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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The Rainbow Loom Gateway

Beaders, something really exciting is happening, and has been for several months now. A whole new generation of beaders and jewelry makers is being formed, and the best part is, a lot of them are boys.

If you don’t know any kids or people with kids between the ages of 6 and 12, it’s possible that you’ve never heard of the Rainbow Loom. This past holiday season, it was the toy to have, and stores were selling out everywhere. What makes this crafting set different from other toy trends is that it is a favorite of boys and girls of varying ages, rather than just a specific little childhood niche. Everyone loves Rainbow Loom.

Although I’m not a big fan of plasticy things, and we have no need of one in our house, I’m an admirer of the Rainbow Loom, too. I love it because, like macramé friendship bracelets and boondoggle key chains, this craft trend is going to usher in a new batch of future beaders - and this one might be bigger than any before. If even a small fraction of kids weaving tiny rubber bands into bracelets develops a love of beadwork, that’s still a lot of new designers to share inspirations with in the years to come!

We sell Rainbow Looms and accessories at my day job, and whenever a small gang of preteen boys drops by to casually pick up some new bands without the slightest hint of self-consciousness, I smile - a lot. At no point was there ever an announcement or decree stating that it was “okay” for boys to do this colorful, wearable craft. It just happened, proving in a small way that gender roles are a lot of rubbish.

So, to all of the boys and girls out there who are learning to love jewelry design, welcome! Pull up some beads and lets make beautiful things.

Copyright 2014 Inspirational Beading
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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?

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
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MyMemories Scrapbooking Software Giveaway

Drag and drop photos into frames
for instant collages

Thanks to digital photography and all of its perks, sharing images of your beadwork is incredibly easy and fun. It’s almost too fun - there are so many exciting ways to showcase design photos that it can become a second hobby to compete with beading.

Awhile back, we looked at the wonderful creations that can be made with the MyMemories digital scrapbooking suite. It’s great for creating shop and blog banners, Twitter backgrounds, landing pages, videos and professional-looking business card graphics. With a great printer, you can even use your jewelry collages to create lookbooks of your work for craft fairs and consignment pitches. The easy to use program is also fantastic for planning designs, color palettes, and saving your ideas in a beautiful digital album.

For the traveling beader, finished scrapbook projects can be turned into physical items and printables like gift boxes, party favors and loot bags - great for home parties and craft shows. Scrapbook files created with MyMemories can be printed from home, or you can take your files with you to a print shop for a professional product. The possibilities are endless.

In addition to the basic suite, which includes tons of pre-made designer layouts, plus papers and embellishments for designing your own unique scrapbook pages, you can add to your scrapbooking repertoire with hundreds of downloadable kits and goodies. New background papers, stickers, and decorations are just a click away, and you can mix and match any elements you like to get the perfect collage. Many user created add-ons and scrapbooking kits are available for free, and download instantly, so you can make quick pages or add exciting details to your digital collages.

Here are two pages I made in just a few minutes with free scrapbooking kits:

Backgrounds and embellishments from Heritage Gift Pack by Cari Lopez,
and Blueberry Combo Pack by Gypsy’s Scrapbooking.

MyMemories recently released version 4 of the scrapbooking suite, with new and improved features that any crafter will love. And the best part is that all MyMemories software comes with a Limited Use License that allows you to promote your jewelry or craft business with your creations.

Browse for photos right inside the scrapbook suite
for quick and easy jewelry collages

How to Enter

For your chance to win a free digital copy of MyMemories Suite v4 Scrapbooking Software, visit the amazing selection of downloadable goodies at MyMemories. Then head back here and leave a comment letting us know which product or scrapbook theme is your favorite, and how you would use it. Anything goes!

Important: Entries must be made here on Inspirational Beading to qualify for the draw. Please make sure to include an email address or contact link in your comment, or through your profile, so that I can contact you if you win. Incomplete or anonymous entries will not be included in the draw.

One lucky winner will be drawn on Thursday August 22, 2013. This giveaway is open to international readers (prize is for the downloadable full version of MyMemories).

Update: The draw has closed. Inspirational Beading readers can use coupon code STMMMS31747 for a discount on their purchase of MyMemories software. For more information about digital scrapbooking, tutorials and extra goodies, you can also check out MyMemories on Facebook and Youtube.

Good luck!

I would like to thank Story Rock Inc. for giving me the opportunity to try out MyMemories software. Inspirational Beading has not received compensation for featuring products in this review, however, using the coupon code STMMMS31747 to purchase MyMemories Suite v4 will earn a commission for Inspirational Beading. I have shared my sincere opinions of this product - it is fantastic!

Copyright 2013 Inspirational Beading
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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?

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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Inspired Beaders: Beading Buds

For many beaders, the first spark of beading inspiration comes when we are young. Perhaps we have a crafty mentor that shares some of their stash on a Saturday afternoon, or have a chance encounter at an incredible bead shop. Many beaders get their start through crafting sessions with clubs or groups like Girl Guides, and these fun moments can be the beginning of a lifelong love affair with beads.

