces. Paper towel racks are great for spools of ribbon, cord and thread. Shoe caddies are just waiting to be filled with tools and other miscellany.

If you’re thinking about an overhaul of your craft space, the Crafty Storage blog might help give you some ideas for how to get organized. There are lots of great images of studios and storage ideas to get inspired with.

Do you have a fun or unusual way to store beads and jewelry?

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