Making a Beading Surface | Securing Jump Rings
Try a kitchen product as a base for a new beading surface and check out this technique for making jump rings more secure.
1 carried away
For compact and portable organization, store your seed beads in a wooden utensil carrier. Each compartment holds 15 or more tubes, so you can keep 90 to 100 tubes within reach. Plus, the carrier keeps the tubes upright - helpful if you work with several different
colors at one time. - H. C. Mercer, via e-mail |
2 space that measures up
I designed my own inexpensive beading surface using textured foam shelf liner and a cloth tape measure. Cut approximately 28 in. (.71m) of liner and staple a 2-ft. (.61m) length of tape measure across the bottom. The pad is inexpensive, portable, and beads won't roll off the surface. - Martha Wilderman, St. Peters, Mo. |
3 tying up loose ends
It's easy to make an adjustable closure on a leather necklace. First, make sure your cord is long enough to slip over your head when knotted. Next, string the ends through a large-hole bead in opposite directions and tie an overhand knot at each end. Put the necklace on and pull the ends to adjust its length.
- Peggy Thomas, Ridgefield, Conn. |
4 secure jump rings
If you like the security of split rings but prefer the look of jump rings, use two jump rings as a compromise. You can substitute double jump rings when making a bail (shown) or when linking charms or dangles to chain. - Y. Funatsu, via e-mail |
5 two-strand solution
To string two strands of beading wire through a bead with a small hole, cut one wire slightly shorter than the other. You'll find it easier to string one wire at a time through a bead. - Laurie James, New York, N.Y. |