Past tip of the month - Beading projects

		February 2003 Tip of the Month   Beading Basics - Bead Boards I love my bead board!  I received mine as a gift from my husband after a few disastrous months of trying to string beads via a pile on my coffee table.  I don't know how many times I lost a pattern while I was trying to measure the length of a bracelet the hard way.  I highly recommend investing in a bead board if you have not yet done so, it will not only allow you to measure your bracelets and necklaces prior to stringing, but it will also allow you to assemble (and re-assemble), a pattern that fits within your desired length. The bead board I've got is very common; it's gray with three rows all around and several small compartments that can hold my beads as I work.  The great thing about it is that I am able to put several different types and colors of beads in the compartments, then mix and match until I get a pattern I like.  When I'm done it is very quick to pull the beads out and put them away.