FAQ CHAT

Donna writes: Do you have any advise on how to properly use elastic cord for beading bracelets?
I created a few and knotted as directed using a small amount of glue to secure the peice, but when stretched it comes undone....any suggestions on how I can prevent this from happening?
Also, after the beaded bracelet is complete and I test it....once on the wrist I notice a bit of a space where no bead is showing but elastic instead....what am I doing wrong?
Thanks for you HELP!
~Donna BMD

While Aunt Babby likes to think she knows all the answers, this one was a real poser since she hardly ever uses the dang stuff for the very same reasons. Still and all - I did a little sleuthing, and sent my feelers out to other beaders who might be able to help.

Here is a nice little primer I found on About Beadwork.com maybe you will find some of it useful - I'll add more tips as they come in...

It's easy to make beaded jewelry using stretch and illusion cords if you just know the basics. Endless bead bracelets, multi-strand stretch beaded bracelets, floating bead necklaces and more can be made quickly when you know which cord to look for and how to use it.

First of all – let's define the different types of stretch cord. There is a brand called Stretch Magic, a very strong, very elastic beading cord. It is commonly used for the new endless beaded bracelets and has other great applications as well. It is a bit on the pricey side, but is extremely durable. Another product on the market is good old covered elastic cord. It is now made in a small enough diameter to be used with 11/0 seed beads, and is very inexpensive. It is, however, not very durable and should be used with care.

There is also a cord called Monofilament and one called "Illusion" cord. These are not stretch cords but are clear, monofilament type threads to be used in the "floating" and "illusion" necklaces or bracelets with a clasp.

As for how to work these cords, there are a few schools of thought. I prefer using the smooth, cylindrical crimp beads, using a crimp tool to close the crimps. The newer Tornado crimps would work very well with stretch cord, too; perhaps even better than the cylindrical crimp bead, as they do not have as sharp and edge.

The other way to work it is to stretch the cord out, then knot it. The easiest way I have found to do this is to use a "third hand" tool; one of the jewerer's tool units with a weighted base and a couple of alligator clips attached to multi-swivel arms. They are not expensive and often come in handy. After making the know, add a drop of Super Glue to the knot, just to hold it in place. I have tried clear nail polish but it does not work very well. Wait until the glue has dried to clip the ends, as the knot will slip out if the glue has not set. Push the knot inside one of the beads to hide it.

Another way to secure the cord is to melt the knot together. The absolute best way to do this is to use the lit end of a piece of stick incense. This is a good but not foolproof method. You must make sure that you do not get the lit end of the incense stick close to the cord in any place other than the knot. If you do accidently melt (or even overheat) a part of the cord, you will weaken the cord and the beaded piece will probably break in a short time.

Keep the finished beaded pieces out of water and out of light when they are not being worn. These elements can weaken or disintegrate any type of stringing material but are especially hard on stretch cord. Also, since these types of cord are fairly new, their long-term durability is not known. There have been reports of beaded bracelets lasting for a year and longer, even when worn constantly. Of course, there have been reports of knots slipping after just a few wearings and of the thread losing elasticity and breaking in a short time. It is likely that other problems enter the picture – rough wear, too much stretching, etc. Use you best judgement and confine the use of these cords to beads you could stand to lose. If you do want to make a stretch cord beaded bracelet or necklace using heavy or larger beads, use as many strands of cord as the bead holes will allow to add security to your finished beaded piece.

Aunt Babby is happy you asked that question too - {in fact, she's always kinda slaphappy now, ain't she?}

It just so happens that MLBS is happy to announce it's new "Hands-on" Beading program called "In Stitches" - where little happy beaders like yourself can sit and enjoy the company of other members while learning some new stitch techniques.

Now, it also just so happens that the JUNE 07 general membership meeting will feature the first of this series - which has been very cleverly named "SPIRALMANIA!" - in honour of the very famous and beloved Spiral stitch technique, of which, no self-respecting seed beader should evah, - evah, evah, evah - be without.

