Tools and your work environment should be comfortable as well as effective.
Following some basic guidelines can give you hours of pain-free, fun-filled beading.
Failure to pay attention to some basics can provide you some serious pain and cut into your beading hours.
Most beaders have a designated spot for their beading work, at least when they're at home.
Having a designated area means that your tools and materials are always in the same place each time you sit down to bead.
This area should be well-lighted so that there is enough light to perform detailed work.
The lamp should be positioned so that the light passes from one side to another.
This typically avoids glare which is very tiring.
Having sufficient light also avoids shadows which make small work especially difficult to do.
The chair (preferably adjustable) should be arranged such that the feet are flat on the floor with the thighs parallel to the floor.
If you are working at a desk or table, then it is important to adjust the chair so that the shoulders are comfortable (not "hunched" or raised) and the forearms are parallel to the floor.
When you perform these two adjustments, you may find that your thighs are no longer parallel to the floor or that your feet won't touch the floor except on tip-toe.
If this is the case, make the arm and shoulder adjustments first.
Then, you can use a footrest or a small box to give your feet and thighs some support.
(Failure to provide this support impairs leg circulation and causes an uncomfortable pinching effect behind the knees.
) While probably more relaxing, it is not imperative that you work in a quiet place.
Do what fits your taste.
Often a little music or perhaps the television may be relaxing for you.
Your tools should add to your comfort, too.
If they don't, pain and hand cramps may rob you of many pleasurable hours of beading.
Here are some things to remember when buying tools.
Well-made tools (they don't have to be the top of the line) last longer and perform better.
Tools should have handles that are plastic- or rubber-coated to avoid sharp edges that can cause sores or blisters.
Likewise, tools should fit your hand so that there is no cramping from constantly having to open your hand too wide to make a cut or a crimp.
Tools like pliers and crimpers should be fitted with a spring device as part of the central hinge.
This allows the tool to automatically re-open after each cut, crimp or wrap.
This means that you don't have to reach down and re-open the tool with your little finger.
Without the spring, your hand can cramp easily.
I know beading is a lot of fun and it is often hard to break away, or you just forget the time.
But try to take a break every thirty minutes or so.
Stand up, stretch a little, get the circulation going, and do a few hand stretch exercises to loosen them up.
This also gives your eyes a break as well.
They need to focus on a different scene at a different distance periodically.
With a brief break, you can resume beading with a clear head and ready to do great things.
So, I think I'll take a break.