Bead Room

Tips and techniques: Winnowing, tight places and shows

Making the most of your beads and your time
by Cathy Jakicic
Published: November 11, 2010
tip1
Winnow the stash

Every beader I know has a container of random beads that they don't know how (or don't want) to sort. It's a good idea to periodically dump it out and look through it for potential hidden treasures and, more importantly, to finally get rid of the ones you know you're not going to use. Give them away to Goodwill or another beader. Make a grab bag for Ebay.com - whatever. While it's easy to just leave them (they're not bothering anyone, after all), keeping the beads you won't use makes it all the more time-consuming to find the ones you will. Let them go - you'll thank me later.
tip-2
Pack beads in tight places

When I want to take tiny beads with me (and keep them organized) in a small overnight bag to work on a project on vacation or when visiting family for the holidays, I use a daily pill holder. As my parents have graduated to the jumbo morning/noon/night versions, I've inherited their smaller ones. They're also very inexpensive at the pharmacy.
tip-3
Keep busy at shows

"Tis the season for holiday craft shows. When you're participating in a show, bring small projects, such as earrings, to work on. It's give you something to do when it's slow (and it's a good conversation starter for potential buyers). And when business is booming, you'll need the extra earrings.
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PATRICIA KOKO from ILLINOIS said:
I, too, have discovered the value of working on a small project while at a show during the lulls. When a shopper stops by there is little doubt that the work is your own and you are not a manufacturer rep or have imported sale items from other countries without your input...as at a recent show. It was a helpful tool for sales.
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