Wow, Allie, you've given some great tips about keeping patterns organized. My big takeaway is the plastic sleeve hint. Up until now, I've been scotch taping my ingredients to my printed pattern--that will definitely change to using those plastic sleeves. Thanks for bringing one of the most obvious fixes to my attention.
I like your idea about the plastic sheet and I would like to join the pattern club. Will your necklace that you re wearing in the How to organize your bading patterns be in the year club?
I use plastic sheets/need to purchase more. I like to order by project and keep the materials in the shipping bag! Should store in Cloud too. Great Ideas! I also keep a journal of beading weaving projects that I’ve finish.
Wow, Allie - you look great today and that was so informative! One of the best I've seen. What do you call that necklace pattern? Here's a serious question: How does one keep track of component prices when you get ready to set a selling price on an item? (and to calculate profit for tax purposes.) I don't have room to keep the baggies the beads came in - all my beads are sorted in divided compartment boxes in skinny-drawer cabinets, by color, and findings are in an 8-strip "pill organizer" for crafts. I copy each online order onto a spreadsheet, with picture, description, qty, price, but the file is so big, I have to put each quarter on a separate sheet and each year in a separate file. That makes it hard to search. (I know, the obvious answer is to stop buying and start making!) I bought a beading software program, but it's too daunting to think of data-entering all those purchase files into it. Help! (Please!)
Lots of great tips! Thanks. I feel so smart that I'm actually already using some of your ideas ;) but your idea for digital searching will be a huge help. I've made sub-folders for necklaces, bracelets & earrings under a master folder for Bead Weaving. Under those sub-folders, I've further subdivided those by shaped beads, however few have the actual bead shape included in the name besides superduo. I have so many mag pics and articles torn from the mags and saved in binders. Never thought to scan and save those digitally. That would surely save me real estate in my office/studio. Thanks again for the great ideas.
Thank you Allie for good tips about organizing patterns, especially for projects. I never add beads to projects in plastic sleeves, I use a board and when done I place them back to a storage (I have one room dedicated to my jewelry making). I always take a pick after the project is completed and save those picks in a photo album. My patterns are in a notebook in which I wrote them and draw pictures of them, and I have prints of patterns from YT. I also have several books from famous beaders that are in my library. Next step will be digital patterns.
Thanks for all the great tips, Allie! Wish I had that organizing gene, but it's good that you do! I have learned the hard way to keep all components in a zip-lock baggie with a picture of the project on the front so I can flip through my projects-in-waiting. I love the page-protector idea, but would have to figure out how to secure the top. The idea that will help me the most is your comment about searching your site for a particular kind of bead to find projects that use that. I have so many beads I've had forever that I bought just because I loved them, or loved the color, and it would be great to find projects for that kind of bead. Thanks so much!
As a newbie to jewelry making, I learn new things every time I watch a video. For instance, except for books that costs a fortune, I never knew there were "patterns" that could be printed out! Now I am going to look into some of the patterns you have and see what I can do as a newbie. Thank you!
All of our patterns start out as videos because they're easier to make. Written patterns take much longer but we do have a big collection of those too. Have you considered joining our Facebook group for Beading and Jewellery Making?
These are great ideas! I have to say that I miss your brick and mortar shop in Ft Myers, FL. When I moved there I was so happy to see it, and then so sad when it closed. Any chance it might come back?
Hi Cindy, we had several stores but the online store outgrew everything else, and in order to keep that running effectively, we had to close some of our physical stores to be able to afford more stock and keep up with the demand online. If you have questions about any of our products, just email us and ask. One of our staff will be able to assist you. Thanks!
Great ideas, thank you dear Allie 🌷
good ideas Allie........thank you for this Better beader episode........
Wow, Allie, you've given some great tips about keeping patterns organized. My big takeaway is the plastic sleeve hint. Up until now, I've been scotch taping my ingredients to my printed pattern--that will definitely change to using those plastic sleeves. Thanks for bringing one of the most obvious fixes to my attention.
