Latest from MrBead with Free Shipping + Bead Boards & Storage

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Click a picture below to see one of our new beads. To receive free airmail shipping enter "shipfree" (without the commas) in the box at checkout, and click "Redeem Coupon". Use NOW - as expires Thursday 18th September 08.

To go to the US MrBead store click MrBead.com. Or our UK shop at MrBead.co.uk

To see all What's New in our US store click MrBead.com, or UK MrBead.co.uk
To go to the US MrBead store click MrBead.com. Or our UK shop at MrBead.co.uk
To see all old newsletters click MrBead.com or MrBead.co.uk

Bead Design Boards

A bead board can be a beaders' best friend. Allowing you to try different designs before you need to actually string the beads - so saving a lot of time and inconvenience of unstringing a bad design.

There are a few different types of bead boards, but all have at least one long groove around the board where you prepare your beads. At the side of this groove are numbers represents an inch and markings for half-an-inch. This helps you measure the final length of your necklace. In the center of most boards are small compartments to store beads as you work.

To make a necklace you need to determine where you want to place your beads in the design. If you already have a pattern to follow, great, just go ahead and put them in the correct order on the board. However, if you are not sure what pattern you plan to string yet, rearrange the beads until you find a design that you like.

Then string all the beads and spacers together, leaving extra cord for the clasp. Next lay the stung design on the board so you can check its desired length. After this, remove the piece from the bead board and finish it off attaching a crimp bead or a bead tip

Our gray-flocked plastic bead board pictured, has three channels for laying out beads for single or multiple strand jewelry, and seven compartments to store the beads while you're working. Overall size: 16 x 9 inches. Just US$12 - to buy click

How to Store Beads

Eventually every beader is faced with the dilemma of how to store their beads. Everyone has their own way depending on quantity and availability. Some beaders use a fishing tackle box, plastic shoe boxes, wood or plastic utensil trays from Walmart & others, clear sliding drawers designed for nuts and bolts, plastic pencil cases, or plastic drawer storage bins. All these compartments are the ideal size for storing beads, findings, and tools. Sturdy and portable, they allow you see project options at a glance.

Inside these draws you need to separate different types and sizes of beads. For loose beads, tubes are good with a label or photo around. Zippy or sealable plastic bags are great for strands - plus they have the advantage of a large opening to get a scoop or counter inside to retrieve loose beads. These bags can be brought from freezer and stationary stores. If you store your beads in little draws you may still need to put them in plastic bags too - in case the whole cabinet gets accidentally kicked over!

However, as your collection grows you will need a more and more containers. We use plastic draws that are stacked together and labeled on the front with a photograph and a description of the beads inside. Transparent or partly-transparent draws are good for seeing what's inside. Another way is to build narrow shelves for baby food jars. You can even screw the top of the lid to the top of the shelf so they always go back neatly. For small loose beads you can use 35mm film containers, candy tins, aspirin bottles, and paint cans for larger beads.

One beader has eight spice racks that turn, brought at yard sales for $2 each. Plus 16 glass jars with lids for her seed beads. Each jar has several shades of the same color. She just turns the rack to find the color she's looking for and the type of bead. Another beader uses Tic Tac containers when she travels. They are small enough for all the different colors she needs and they never spill. She also stores beads in margarine containers because they are flat and she can pile them on top of one another. Other people use empty travel-size baby-wipe containers to transport their beads. These are lightweight, the right depth to hold tubes of beads, and they fit easily into a purse. With a little imagination, you will find many every-day containers ideal for beads.

UK customers can see us on 1st November at The Big Bead Show, Sandown Park, Surrey - and at the Hobbycrafts Show in the NEC, Birmingham, 13th to 16th November

To see all What's New in our US store click MrBead.com, or UK MrBead.co.uk
To go to the US MrBead store click MrBead.com. Or our UK shop at MrBead.co.uk
To see all old newsletters click here