The Perfect 89-cent Beading Design Tool
October 1st, 2008 in jewelry making
Susan Beal, contributor
no recommendations
I arranged a spectrum of green beads in this plastic palette to see which ones really worked together.
Photo: Susan Beal
I love color and I love working with shades that smoothly complement one another, or clash just the right way. I recently started using an 89-cent white plastic paint palette from the art supply store to compare my choices... and the results have been so cool. It's easy to see if the olive green you're considering has yellow or gray undertones when you place it right onto a clean white surface, unlike a neutral or soft-toned beading tray that can hide those subtleties, and the small compartments for paint colors isolate each bead or handful of beads so nicely, perfect for inspiring pairings you might not have thought of on your own. Meanwhile, the middle larger space is great for placing a few bigger elements together to see if they work as a set.
You can also use palettes like this one for ongoing crafty projects, especially with smaller beads -- just use the compartments for separating seed beads, larger pieces, findings, needles or crimps, and so on, and you can easily put it away without jeopardizing your careful organizing.
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Comments (2)
I was just thinking about color wheels and how to lay out beads this weekend.
Thank you!
Posted: 5:19 pm on October 6th
Posted: 10:03 pm on October 1st