Tips for Beading While on Vacation

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

EleanorJ@8 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:24:24 GMT

Greetings from cold, windy England, you lucky lady! I loved this post and hope you have a great holiday and come back with lots of new ideas. I also use the box idea - I prefer rubber bands to secure instead of tupperware-type lids as I've had too many instances of these resisiting and then giving way to my tugging all of a sudden and spraying the contents everywhere.

LOVE the glued-on-magnet-for-needles idea and will definitely give that one a try.

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

bylynette — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:23:17 GMT

With a non-flier husband, my vacations usually involve at least a few long driving days, so my vacation beading keeps boredom at bay. A lap pillow keeps my beading tray from sliding and the tray holds just the beads I need for stitching my favorite peyote stitch designs. I've gotten more than a couple double-takes from truckers who see me with my sunglasses and magna-visor beading happily down the highways. Bringing along several pre-threaded needles helps a lot!

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

EliseK — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 19:13:09 GMT

The trays given by flight attendants with meals are great for beading, too. I asked for one and got it. I brought everything in a "tool kit" on the plane the last few times I've flown and checked with the TSA beforehand and they let them go, scissors, pliers and all. Knitters can bring knitting needles, too.

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

JaniceF — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:56:08 GMT

Jean, you triggered an equally awful experience while travelling by air which reinforces your comments about protecting our equipment. I lost my tiniest, sharpest 4" pair of Gingher's to the TSA. I, too, saw them going home to a wife's collection of cuticle clippers! Always protect your tools!

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

DorisD@12 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:43:36 GMT

Hope your picking up some of those shells your crunching on the beach for your next project. Skip the work on the beach, walk, look up at what is around you or look at the local bead shop for a new stash. Sorry but the working on a beading project on vacation sounds like your missing the vacation!

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

JanetC@47 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:28:34 GMT

Where could I buy Vellux? I've heard it mentioned before but haven't come across it anywhere. I must not be looking in the right place! :-)

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

Bjmack1213 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:11:24 GMT

I use a pistol case too! It is made of hard plastic, opens like a suitcase (the two-sided kind that opens like a clam shell), has foam on both sides and locks securely. The best part is the foam inside holds everything in exactly the place I put it so I can leave little piles of loose beads or a full beading dish and nothing spills. When you open it again you are right where you left off. It's small enough to fit into a tote bag. Just be sure if you use a beading dish the case is lying flat and right side up if it is opened at the security checkpoint. Nothing will spill, but they might pick up the upside down dish and your beads will mix.

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 18:07:58 GMT

Hi Jean,
Your vacation sounds great! My family will be joining you down south in the next couple of weeks -- this time on the Gulf Coast side. I am already packing my beads to go, but I really like your cigar box idea. I'm going to have to get myself one of those!

I also love the shell necklace on today's post and have been thinking that I'd like to use my large shell collection to make some jewelry. But recently, I've heard that there are some very real respiratory hazards involved in drilling shells. Apparently, you are supposed to drill them underwater so as not to be exposed to the dust. Have you or any other readers heard about this?

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

JeanH@47 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:56:00 GMT

My problem with beading on vacation is lighting and the fact that I can not see that well anymore. Was wondering if or what type of light you bring with you?

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

BarbaraF@4 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:55:59 GMT

My favorite vacation beading project is bead crochet. String all your beads, in your desired pattern, before you leave home. Use a soft foam hair curler to secure the threaded beads (wrap around the curler and your spool of thread, then clamp the curler closed) and you have a neat, travel-ready project. All you need is a crochet hook, safety pin to hold the last stitch made and you're good to go. I even keep a project in a little case in my car for those times when I'm kept waiting at an appointment or arrive somewhere early. "Found" time becomes beading time!

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

JayelF — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:53:25 GMT

Jean,
I have a comment about the circular thread-cutter you recommend bringing on planes. Ironically, TSA forbids them, yet allows small scissors. Take a look at the last paragraph on this page on the TSA Website, discussing needlework tools: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1252.shtm I assume the person who made this decision hasn't seen these discs and doesn't realize how small they are and the fact that they are welded together for safe cutting of threads! I'll bet that some beaders have incorporated these cutters into attractive necklaces,made specifically for travel, so I thought I'd better point this out. If a beader still wants to risk it, a self addressed stamped envelope at the ready would be a good idea. In my experience, airline staff aren't equipped to check small items like this.

JF

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

SharonL@74 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:51:43 GMT

when I travel, I have a medium sized wooden tray with a vellux lining glued to the bottom and sides. It fits into my "busy bag". I have everything I need for my project in a ziploc bag. When we are airborne, I take out the tray, open my bag and bead away. Works great on cruises or in the car or in a hotel. You always have it ready and can take it from place to place. I also glued a non-slip surface to the bottom.

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

Hashfamily1999 — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:40:46 GMT

I use a clip board--the kind that opens and closes and put 2 pieces of felt to place my projects between. I can usually keep one project and tools in it. I also bought a small fishing clip light that fishermen use to clip to the bills of their hats or on their shirts so I can clip it to the board and it gives me a more lit up space to work in. I have never flown in a plane so I can't give tips for air travel. But I have made plently of car trips with kids and pets so I needed something I can just close and set aside when needed.
Laura
www.laurannhashdesigns.com

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

Pam F — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:38:15 GMT

I live in Europe and I fear that currently the security people at the airports are more strict than in the US.
I wouldn't even dare to put my crochet needle in my cabin bag being afraid of losing it.
I carry all my equipment for beading safely packed in my suitcase.

re: Tips for Beading While on Vacation

mssuz — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:31:07 GMT

Where are you collecting shells? I wanna do that too! LOL

Sue