When I teach beading to fifth graders, it dovetails with their lessons about colonial America. I talk about how glass beads from Europe were introduced to America, replacing or adding to beads made of shell, bone, and wood. I also talk about metal needles. How those needles were especially precious at that time. That's historically accurate as well as a way to encourage them not to lose their own needles! In addition to beads, needles, and thread, each student gets a work station. These usually consist of a styrofoam tray and a wash cloth. Needles can be stored by sticking them into the tray or the cloth, the cloth covers the tray with the supplies, and can be used as a work surface. Some students go fancy and use a clean, empty Chinese food container. These are perfect for bead projects, and now I use them all the time, too. A polar fleece rectangle lining the bottom (or top) makes it even more ideal. It stays closed easily and completely, it isn't too deep for reaching inside to pick up beads with a needle, it's a great size for caring around and holding on your lap to work (especially propped on a pillow). I also have found the round plastic containers that hold electrical tape good for small projects. These are 3 1/2 inches in diameter and just under an inch high. Like the other containers, both the base and lid can be used as a work surface, and a liner of polar fleece cut to fit keeps the beads from sliding around too much. They hold a small project, needle(s) and thread, and can easily be transported almost anywhere!
At home, I use other repurposed materials. For projects with lots of different beads that I use all at one time, I use old cookie sheets and the caps from drink bottles. (Right now I use Vitamin Water caps, as that is what my sons drink.) I know some bead artists like spreading their beads onto fabric, and find the caps small and a little more difficult to pick the beads out of, but right now I am working on a project with 31 different beads and having them in the caps keeps them from mixing together (I am not doing bead soup.) and all in one spot to use and put away.
In addition to using the bottle caps, I use clean, empty two liter bottles to store my beads when I am not using them. I cut off the top half of the bottle and store the bead tubes and bags inside by size and color. It makes it easy for me to find beads for a project and the bottles fit easily into a cupboard. When I am working on a specific project, I put all of the tubes/bags of beads I am using into a separate bottle half, which I use to replenish my work surface if needed.
Do you have any bead supplies that you've discovered that work well for you? Please share them!
At home, I use other repurposed materials. For projects with lots of different beads that I use all at one time, I use old cookie sheets and the caps from drink bottles. (Right now I use Vitamin Water caps, as that is what my sons drink.) I know some bead artists like spreading their beads onto fabric, and find the caps small and a little more difficult to pick the beads out of, but right now I am working on a project with 31 different beads and having them in the caps keeps them from mixing together (I am not doing bead soup.) and all in one spot to use and put away.
In addition to using the bottle caps, I use clean, empty two liter bottles to store my beads when I am not using them. I cut off the top half of the bottle and store the bead tubes and bags inside by size and color. It makes it easy for me to find beads for a project and the bottles fit easily into a cupboard. When I am working on a specific project, I put all of the tubes/bags of beads I am using into a separate bottle half, which I use to replenish my work surface if needed.
Do you have any bead supplies that you've discovered that work well for you? Please share them!