FAQ - stands for "Frequently Asked Questions" and "CHAT" - means well... that means to talk informally. (Not to be confused with FAQ PAS DE CHAT - with "pas de chat", meaning, in ballet, to "leap forward" - like a cat. And that would sound silly and entirely make no sense at all.)

Aunt Babby is really glad you asked that question; and has prepared a little quiz below to help you find the answer. No need for fancy paper, pencil, ruler, or graphing calculator - just answer each question openly and honestly in the privacy of your own little fuzzy head.

1. Do you or have you ever had to eat next to the dog or cat bowl on the kitchen floor because bead projects are/were covering your kitchen table?

2. Do you, or have you - ever hidden bags of "stash" overnight in the trunk of your car, under your coat, or in your large handbag - just so that you could sneak them in when no one watching?

3. Have you, or your partner, ever rolled over onto bent nose pliers or a crimping tool while sleeping in bed?

4. Have you recently thought about beading your plastic shower curtain? (even if it is moldy)?

8. Do you read your bead magazines at inappropriate times? (Think: board meetings, church services, during childbirth, or while piloting a car at 70mph?)

9. Do your children still not like peas even though you spiral stitched a green pea necklace for them?

10. Does your husband or children know the term "Ndebele" ... and can also use it in a sentence?

12. Do you get a blank expression and get all goosebumply when someone mentions the words....Bead Fest?

If you answered yes to any one - or any part - of the above questions - then RUN don't walk to the next MLBS meeting. We understand you and don't think your hobby is in any way out of control. In fact, we celebrate your addiction - heck - we'll even turn you onto some harder stuff.

We'll take the shame out of beading and jewelry making addictions by putting you in touch with others just like you. We promise to expose you to even greater creative freedoms through our workshops, beading events, featured artists and speakers, and help you nurture - not hide - your creative expressions through the art of jewelry making.

And we'll do it with snacks.

Well, we creative people meet most first Mondays of the of the month at Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church from 7-9 pm. If the first Monday falls on a Holiday however, then the meeting is postponed usually until the following Monday.

In the case of inclement weather - like snow, hail, ice, tornados, hurricanes, and/or searing heat - then the webmastermistress (don't ask) gets a call on the Batphone about the changes - and will surely post an alert on the website posthaste. (That means immediately.)

Bethany Collegiate Presbyterian Church
5 North Concord Avenue
(Township Line and Ormond Avenue)
Havertown, PA 19083

Well friend, that's easy - just contact Beth Craver at bethcraver@verizon.net and she will help you tailor an ad that will perfectly fit your needs!

(Aunt Babby - while supremely qualified to answer this question - booted this one over to Nancy...)

The term lampwork comes from the original practice of using oil lamps to heat the cold glass and coil it on a mandrel (some sort of stick) to make a bead. Glass beads are also made by blowing, press molding and other techniques, each of which is used to create a shape with a hole in it to be used as a bead.

The glass is the critical feature of lampworked beads. Each and every bead is hand made. Each and every component of the bead is hand made, such that few artists will even offer to duplicate a bead.

Glass is chemistry. Glass is composed, at it's most basic, of silica combined with soda oxide in the form of soda ash and calcium oxide in the form of lime carbonates. This soda-lime or soft glass is most often used by lampworkers - typically called Effere, formerly called Moretti, it is manufactured in Italy and available all over the world. Recently other glass manufacturers, Bullesye and Spectrum, have developed soft glass. Each has their own unique colors which make them attractive to the lampwork artist.

Glass color is the result of chemical processes which oxides are added to the clear glass. The magic of lampwork is the reaction of the colors to the heat and the mix of oxygen and propane and their reaction to each other as well as any additional inclusions such as copper or silver foil.

Of course there is much more to the creation of each bead, but the decisions the artist makes each step along the way, from what type of glass they use for the bead to how they mix the fuel to the particular color mix of that particular cane of glass made that particular day by that manufacturer. Sometimes the positron of the sun, moon and stars comes into play as well. The end result is that each and every lampwork bead is individual and no two will ever be exactly alike.