618156 Great Beading Tips

7/30/2019 618156 Great Beading Tips

1/13

A supplement to Bead&Button magazine

2010

618156

BeadingTips

Great

PLUS Reference guides to Thread Wire Crimp Metal beads Finding

Needle threadin Healthy beadin


2/13 3

Wire comes in a variety of materials and

finishes, including brass, gold, gold-

filled, gold-plated, fine silver, sterling

silver, silver-plated, German wire

(sterling over a copper core), anodized

niobium (chemically colored wire),

copper, and color-coated copper (craftwire). Brass, copper, and craft wire are

packaged in 10- to 40-yd. spools, while

gold, silver, and niobium are sold by the

foot or ounce. Practice your wire skills

using brass or copper, which are soft,

easy to manipulate, and inexpensive.

HardnessHardness describes wires temper or

malleability. When you work with

sterling silver wire, you have a choice

between two categories of hardness:dead-soft and half-hard. Dead-soft wire is

easy to bend with your fingers. Half-hard

wire is slightly stiffer, so it holds its shape

well. Any wire will harden as you work

with it, but for more rigidity, you can

hammer it on a steel block or anvil.

Hammering will flatten the wires shape.

ShapeWire is available in many different

shapes, but the most common are round,

half-round, square, triangle, and twisted,

as shown above right. Each of theseshapes is available in a range of gauges.

GaugeGauge is the measure of a wires

diameter or thickness. The chart at

right lists the most common gauges

used for making wire and beaded

jewelry. The lower the gauge number,

the larger the diameter.

12- nd 14-gg ws are used forneck wires, bangle bracelets, and other

unsupported wire shapes. These gauges

are only available as dead-soft.

16- nd 18-gg ws are sturdy,

medium-thickness wires used for

making clasps, large jump rings, and

chain maille.

20- nd 22-gg ws are all-purpose

sizes for loops, jump rings, head pins,

eye pins, and other findings. These are

easy to bend, so you can use eitherhalf-hard or dead-soft. Most standard

head pins and earring wires are made in

20- or 22-gauge wire.

24- nd 26-gg ws are considered

ultrafine. Use these with small pearls

and gemstones as well as for decorative

wire wrapping, wire crochet, and

beaded flowers.

28-gg and thinner wires are excellent

for crochet, beaded flowers, twining,

and other delicate applications. Some

pearls and gemstones with tiny holes

may require these gauges as well.

Our thanks to Thunderbird Supply Co.,

(800) 545-7968, thunderbirdsupply.com,

for their information and assistance.

S

H

A

P

E

S

Wire

GauGe Diaeter

12 2.00 mm

14 1.50 mm

16 1.25 mm

18 1.00 mm

20 0.75 mm

22 0.64 mm

24 0.50 mm

26 0.40 mm

28 0.30 mm

The readers ofBead&Button share their tips and techniques with all of us in each issue of the magazine.In this booklet were passing along some of our favorites. If youd like to bead a little faster, neater, oreasier, or become better organized, the tips on the following pages will help you.

Weve also included full-page reference guides to wire, crimps, thread and cord, needle threading, and metalbeads and findings, plus exercises for healthy beading.

Enjoy!The Editors ofBead&Button


3/134

Kudos for Bead StoppersIve had more strung projects come

apart while Im finishing them than

I care to count. Ive tried tape, but it

leaves a sticky residue and doesnt

always hold. Hemostats and alligator

clips hold, but their teeth kink the wire.

Now I use a product called the BeadStopper. Its a small spring that clamps

onto thread and beading wire. It holds

without damaging the material its on.

Visit beadstopper.com for more

information. Susan Helmer,

Newark, California

I like to use the Bead Stopper when

working with elastic. I can isolate a

knot in the coil and apply glue without

getting it on the beads. Rebecca

Buckner, Huntsville, Alabama

All wound upAs an avid bead crocheter, I used to

struggle with keeping the extremely

long strand of strung beads on a bob-

bin. Now I use Bryson E-Z Bobs. These

are round, plastic, donutlike bobbins

with a curved top that flips down. Sim-

ply string your beads, wind the thread

onto the bobbin, then flip the top down.

