Geckos aren’t poisonous, but rattlesnakes, Gila monsters, and Mexican beaded silver clutch lizards are. Are you a fan of the simplicity of metal-worked jewelry, or do you find yourself drawn to the vibrancy of glass beads? While pre-composed bead kits can be convenient, they are not always the most cost-effective choice unless you like and plan to use all the beads included in the kit. Gemstones, glass beads and crystal beads offer a more high-end finish for pieces than their cheaper Lucite and plastic options and will fetch a higher price if you plan to sell your creations. Finally I hit on the start of my current (and long standing) method of storage. I bought 2″ x 3.5″ zip lock bags, and to my surprise, filled 300 of them in no time at all. Also to my surprise, those 300 bags filled with beads, took up much less space than the tubes or storage boxes, and were much easier to use. I sorted them by color into pint size freezer zip lock bags. After a while, I discovered that the 2″ x 3.5″ bags, which were only 2 mils thick, frequently split their little seams, or if they got folded, developed a horizontal split. The many beads spilled in the bottom of my freezer bags finally dictated a new tactic. I bought 1000 (good price break) 2″ x 3.5″ zip lock bags, this time of 4 mil thickness. Finally I’ve got it!
3.5″ 4 mil zip lock bags, one style/color per bag. But then, I group similar colors together into the pint sized freezer zips. Then I put color families of freezer zips together and store them in larger (11″ x 16″ x 6″ high) Rubbermaid containers. Again by holding the container up and looking at the bottom, I can see what’s inside, though I also have them labeled by color. One exception to my color organizing is flowers and leaves. I have all of them together (mixed colors) in one of the Rubbermaid containers. That’s most of my beads. But some – my special lampwork beads, African trade beads, and a few very tiny, special pressed glass beads – I store differently. I am fortunate to have found a beautiful old dental cabinet with many wonderful shallow drawers. I keep most of my lampwork beads in plastic trays in these drawers, where I can look at them often without the distortion of looking through plastic bags. Also, invest in a container with compartments to store your beads so they can be sorted by size, bead and color, making them easy to find.
Compartmentalized storage boxes were my first choice, and I still use them for a few of my larger, specialty beads. But for smaller beads and seed beads I found them frustrating because inevitably the beads would slide under or over the dividers, getting mixed together. Also it was difficult to get the beads out when I wanted to reorganize the compartments (which was often). Not only is having the right beading materials necessary but picking out beads is also one of the most fun parts of getting into jewelry-making and developing your unique style! Before making any purchases, it is best to do your research and become familiar with jewelry-making lingo. The vast range of jewelry-making styles can make even the idea of getting started seem daunting. Organic fertilizers may also provide a spectrum of lesser nutrients, even enzymes and hormones that can benefit growth. Set aside a room, corner or even just a desk for yourself and dedicate it to your craft. Although you may not need one for quilting or knitting, if you’re using dyes, paints or other potentially messy materials in your crafting, consider running a water line to your craft room and installing a sink.
Many craft stores and online sites offer fun and interesting courses in general beginner topics as well as in more specific skills, such as metal work, clay metal, soldering, beading courses and resin work. Classes are also an excellent way to become familiar with basic beginner skills, such as making wire loops and working with jump rings. As in any industry, networking is essential and classes are an excellent opportunity to meet other jewelry enthusiasts and learn from the best in the industry! The Spicetone beaded jewelry set weighs roughly one pound, sans packaging. If you search on Google “beaded beachwear garment exporter ” then only one name appear in the search result, which is Page 3 Fashion. For example, take a look at Moss and Wildflowers on my gallery page. So then I tried various tubes, but decided as my stash grew (and grew) that they take up too much space. Also, I wanted all of the containers to be the same size (is this a Virgo trait???), and therefore had to buy them with money I’d prefer to spend on beads. Purchasing specialty tools may seem like an investment at first, but well-made and designed tools outlast their cheaper counterparts, and you will find that you will have to replace high-quality tools much less frequently.
