Supplies: Work Space
By: dawnmorningstar
tags: beading work space, craft work area, lighting for beading, magnification for beading
Category: Uncategorized
The work space is almost as important as all the supplies I’ve talked about already. Of course each beader will have their own preference, but there are certain things that are common to all. I would say first and foremost that it is important to work in a place that is comfortable and has good light.
Nagging pain in the neck, shoulders, back, and wrist can be avoided with proper posture and position while you’re beading. Try not to slouch or work for long periods bent way over toward the table. Space is also needed to insure freedom of movement and to make sure that threads do not get caught on items crammed into a tiny work area. Although it is possible to add thread as you make the earrings, I prefer to start with enough thread to finish one, so I start out with a yard or yard and a half of thread on my needle. This means that in the beginning I am stretching my arm out pretty far.
It’s a good idea to find a desk or table and chair that is comfortable and to claim that area as YOUR work space. It will be easier to concentrate as you are learning and the beading will go faster and more smoothly than if a different area is used each time. However, if there is no such available place in your home or apartment, then the kitchen table works nicely.
Lighting is another important thing to consider. Good lighting makes it possible to see the true color of the beads, to thread the small eye of the beading needles, and to do quality work. I recommend a 75 or 100 watt bulb, but stay away from fluorescent if you can. I know the compact fluorescent bulbs are considered “green”, but that kind of lighting does not show the true color of the beads and seems to make my eyes tired faster. If you really want to use the cfl bulbs, try one of the daylight types.
To help see better, there are many kinds of magnifying glasses available. The type that is available for embroidery at sewing and fabric shops would work well, as do jewelers’ magnifying glasses. I use two items for magnification. One is a stand-alone magnifying glass with an adjustable goose-neck and weighted base. The other is a lightweight headband-type binocular magnifier with battery-powered side lights. These are shown in the photo of my workspace above.
In my next post I am going to begin going through the steps of the basic technique to make earrings with a bugle bead foundation and with single seed beads in the top portion.