Your project will be easy to transport,

the strung beads wont fall off,

and the thread stays clean.E-Z Bobs are available in

three sizes and can be

found in your local

yarn shop. Susan

Helmer, Newark,

California

Get thekinks outHeres a quick

and easy way to

remove kinks

and curls from

leather cord. Cut a piece of cord 1 in.

(2.5 cm) longer than the desired length

of your finished piece. Thoroughly

soak the cord in water. Attach a heavy

C-clamp on each end of the cord.

Hook one clamp on a clothes hanger

with the other hanging freely. Once

the cord is completely dry, remove theclamps, and you will have a nice, flat

piece of leather cord. Sandy Bowlin,

Twin Falls, Idaho

Tool embellishmentsIf you take beading classes or bead with

friends, this is a great way to mark your

pliers, crimpers, and scissors to ensure

that your tools dont get accidentally

mistaken for someone elses. Glue a

small rhinestone with a flat back on the

hinge of your tools with Super Glue.

Tiny buttons, small spacers, and sequins

also work well. Mary Valleau, Garden

Grove, California

Fixing mistakesI use crimping pliers to break the occa-

sional extra seed bead in my stitches

when I miscount or pick up an extra

bead. With chainnose pliers, I found

that I was breaking beads and cutting

threads. Now when I use a crimping

tool, I only break beads. Diane

Dennis, Nokesville, Virginia

Breaking beadsI use a T-pin to break the occasional

extra seed bead that accidentally finds

its way into my beadwork. Since the

T-pin is larger than the seed bead hole,

it breaks the bead from the inside out.

This way, you wont cut your working

thread as you can when using pliers tobreak a bead. Simply place the bead on

a pin cushion, insert the T-pin in the

bead hole, and apply pressure to the

T-pin until the bead pops. Rosemarie

Novotny, Roanoke, Virginia

Works like clockworkMy blind grandfather accomplished his

tasks easily by laying out his tools in a

preplanned order. I use this approach

with my beading tools. By placing them

in a circle as if they were clock numbers,I always pick up the

right tool without

looking. Its effi-

cient and easy to

learn. Bonnie

Elliott,

Columbus,

Ohio

Tools


4/13 5

standardcrimpingpliers

mightycrimpinpliers

Crimp beads are available in three

shapes round, twisted crimps, and

tubes. All three can be flattened with

chainnose pliers; use either chainnose

or crimping pliers on tube crimps.

Round crimp beads are usually

23 mm in size and come in silver-or gold-plated finishes.

Twisted crimps (also known as Twisted

Tornado crimps) are, as the name

implies, tube crimps with a slight twist.

They are available in sterling silver and

gold-filled. The twist helps secure the

beading wire, and it lends a decorative

look to the finished crimp.

Tube crimp beads come in several

lengths and diameters, and in sterlingsilver, gold-filled, and copper. Here are

a few basic points to consider when

choosing tube crimps for your

jewelry projects.

a1 x 1 mm micro crimps are the

smallest of the crimp beads. Use

them with size .010 flexible bead-

ing wire and micro crimping pliers.

bUse 1 x 2 mm crimp beads for illu-

sion necklaces and with .012.019

flexible beading wire and standardcrimping pliers.

c2 x 2 mm crimp beads are the most

common size for jewelry making. Use

them with .012.024 flexible beading

wire and standard crimping pliers.

d3 x 2 mm crimp beads are interchange-

able with 2 x 2 mm crimps. Use them

with .012.024 flexible beading wire and

standard crimping pliers.

e3 x 3 mm crimp beads are the largest

crimps. Use them with ribbon or

multiple strands of flexible

beading wire and mighty

crimping pliers.chainnose pliers

A crimp cover is an open, round bead that slides

over a crimped crimp bead and is squeezed

closed with chainnose or mighty crimping pliers.

various

shapes

round twisted tube

various

sizes

a b c d e

To finish a round or flat leather cord,use a crimp end designed for thatpurpose. Here are a few popular

styles, shown before and after

crimping. Some crimp endsrequire a drop of adhesive

for a stronger hold.

twisted

tube

round

microcrimpingpliers

Crimps


5/136

Pattern markersI love beading with a charted pattern,

but Ive never been crazy about using a

ruler to mark my progress. While doing

a square stitch pattern at work one day,

I stumbled upon the answer stickynotes. They are inexpensive and easy to

move, they keep their stickiness for a

long time, they dont leave any residue

on the page, and you can make notes to

yourself right on them about any

changes you want to make to the pat-

tern. The best part is that they stay in

place when you have to pack up your

project. So, when you open your pattern

book again, your place is still marked.

