Fun fact: Before I was a painter or a collagist or even a scrapbooker, there were beads. In fact, I stumbled into A.C. Moore for the first time because I was looking for beads. Here's a peek at just a few of the pieces I've made over the years — a lot of the photography is old and not great quality:
Bead weaving and bead embroidery remain activities that I really enjoy doing. It's extremely relaxing and meditative work. Plus beads are small and make a perfect travel art project. Today, as part of my ongoing series of basic art tutorials, I'm going to show you how I make a small portable beading tray. It's perfect for taking a project with you. It does a great job keeping the parts of an ongoing project together. And it helps stop the beads from rolling away when you're working at home.
Watch the video for the how-to:
Grab a bead mat and a thin tin and make yourself a bead bed!
If you're looking for a great book to get started with making beaded beads (one of my particular obsessions) I can absolutely recommend anything by Carol Wilcox Wells. Her book, The Art & Elegance of Beadweaving has excellent and easy-to-follow instructions.
Thanks for stopping by!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
This is SOOOO helpful! My husband and I are contemplating a long road trip, and I was starting to panic about being away from my studio for so long. This sort of portable project will save me!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
I’ve seen a thin, foam material used for packing, particularly for putting between dishes when packing them. In fact, I think you can buy rolls of it at places like Walmart. Not a beader myself, but maybe that would work and likely be a cheap alternative. Thanks, Julie!
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
OMG me too! This was me http://www.beadinfinitum.com/FlorenceGallery/ once upon a time in a galaxy far far away (not updated since 2014). I have tool chests full of tiny little beads; I like looking at them still. I have become more and more farsighted, though, and other art forms started calling me louder than the beads.
You are truly amazing!
You are truly amazing!
You are truly amazing!
You are truly amazing!
You are truly amazing!
You are truly amazing!
You are truly amazing!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!
Thanks, Julie! This is perfect inspiration for a project that has been long on the shelf of UFO’s – a silk scarf with felted design that needs bead embellishment. Great idea!