Beading Lap Desk

 I don't have my own crafting room in which to do my beading. I was working on the dining table, but that has caused some major inconviences for me and for others. Since I spend the vast majority of my time in my bedroom (I live in a house that isn't mine), I wanted to be able to bead in my room. I saw a beading lap desk in the craft store and then found one on the Fire Mountain Gems website:

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H202308PK

Have any of you used something like this? It has a bead board, a work board and a storage area, plus the pillow to make up the lap desk. I have a clip-on magnifying glass, so my main concern would be if it would be able to clip onto the edge of the bead board. This would also be good for traveling. We spent the past weekend in a hotel room and it would've been nice if I could've taken my beading stuff with me.

So what do y'all think of this bead board lap desk?

 I couldn't tell you much, But I did think.. what about a BED tray, you know, one of those big trays with the short little legs that's supposed to let you serve breackfast in bed.... a lot of those are quite large for a surface area, and wouldn't actually sit ON your lap. I can just see you needing to stretch your leg a little and beads spilling out because the surface tipped too much..... My other thought is a hospital type bedside table that you can just roll over the bed when you want it and is ajustable in height. Just my own thoughts!

Lois

I have a Bead Buddy Lap Beading Board... it is great, the board comes out & there is some (not a lot) storage space for tools, beads, wire, etc... You may be able to buy them from Joanne's or here at FMG, I have the 1st, 3rd, 5th & 6th items.  

http://www.firemountaingems.com/search.asp?skw=bead+buddy

I think you would be able to clip the magnifying glass onto it but it would really depend on how big... the size of a Medium Bulldog Clip would work but not much bigger.

Not sure if any of this is helpful but I love it & so do my kids

[:'(][:'(] Hi, I go to the VA with DH often. I got one of those "Clip Boards" that the kids carry to school.They have a storage area below the clipboard.

Glued a bead mat on top. ( a little large so I could use lttle safety pins to pin up the corners, to keep beads from rolling onto the floor

Inside I keep the items needed for the project I am working on.As we move from one Appointment to the other, (they are never the same floor or bldg)

I slip it into Wal mart (99cent blue bag)bag. I also learn to pour out smaller amounts.

 I use bottle caps to hold the beads sperate on the mat until I found a 7-day medicine dispenser. It holds 7 colors and findings. I have 6 of these. the lids snap shut and they are cheap. Easy to store and use.they come in many sizes.

I have made serveral "Starter Kits" for beginners, that  were in the hospital or nursing home.

Hope this helps.Maary

 Thanks, ladies! I really like your suggestions! And I'm glad to know that the lap desk from the site is good as well. Now I have some thinking to do to see if I want to buy the one I saw online or create my own!

 I have the one you linked to and I love mine.

Before I got a table set up in our office to work on,  that was all I used. I love it!

The bead tray comes up to store your tools, wire or whatever would be flat enough to put in there, less than an inch deep though. Then underneath that you can lift the bottom part out and there is more space for other things. I didn't realize that was there until months after I had it.

I would definitely recommend it, especially for those that don't have a permanent place to bead. I also used it while traveling in the car on road trips and it worked wonderfully for that as well.

I only paid about $20 though at JoAnn Fabrics with a coupon. You might want to check that out before you buy it at FMG.

 I got a lap desk as a gift. I would use it on vacations or even at home. I still do at times. It has a pillow which is great for the comfort. It has drawers on each side, a necklace design board, and then you can remove the board for a hard surface. It works great for other uses like writing letters also!

Rose

Thank You for the Link, with a photo. I have never seen this one. yeah!

 I showed my DH this Bead Buddy Lap Beading Board, He said, If I stop lugging around my clipboard, he'll get me on.Yeah!(after 26 yrs, I still love spending his money)

I have 50%off for Joann's Fabric, now I hope they have it.

Mary