Jennifer Howe, Carson City, Nevada

Separate componentsOne of the best beading tips I ever

received was from a beading instructor

who does restoration and repair work.

She recommended that I use a separate

piece of thread for each component of

my work. For example, if making a

bracelet, use one thread to make the

base, a second thread for embellish-

ments, a third for one clasp half, and a

fourth for the other clasp half. If any of

these components break, the break is

confined to that segment and is easy torepair. S.J. Sanchez, Albuquerque,

New Mexico

Thread on the goTo make my thread collection quickly

accessible and portable, I string my

spools, sorted by size, onto 8-in. (20 cm)

ball chains. Then, I string an alphabet

bead to indicate the thread size. This

handy method allows me to cut the

desired length of thread off the spool

without removing it from the chain.

If you cant find 8-in. (20 cm) chains,

connect two 4-in. (10 cm) chains. Rhonda M. Guy, Lexington, Kentucky

Counting rowsTo keep track of your progress while

loom weaving, slide a beading needle

through the 10th row of beads; then,

after weaving 10 more rows, move the

needle to the 20th row, and so on. If you

keep track of how many times you move

the needle, youll never need to count

more than a few rows of beads at a time.

Seena Friedenberg, Scotch Plains,

New Jersey

beadingneedle

Patterns and thread

FringebenefitTo plan fringe, use a piece of wide-wale

corduroy with grooves wide enough to

hold your beads. Lay the fringe beads out

in rows so you can easily make design or

bead changes as you see the patternunfold. Stringing becomes very easy, since

all you have to do is go down one groove

to the end bead, turn around, and go back

up again. This works especially well for

geometric patterns. Marilyn Peters,

Vallejo, California

Fringe from the centerWhen adding fringe, cut a length of

thread twice as long as normal and start

in the middle of the fringe section.

Leave half the thread as your tail. Do

the center fringe first and work out toone side. Then thread your needle on

the tail end and work to the other side.

This has two advantages. First, you have

fewer knots, since you wont have to

add a new piece of thread. Second, most

fringe is longer in the center, so by start-

ing there you use up the long thread

quickly, making the rest of the fringes

easier to manage. Jamie Cloud Eakin,

Modesto, California


6/13 7

Beaders have access to more threads and

cords than ever before. The majority of

them fall into one of two camps

nylon and gel-spun polyethylene (GSP,

Dyneema, and Spectra Fiber are some

names this product is marketed under).

Some other products, notably aramid

and polyester, are available as well.

No thread is perfect for all beading

projects. Each product has its strengths

and weaknesses, and some are better

than others for certain applications.

The chart below describes the general

characteristics of many of the available

products. Note the different methods

used to describe the size, weight, orstrength of these threads. The chart at

right shows approximate equivalents in

diameter between the various products.

Our thanks to Sylvia Sur, Carol

Perrenoud, Sherry Serafini, and

Heidi Kummli for their input.

Type Names Sizes Colors Description Strengths Weaknesses BestUses

Parallel

filament

nylon

Thin nylon fibers areextruded, bundled,and heat-set to form asingle-ply thread.

Durable; easy tothread on a bead-ing needle; greatcolor selection.

Stretchy; some proneto fraying; will breakunder stress; unevenquality on market.

Best in on- and off-loombead weaving and for beadembroidery. Not good forstringing or twisted fringe.

Pliednylon

Two or more extrudednylon threads aretwisted together andcoated or bonded toenhance ply security.

Strong anddurable; somehave had stretchremoved; moreresistant to frayingthan parallelfilaments.

Difficult to thread ona beading needle dueto round profile andthicker diameter.

Good for twisted fringe,bead crochet, and bead-work that should have a lotof body. Upholstery threadis best for bead crochet.

Pliedgel-spunpolyeth-ylene(GSP)

Polyethylene fibers arespun to form thread.Two or more threadsare braided or twistedtogether.

Almost unbreak-able; doesntstretch; resistsfraying.

Limited color palette;most are too thick formultiple passes througha single bead.

