A topic not much discussed in articles about bead craft is what I like to all "optional equipment." Reasonably, most of the articles on beading ideas concentrate on the beading projects, or the beads themselves and various discussions rotating around patterning, color selection and so on, but at least a few concentration must be given to the optional items of equipment, because they can make your life easier and enrich your enjoyment of bead craft in general.
The items I've in mind are:
Fishing Line
Magnifying Glasses
Cord Knotter
Bead Tray
I'll outline what all of these can do for you as it relates to bead craft below.
Fishing Line - If you're all out of silk thread and needing to crank out a bead craft project, simple fishing line can be subbed in for the good stuff. Or, if you are only making a temporary piece and wish to save your silk thread for permanent creations, again, fishing line to the rescue! No bead craft toolkit could be without it!
Magnifying Glasses - This helpful item will save you both time (reducing the time needed turning your beading ideas into truth), and prevent eyestrain by bringing those tiny, little pieces-parts into better focus. What's not to like about that! If you only have one piece of optional bead craft tools, get these!
Cord Knotter - At around 10 usd , this useful little item is the most costly of the "optional bead craft equipment," but well worth the money, particularly if you do any work at all with pearls. It assists with knot tying, and aids you get the knots right up against the beads, where you wish them to be (this could be a frustrating process when attempting to get it right by hand). It might take a lttle bit to get the hang of using it, but once you do, you will wonder how you & your bead craft projects got along without it!
Bead Tray - Amusing how something as simple as a tray can make this type of huge difference to your bead craft projects, but it truly can! The main advantage of a bead tray is that it comes with grooves for holding beads and the grooves are of ordinary shapes and sizes! So, while you're making a necklace, just play with your pattern on the bead tray, get it exactly how you want it, and then all of your beads are already laid out in the exact pattern. Only pick 'em up and string!
Again, while none of the items mentioned here are absolutely essential, you will possibly discover that you enjoy bead craft a good deal more with these time saving devices, and you can pick up the whole set for about $25. A little investment really for what they can do to enhance your bead craft experience, and the ways in which they can help you execute against your beading ideas!