Thanks to the Beading Buds, inspiration like this isn’t just a lucky coincidence. Esther and her team of jewelry designers have been sharing the love of beading with kids (and grown-ups!) at parties and functions in the Toronto area for 5 years running. From birthday parties, to summer camp, to company retreats, these beaders are on the go wherever a fun time is needed!

Inspirational Beading: How did you first get into jewelry design and beading?

Esther: When I was a little girl, at a beading club at the school that I attended

Inspirational Beading: How did this passion evolve into the idea for beading parties?

Esther: The idea found me! I used to work at a law firm and co-workers there
knew that I made jewelry and asked if I could do a party for their children, and the idea just kind of took off.

Inspirational Beading: Is there a trick to teaching beadwork as entertainment? What’s your favorite thing about the process?

Esther: The trick is to make sure you are teaching the correct project to each age group. If it's too easy they get bored and if it's too hard they get frustrated. My favourite thing about the process is that I am teaching children skills that they can use for a lifetime. I have had so many of my little beaders contact me a couple of years after I've taught them telling me how beading is now a true hobby for them and they are so happy that I introduced them to something that is such a big part of their life now.

Inspirational Beading: Do you have a favorite memorable beading party moment?

Esther: One of the most special parties I ever did was teaching a group of girls to make jewelry that they were going to sell and donate all the proceeds to the prenatal ward of a hospital in Toronto, Canada. The mom of one of the girls had contacted me while I was actually at that hospital having just had my first daughter. It was just such a coincidence and was so special because I felt like I was helping other new mothers. Of course we offered to do the event probono and the satisfaction we received from doing it was the best payment anyone could ever receive.

Inspirational Beading: What is your favorite material or bead type to work with?

Esther: We love using bright colourful beads, mainly glass or acrylic, depending on the age group and what they are making.

Inspirational Beading: Who do you hope to inspire with your work?

Esther: Whether through a birthday party or afterschool program, or any other scenario, we hope that every single child that has ever beaded with us discovers what a fun and enjoyable hobby jewelry making is.

You can learn more about the Beading Buds and the fantastic work that they do on BeadingBuds.com, or stay up to date with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Beading Buds
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Book Spotlight: Button It Up

Isn’t it interesting how our crafting backgrounds can influence the way we view and categorize materials? To a crafter or seamstress, buttons rule, and beads might just be pretty once-in-a-while embellishments. To a beader, buttons might be considered sewing mediums that can masquerade as wonderful components. To some beaders, buttons are just another kind of beautiful and versatile bead.

However you look at buttons, it’s true that they can be great when used for jewelry designs or beaded crafts. After all, they have holes, come in a variety of shapes, colors and materials, and are often inexpensive. Some of the most beautiful buttons fall into the realm of vintage finds, which also makes them incredibly trendy for jewelry projects.

In the pages of Button It Up, button enthusiasts and crafters of all skill levels will find an amazing array of beautiful projects to use for showcasing fabulous buttons. Author Susan Beal is a serious button aficionado, and begins with a detailed history of button making and collecting, including popular styles and materials throughout the past few centuries.

This intriguing read is followed by a wonderful basics chapter, which covers a variety of sewing and jewelry making techniques, as well as tips for making and embellishing buttons. There is even a brief tutorial on making your own resin beads from vintage molds. Each tip includes clear diagrams to help you get started.

Then it’s on to the projects. Susan has just about covered it all in this book. Beginners, and crafters who want some instant gratification projects, will love the easier designs. The projects gradually progress to more complex techniques and design styles.

There are nearly 50 jewelry and accessory projects to try, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, and hair pins. Each one explores a different method or approach to showcasing marvelous buttons, so you’ll never run out of ideas or inspiration for putting your own button collection to use.

There are also several sewing and home décor projects, including embellished tops and skirts, pillows, curtains, handbags, magnets and more. Some of my favorites include an adorable and chic collage wall hanging, using fabric scraps and lone buttons.

Although many of the projects use simple, classic techniques like hot gluing, the designs are very classy. Readers will love the full color photographs, and be inspired to create their own variations. There are no step-by-step photographs – each project is very straight forward, and includes detailed instructions for completing the design.

Button It Upalso includes a thorough alphabetical index and reference guide, plus bios of the many guest designers that contributed button projects for the book. Some notable designers include Leah Kramer, Jennifer Perkins, and Christy Petterson.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading
Susan Beal and Taunton Press
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Easter Egg Craft and Beading Tutorials

Earlier this week, we had a look at some fantastic egg inspired and oval shaped beads for spring designs. To continue with this theme of eggs and fun candy colors, we have a round up of some fantastic beaded Easter egg tutorials and projects. There are a few decorative projects, plus some fun eggy jewelry designs as well.

Spring Fling Beaded Felt Easter Eggs
By Artbeads.com





Easter Jewels Right Angle Weave Bracelet
By FusionBeads.com





Wire Bird’s Nest Charm Tutorial
By Beadaholique




Hanging Beaded Egg Project
By Crafts Unleashed





Microbead Covered Applique Easter Egg
From CraftIdeas





Perler Bead Easter Eggs
By Perler Beads





Good Egg Earrings
By FusionBeads.com

Is anyone else craving chocolate? You can dress these projects up for a really special piece, or tone them down a bit for Easter craft time with the kids. Happy beading!

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and Friends
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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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