Use for stitching with largerbeads, such as pressedglass and crystals, or forbeadwork that should havea lot of body.

ParallelfilamentGSP

Fireline 230+ lb.test

smoke, crystal,green

Polyethylene fibers arespun and then bondedto form a single-plythread.

Extremely strongand thin; doesntstretch; resistsfraying.

Limited color palette;crystals can cut it; cordis rather stiff.

Great for bead stitching.Not great for fringe orstringing.

Polyester Polyester fibers arespun into single yarnsand then twisted intoplied thread.

Lots of colors;doesnt stretch.

Gets linty fromabrasion.

Best for bead crochet. Alsofor bead embroidery whenthread must match fabric.

Aramid Kevlar O 6 Spun poly-aramidfibers are extrudedand gathered to forma single-ply thread.

Extremely strongand thin; bullet-proof and fire-retardant.

Thread will cut itself;negative reaction to skinand UV light; doesntabsorb dyes well.

Works well with beads withsharp edges.

NymoC-LonSoNoOne-G

K.O.

OOFFDAB

B, D

many36512

12

SilamideHastings BondedBead Cord

StringthWildfireupholstery thread

A2/0 (00),1/0 (0),250710 lb. testvaries

21white

14black, white, greenmany

Power Pro

DandyLine

SpiderLine Braid

Tuf-Line

530+ lb.test1050 lb.test2040 lb.test1530+ lb.test

green, white, yellow

black, white

green

green

YLI JeansGutermann top-stitching

30E (equiv.)

25many

Thread Cord GSP 00 6 lb. parallel

A/0 8 lb. parallelB 10 lb. parallelD 0 1015 lb. pliedE 1 20 lb. pliedF 2 30 lb. pliedFF 3

Sizeequivalents

Thread and cord


7/13


8/13 9

1Start with stretches: Cut the

thread, hold one end in each hand,

and pull. If youre working with Nymo,

condition it. This relaxes the threads

kinks and curls, making it easier to use.

3Sink your teeth into it: Flatten the

threads cut edge to its thinnest

profile by pressing it with your finger-

nails, squeezing it with pliers, or biting

it gently with your teeth.

2Shear the edge: Trim the end of

your thread on an angle using very

sharp scissors. A tapered edge free of

stray fibers will slide gracefully

through the needles eye.

5If all else fails: Pass the wire loop

of a needle threader through the eye

of your needle. Put your thread through

the loop, then pull the loop out of the

needle. Success!

Big Eye:Use for

loomwork,

macram,

and trans-

ferring

beads

Small

Big Eye:Use for

off-loom

stitches

and tight

spots

#12 l

Us

loomw

off-l

stitches,

transfe

be

Twisted wire:Usefor stringing and

tight spots

Beading needles(Use for off-loom stitches and loomwork): the smaller the needle,the bigger the number.

4Bring needle to thread: Hold the

needle in your dominant hand, and

grab the thread close to the cut edge

with your other hand. Move the needle

to the thread, sliding the eye over the

threads end.

5 steps for easier needle threading

#16Use with

160 to 240seed beads

#12

Use with

80 to 130

seed beads

#10

Use with

60to 110seed beads

#13Use with

110 to 150

seed beads

Get the pointTo choose a needle, consider your bead

and thread sizes, the number of passes

youll make through the beads, and thebeading technique.

A Hacky

Sack, or footb

makes a colo

pin cushion.


9/1310

Project organizersI like to store my beading projects in

canvas notebook pencil cases with a

clear plastic front panel. These cases

are inexpensive and sturdy enough towithstand needle piercings. Theyre

large enough to hold all the materials

needed for a project, and the clear panel

makes it easy for me to find the project

I want to work on. Jill S. Banning,

Newberry, Florida

Keep em containedRecently, I decided to organize my seed

bead collection. I put the beads in a

64-drawer cabinet and labeled the

drawers with the size and color of the

beads. I chose to store most of the beads

loose because the tubes didnt fit in the

drawers. Then one day, my husband

accidentally kicked over the cabinet and64 drawers of seed beads spilled onto

the floor. (He felt so bad; I just

laughed.) So, unless you want unique

color mixes like I have, if you decide to

store your beads this way, secure them

in little plastic zip bags first. Heidi

Inskeep, Scottsdale, Arizona

Design platformsI found that the little racks used in

Scrabble are approximately 7 in. (18 cm)

long perfect for designing a bracelet.

