Watching me mutter to myself while I try to figure out how to arrange the beads in the outer bead border of the Kimberly laying tool case is boring, so I've saved up some things I wanted to mention. First of all, I wanted to mention the tools I use for beading. In the photo above you see my newest Tacky Bob, which is a little box that opens like a compact with two sticky sides inside, in light/dark colors where you pour your beads to keep them from running away while you add one at a time to your canvas. I love Tacky Bobs! They really help keep beads under control. If you can't buy one at your local shop, the Flying Needles folks will sell them to you. They come in an assortment of colors. Actually, I've never seen two that are alike!
http://www.flyingneedlestx.com/tackybob.htm
I'm attaching my beads with a ply of silk (usually the darker red Soie d'Alger I used on this pice) that is waxed. I need to go through the beads 2-4 times as I attach them, so the more usual two plies that needlepointers use won't work. Therefore I'm using silk instead of Nymo beading thread as one ply of silk is small enough to make it through the bead holes many times. Since beads will gradually work through a thread after time, I'm waxing my thread before I put it through the needle's eye. The little heart shaped cake of beeswax is from Michele Roberts. Her website is no longer up but you can find it many places online. I take mine out of the little plastic bag, run my thread over it 2-3 times and then thread the needle.
The final tool I want to draw your attention to are the little blue plastic loops in the photo. These are called "orthodonic floss threaders" and they are for cleaning false teeth. They are perfect loops for pulling heavy metallic threads like my colored twist to the back side of your canvas. First, enlarge the hole where the thread should come up/go down in your canvas. I use the tip of a scissor blade for this normally, but awls work, too. Then put the bottom of the floss threader through the hole, leaving the loop on the top of your canvas. Lay the end of the heavy metallic thread you are going to couch inside the loop and pull on the tail. Your thread will go to the back side of your canvas to be tied down securely. If you need to pull your thread to the top of the canvas, then put the tail on the top and the loop on the bottom. Pulling on the tail will bring the thread up out on top. To succeed in using this technique, the hole must be large enough to let the thread through without damaging it, so be careful.
These floss threaders come in a packet of many, making them a perfect gift to hand out at your next guild meeting.
http://www.dentist.net/butler-gum-eez-thru-threaders.asp
Written by Jane/Chilly Hollow
Blogging at http://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com
Archived Yahoo 360 postings at http://profiles.yahoo.com/chillyhollow
3 comments:
Tacky Bob was a big seller in my shop. Once a stitcher tried it, she wouldn't do beads without it. The orthodontic floss threaders sound great!
I'm not surprised, Sara Leigh. I love mine! The floss threaders work very well with my metallic threads but you can do the same thing with a loop of strong thread. It's just easier to use the dental thing when you are fumble fingered like me!
An alternative to a Tacky Bob for those of us without a LNS is to find a flexible plastic lid of about 2 - 3 inches (I use a lid from a Pringles can). Line the inside with double sided sticky tape. Then just attach it to a corner of your canvas with magnets and you have a great spot for those rolling beads.
Nancy
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