Jewelry Making Must Have of the Week

Like most people embarking on a new hobby, I have shamefully wasted too much money.  Buying the wrong tools or solutions flushes your bead money right down the tubes!  So frustrating!  When I first caught the beading bug, blogging had just become a trend, yet I couldn’t always find good advice on what I really needed to purchase and what I could do without.  These are the must haves of the craft!

 

 

I found this gem (no pun intended, for reals) at Tuesday morning.  Just the day before, I had been ogling it at Hobby Lobby.  Luckily I didn’t buy it then, because I saved $10 by picking it up at the discount store.

My new favorite is this portable bead mat.  I’ve seen some bulky ones with bead boards, but this one proved slim & streamlined for my busy life.  I love the pockets on the sides for my tools and supplies.  When I fold it up, my project keeps pretty safe and sound.  Love this thing!

Next week I’ll show some great, affordable storage solutions and how to get the best price.  I’ve tried several systems, but these are the ones that save me a lot of time in finding what I need quickly without frustration.