The beads rest in an upright position

a better perspective than on a flat

bead board. Three or four racks can

be positioned side by side for necklacesalso. Louise Lessing, Drexel Hill,

Pennsylvania

Inexpensive bead boardsLike most beaders, I often have more

than one project going at a time. Since

I only have one bead design board but

still want to see my designs as I lay

them out, I have found a way to make

my own disposable boards. These are

portable, inexpensive, and great to have

on hand for a jewelry-making party.To make one, cut an 812 x 11-in.

(21.6 x 28 cm) piece of cardstock in

half so you have two 414 x 11-in.

(10.8 x 28 cm) pieces. Fold one piece

in half lengthwise. Then fold the edges

back toward the center fold, making an

M shape. Mark the center with a 0 and,

using a ruler, mark 12-in. (1.3 cm) and

1-in. (2.5 cm) increments in each direc-

tion. Place your beads in the channel,

using 0 as the center, as on a commer-

cial design board. Make another board

with the other piece of cardstock. Tracey Kirk, Clarksville, Tennessee

Bead travelerEmpty travel-sized baby-wipe

containers make great storage for

bead projects. Theyre lightweight,

the right depth to hold tubes of beads

and projects, and they fit easily into a

purse or carry-on. Best of all, you can

recycle something that would otherwise

end up in the garbage. I line mine with

a beading surface cut to fit. In fact, the

container seals so tightly, you dont

have to put the beads back in the tubesif youre in a rush to close up your

beading. You wont lose anything.

Sherry Magid, Skokie, Illinois

Bead storage and organization


10/13 11

Many styles of beads look likemetal but arent. These include

metallic-finished glass, plastic, andstone (pyrite and hematite). These are

all good alternatives to metal forsome uses, but its important toknow what youre using.

Metallook-alikes

Metal beads and findings are great for

adding character and durability to jewelry

designs. A wide array of metal products

is available, ranging from 24k gold and

fine silver to pewter and brass, and it can

be a challenge knowing whats what.

Below is a brief description of the metals

that are commonly available at stores and

online merchants. Be aware that unscru-

pulous dealers sometimes misrepresent

products. If a price seems too good to be

true, the item may not be genuine.

Our thanks to Keith Seib of Planet Bead

and Sylvia Sur for their assistance.

Metal Composition Characteristics Comments

Fine silver 99.9% silver Lustrous white, soft, and malleable; the most

inexpensive and accessible precious metal

Too soft to be made into beads; available as wire

and is the resulting material in metal clay silver

Sterling

silver

92.5% silver, 7.5% other, usually cop-

per; 92.5% is minimum silver content

for an item labeled silver in the U.S.

The addition of copper or other base metal makes

sterling silver harder and more prone to tarnishing

than fine silver

Items sold as sterling should be stamped 925,

sterling, or ster; however, no international

agency exists to enforce this policy

Silver plate Thin layer of pure silver over base metal Looks much like sterling Silver plating wears of f over time

Bali silver Sterling silver Handmade in Bali; characterized by surface

granulation and fine detail

Items labeled Bali-style are usually not made in

Bali and are often not sterling

Hill Tribessilver 95%98% pure silver Handmade in Thailand; no two pieces areexactly alike Natural themes, such as flora and fauna,predominate

Turkish silver Sterling silver Handmade in Turkey; characterized by surface

granulation and filigree

Often lightweight and ornate

East Indiansilver

Sterling silver, various alloys Wide array of styles Many Bali-style beads are made in India

Israeli silver Sterling silver Often smooth, sleek, and modern-looking Usually high quality and relatively inexpensive

Mexican silver Sterling silver Often inlaid with stones Vintage items may have lower silver content

Karated gold 24k = 99.9% gold; 22k = 91.3% gold;

18k = 75% gold; 14k = 58.5% gold;

12k = 50% gold; 10k = 41.7% gold

Bright yellow metal that does not tarnish or

corrode; one of the most prized precious metals

All items sold as gold should be labeled with a

karat designation; 10k is the minimum standard

for gold in the U.S.

