Designing your own beaded jewelry can be a great hobby, passion, and even job (if you work at it and market your work). It isn't hard to do and with a little bit of work you can come up with your own fantastic designs. A bead board is one tool that can make a huge difference in designing, creating, and making great jewelry. What is a bead board?
A bead board is usually a plastic board that is covered in felt. It can occasionally be found of fancier materials, but doesn't need to be to work well. It has small sections that are lowered down 1/2-1" and shaped like small cups. These are used to place your supplies for short term storage. Then there are grooves that are shallow and usually numbered. These are the really important part of the bead board.
How does the bead board work?
The grooves are the really important part of the bead board. It is where you will lay out your beads and other supplies so that you can get the pattern right and measure the estimated length.
Using the Bead Board.
The first step for using the bead board is to choose your groove. There are usually short grooves for earrings and bracelets and longer grooves for necklaces and other projects that take up more space. It doesn't really matter which groove you choose as long as you pay attention to how long you want your piece and how much space it takes up on your bead board.
If you are making a piece such as an earring or a bracelet you will want to start by laying your clasp down (this will add distance to your finished piece, but depending on the type you should make sure it isn't taking up more space then it will in the finished product when hooked together). Then set out your beads and objects (if you are using coils, spacers, pendants, or charms) and go until you have the correct length. Then prepare to string them onto the project. You may have to use two short grooves if you are choosing the short grooves to work with.
If you are making a necklace you will want to use a long rounded groove. Usually these are numbered with 0 at the center of the rounded part and counting up to the top on both sides. Start you piece at the center mark and work in a patter in both directions. Make sure you add the two sides together for the length of your finished piece. For example, if you are making a piece that is 20" total you will want the project to go to 10" on each side of the 0.
The bead board makes it easier to make mistake free jewelry, to change you mind about the design, and to come up with pieces that are truly unique. You can have fun, use your imagination, and make wonderful jewelry. It doesn't have to be hard, but it does have to be fun!
