Storage/Organizing Tips

• Always keep your tiger-wire in a soft loop shape. If not, your piece hangs crooked from the wire getting kinked.
• Try using muffin tins, ice cube trays to help separate beads when working on a project. 7 day pill boxes work well too, especially since they have lids.
• Sushi dishes are great for seedbeads!
• Aluminum watchmaker cases are great for storing and separating beads. Not only do they keep your beads organized and easy to use, it is a nice way to display them. These cases are available in a variety of sizes and colours from Country Beads.

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Wire/String Tips

• When crimping, make sure to place the pliers straight so that the crimp bead squishes flat. Check the crimp to see if it's secure as this is the only piece holding your wire to the clasp.
• When cutting wire, point your pliers away and down from you. Even better, also wear safety glasses. This allows you to get close to your project making accurate cuts while protecting yourself from bits of wire flying around.
• To move knots into place, use an awl to slide the knot along the string. Don't have an awl? Use a pen or knitting needle instead. It just won't be as precise as an awl has a very thin yet strong tip.
• When working with hemp, mark one end of string with a coloured marker as not to mix the ends up.
• To open a jump ring, use 2 pliers, twist the ring open add your clasp, bead etc, then twist the ring back re-alining the 2 sides of the jump ring. DO NOT put one plier inside the ring and pull the handles apart. This distorts the shape of the ring and you won't be able to line the wires up again.  

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Stringing Tips

• To string seed beads quickly buy them already strung. Keep them on the string but feed your own cord/needle through the centre transfering them from onto your string. This way you can pick up multiples of beads at a time.
• If using callottes with thin string/fishing line, it is easy for the knot to slip thrtough the hole in the callotte. To prevent this from happening, tie a small seedbead onto the string to sit within the cup of the callotte before closing it. 
• Seal knots with Fimo varnish or clear nail polish to stop them from slipping.
• Tweezer tips: bent tweezers help in the placement of a knot and straight, pointy tweezers help with undoing a knot.
• Macramé tips ... how not to run out of cord!
  After you have figured out how much cord you need ... cut it into 2 exact lengths. Macramé as usual, with 4 equal lengths. When you reach your centre bead, switch the cords—put the outside 2 through the bead, and use the inside ones now as the outside knotting cords. Now you don't have to worry about running out of cord to knot!

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 Travel Tips

• Fishing tackle boxes are compact and have a handle which makes them terrific travelling bead cases. They also have trays with compartments inside for beads along with a large area at the bottom for bulkier items like pliers, rolls of wire etc.
• A simple shoe box also works well.  Use the box to hold all your beads and supplies and then flip the lid over for a quick working surface. To keep the beads from rolling around, glue a piece of fabric onto the inside of the lid.
• Use a towel or a ribbed cotton placemat on your lap to keep your beads in one place.
• Altoids and other small tins make great portable bead kits. Add a magnetic strip for needles or fold-up scissors.