Gold-filled 10k or higher over base metal Gold layer will wear of f over time Gold must account for at least 1/20 the weight of

the piece to be called gold-filled

Gold plate 10k or higher over base metal Gold layer will wear of f over time Gold layer is thinner than in gold-filled itemsGold vermeil 14k or higher over sterling silver Gold layer will wear of f over time Nice, relatively inexpensive alternative to pure gold

Copper 100% copper Reddish-gold metal that ages to warm brown Develops green patina and can turn skin green

Brass Copper and zinc alloy Inexpensive gold-colored metal Tarnishes and turns brown over time

Nickel 100% nickel White metal that looks like silver Many people are allergic to nickel

Pewter Tin alloyed with various other metals Soft, grayish-silver metal Vintage pewter may contain lead

Niobium 100% niobium Very strong and hard inert gray metal, usually

anodized to various attractive colors

Hypoallergenic; great as earring findings

Surgical

steel

Iron, carbon, chromium, and various

other base metals

Has a smooth surface that prevents germs

from attaching

Because it sometimes contains nickel, its not a

good choice for people with nickel allergies

German silver Copper, zinc, and nickel Looks like sterling, but contains no silver Also known as nickel silver and Alpaca silver

Hill Tribessilver beads

East silver

Vermeil beadand clasp

Copper disk with

inlaid sterling

Gold-platedcone

Bali silver spacer

Turkish silver beads

Israeli silver beads and clasp

Niobium earring wire

base

m

etal

si

lver

gold

Metal beads and findings


11/1312

Easy sizing for braceletsIve made many bracelets that are the

same length, yet each one fits differently

because the size of the beads affects the

bracelets inside diameter. Heres an easy

way to make sure the bracelet is the

right length for the size of your beads.First, find the inside diameter of a

bracelet that fits you. Then, turn a

Styrofoam cup upside down, slide the

bracelet onto the cup, and mark the cup

where the bracelet sits. Use the cup as a

form to make another bracelet of the

same size. This also lets you determine

the lengths for bracelets slightly smaller

or larger in diameter. Pearl Hresil,

Chicago, Illinois

Pin orpendantI have a favor-

ite ladybug pin

that I wanted

to use as a

pendant. So, Idesigned a neck

strap and fin-

ished both ends with lobster claw

clasps. Then, I attached the lobster

claws to the pin back. Merle

Berelowitz, New York, New York

If youve been searching for fast, easy earring ideas,

try this great-looking pair. On a 4-in. (10 cm) piece

of .012 or .014 flexible beading wire, center your

choice of beads and two four-loop components, as

shown. Cross the wires ends through the loop on

an earring finding, then bring each wire through the

corresponding loop on the top silver component.

Slide a crimp bead over both wire ends. Adjust the

tension of the wires, flatten the crimp bead withchainnose pliers, and trim the excess wire. Make a

second earring to match the first. Helene Tsigistras,

Brookfield,

Wisconsin

Earrings in a flash

Back pain remedyI discovered a marvelous item to sooth

the constant pain under my shoulder

blades caused by working in front of

a computer screen all day. Its called

Body-Rite and features two straps that

slip over your shoulders and a 3-lb.

counterbalance weight at the base

of your back. Wearing it is supposed

to prevent lower back, neck, and

shoulder strain and encourages good

posture. I recommend this to my

beading students with positive results.

Mine is from Nancys Notions

(nancysnotions.com), but I have

also seen them in fabric stores.

Terry Leming, Houston, Texas

Beading stretchesI work with 150 beads in a painterly

fashion and spend many weeks and

months on my pieces. Of course,

spending hours in one position leaves

my neck and upper-back muscles

strained, and causes pain from poor

circulation in my legs. Now, I set

my kitchen timer to go off every

30 minutes to remind myself to move

my legs and neck. My chiropractorsuggests getting a 6-in. ball, putting

it between my head and the wall, and

pressing to strengthen the neck mus-

cles. Maxine Hull, Atlanta, Georgia

Eye exercisesRecently, a guest of my beading group

taught us many exercises to use while

sitting and beading for long periods of

time. We had the most fun with an eye

exercise writing the letters of the

alphabet with our eyes. It is easy

enough and elicits a lot of laughs ifyou happen to meet someone elses eye

mid-letter. Lynda Pedersen, Adelaide,

Australia

Wire and finishing Bead healthy


12/13 13

>4. Thumb stretchPlace your hand sideways on your work surface with the thumb

facing upward. With your other hand, grasp the thumb, and

gently pull backward. Hold for 20 seconds. Release, and repeat.