I like your idea about the plastic sheet and I would like to join the pattern club. Will your necklace that you re wearing in the How to organize your bading patterns be in the year club?
I use plastic sheets/need to purchase more. I like to order by project and keep the materials in the shipping bag! Should store in Cloud too. Great Ideas!
I also keep a journal of beading weaving projects that I’ve finish.
Wow, Allie - you look great today and that was so informative! One of the best I've seen. What do you call that necklace pattern?
Here's a serious question: How does one keep track of component prices when you get ready to set a selling price on an item? (and to calculate profit for tax purposes.) I don't have room to keep the baggies the beads came in - all my beads are sorted in divided compartment boxes in skinny-drawer cabinets, by color, and findings are in an 8-strip "pill organizer" for crafts. I copy each online order onto a spreadsheet, with picture, description, qty, price, but the file is so big, I have to put each quarter on a separate sheet and each year in a separate file. That makes it hard to search. (I know, the obvious answer is to stop buying and start making!) I bought a beading software program, but it's too daunting to think of data-entering all those purchase files into it. Help! (Please!)
Lots of great tips! Thanks.
I feel so smart that I'm actually already using some of your ideas ;) but your idea for digital searching will be a huge help. I've made sub-folders for necklaces, bracelets & earrings under a master folder for Bead Weaving. Under those sub-folders, I've further subdivided those by shaped beads, however few have the actual bead shape included in the name besides superduo.
I have so many mag pics and articles torn from the mags and saved in binders. Never thought to scan and save those digitally. That would surely save me real estate in my office/studio.
Thanks again for the great ideas.
Thank you Allie for good tips about organizing patterns, especially for projects. I never add beads to projects in plastic sleeves, I use a board and when done I place them back to a storage (I have one room dedicated to my jewelry making). I always take a pick after the project is completed and save those picks in a photo album. My patterns are in a notebook in which I wrote them and draw pictures of them, and I have prints of patterns from YT. I also have several books from famous beaders that are in my library. Next step will be digital patterns.
Love the Better Beader Episodes! Many of the tips you tell us are extremely helpful and give me great ideas. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you ❤
You're welcome 😊
Great ideas and tips! Need to start scanning patterns. Especially love the folders for projects. I have mine everywhere in bags. Thanks!
This was my first time to use the wire guards and I really like the look of everything!
We agree! We try to incorporate wire guards as much as we can because they really do give a polished look to any piece! Thank you for watching!
Thanks for all the great tips, Allie! Wish I had that organizing gene, but it's good that you do! I have learned the hard way to keep all components in a zip-lock baggie with a picture of the project on the front so I can flip through my projects-in-waiting. I love the page-protector idea, but would have to figure out how to secure the top.
The idea that will help me the most is your comment about searching your site for a particular kind of bead to find projects that use that. I have so many beads I've had forever that I bought just because I loved them, or loved the color, and it would be great to find projects for that kind of bead. Thanks so much!
A paper clip or two would work, then store them vertically.
As a newbie to jewelry making, I learn new things every time I watch a video. For instance, except for books that costs a fortune, I never knew there were "patterns" that could be printed out! Now I am going to look into some of the patterns you have and see what I can do as a newbie. Thank you!
All of our patterns start out as videos because they're easier to make. Written patterns take much longer but we do have a big collection of those too. Have you considered joining our Facebook group for Beading and Jewellery Making?
These are great ideas! I have to say that I miss your brick and mortar shop in Ft Myers, FL. When I moved there I was so happy to see it, and then so sad when it closed. Any chance it might come back?
Hi Cindy, we had several stores but the online store outgrew everything else, and in order to keep that running effectively, we had to close some of our physical stores to be able to afford more stock and keep up with the demand online. If you have questions about any of our products, just email us and ask. One of our staff will be able to assist you. Thanks!
Which wire is strongest and best for wire beading?
We find that either of these options work great www.potomacbeads.com/potomacbeads-wire
Great, love the tips!
🙌✨✨Thx a Lot!