Repeat on the other hand. For additional stretch, angle the

thumb toward the back of the hand, and pull.

6. Backward bendSit on the edge of your chair, and place your hands on your waist.

Angling your elbows behind you and looking up, arch your back.

Hold for five seconds. Release. Do a total of five repetitions.

If desired, do this stretch while standing instead of sitting.

Although beading

isnt generally viewed as a

physically demanding activity,

holding the body in stiff or unnatural

positions for extended periods of time can

cause long-term damage to the musculo-

skeletal system. Cindy Marti, a physical

therapist with Spinal Dynamics of Wisconsin

([email protected]), showed us a handful

of fast and simple exercises designed for

healthy beading. She suggests interrupt-

ing your work at least once every

30 to 60 minutes to do the

following exercises.

>2. Upper shoulder stretchTo loosen the shoulder muscle, place your left hand under your posterior.

With your right hand, hold the left side of your head, and gently tilt it to the

right, creating a stretch in the trapezius muscle. Hold for 20 seconds, release,

and repeat. For additional stretch, pull slightly back and over or slightly

forward and over. Repeat on the other side.

>> 1. Chin tuckWhen we bead, we usually extend our necks forward and

down. This puts sustained pressure on the cervical discs

and also overloads the cervical muscles. To relieve these

pressures, raise the head so youre looking forward and your

neck is straight. Put your hand on your chin, and gently push

backward. Hold this stretch for about 5 seconds. Release.

Do a total of five repetitions.


13/13

Bead dish coverI am a busy sports mom, and I like totake my bead projects with me. SinceI use a porcelain bead dish, I normallyscoop the beads into their originalcontainers when its time to go to thenext event. I have tried using plastic lidsfrom various containers and have yet tofind one that fits snugly around thepetal shape of the dish. The kitchen

wrap Press n Seal by Glad has anadhesive on one side, and it sticks tosmooth surfaces. Now, I simply covermy bead dish with a piece of Press nSeal and secure it by running my fingerover the outer edge and divisions inthe dish. Then I pull the excess wraparound the sides to the bottom.The beads stay in their individualcompartments, and I can toss the trayin my bag and not worry about it.Occasionally, some beads stick to thewrap, but they dont pick up any

residue from it. Cindy Vaughn,Teague, Texas

Quick color clipColor cards are a nice way to keep trackof your beads, but theyre inconvenientto carry. I also love the concept ofbeaded swatch samples, but that meanshaving the time to bead them. So hereis my solution. String a single color ofbeads on a 1-in. (2.5 cm) safety pin.(I used Dritz brand pins.) Make a smalllabel for the color number and attach

it to the other side of the pin. Slide theloop on the end of the safety pin ontoa loose-leaf ring or split ring. Carry itin your purse or attach a chain or cordand wear it around your neck to keepyour hands free as you shop. I alsomade one for my crystals. Rafannette Dooley, Franklin, Texas

Spiraling beadsI use beading and scrapbooking tech-niques to transform spiral notebooksinto custom keepsakes. Select a bookwith a colorful cover design or adheredecorative paper to the front usingdouble-sided tape. Add a layer of stampsor stickers. Sew beads and sequins ontothe cover using an embroidery needleand conditioned Nymo. Cover exposed

threads by taping decorative paper tothe inside cover. Remove the wire spiral.Wind the spiral back into the book,adding a few beads to the wire eachtime it exits one of the bindings holes. Althea Church, Oxford, Mississippi

Photo backgroundsFor about $1 each, I can buy a varietyof professional-looking backgrounds tophotograph my beadwork on. Scrap-book papers (12 x 12 in./31 x 31 cm)come in a variety of colors and textures

at most craft stores, and they are easy tostore in a folder. When it comes to light-ing my beadwork, I find that naturallight works the best. KimberlySzalkiewicz, Escondido, California

More great tips

2010, Kalmbach Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Bead&Button is a registered trademark. This bookmay not be reproduced in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher. Published byKalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187. Printed in U.S.A.

618156 Great Beading Tips

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