Parchment Paper

Yep, parchment paper.  I use this stuff for practically everything.

First of all, I do bake with it.  And if you bake, I highly recommend parchment paper.  I've found it to be a total life saver in the kitchen.  I never bake cookies without it, and it makes removing cakes from the pan so much easier.

But I also keep a separate roll of parchment paper in my craft room.  I use it anytime I need a non-stick work surface, or anytime I'm working on something messy.  Painting and applying patina is always done on parchment.  I use parchment whenever I work with polymer clay to protect my work surface - and then I stick the piece into the toaster oven right on the same piece of parchment.  I also bake shrink plastic on a piece of parchment paper, which allows it to slide as it shrinks.

If you've done any of these activities and needed a good surface to work on, I highly recommend parchment paper.  I don't use much at a time, so a roll lasts me a really long time.  You can get it all over, including Amazon (affiliate link), Michaels, or at the grocery store.

Gingher Fabric Shears

Okay folks, if you or someone in your household sews, you will understand the importance of a good pair of fabric shears.  You will be familiar with the phrase, "Don't cut that with THOSE scissors!" and the accompanying look of panic and/or fury.

The Gingher 8-Inch Knife Edge Dressmaker's Shears (affiliate link) are the only fabric shears for me.  I got my first pair of these beauties in college and have never looked back.

Odds are, you've tried them, or are at least familiar with them, if you sew much.  They're pretty much the gold standard, and yet they won't break the bank.  It's an uncommon combination.  What the manufacturer says about these badboys is sufficient, so I'll let them do the technical explanation: "The 8 inch Dressmaker’s Shears have a versatile longer length cut and blades strong enough to trim and cut multiple layers of fabric effortlessly. The longer cut is ideal for cutting out patterns and trimming seams. Gingher’s precision ground knife edge cuts flawlessly all the way to the points. The bent handle allows for smooth, comfortable cutting across a tabletop or counter."

Basically, if you have to cut fabric on a regular basis, I can recommend no shears as highly as these.

WildFire Beading Thread

And here's is the other love of my beading thread life - WildFire.  If you saw my last post on FireLine, pretty much ditto for WildFire.  It's another nylon thread that's very strong and doesn't self-puncture, so it doesn't get tangly or impossible to pull out your mishaps.  But whereas FireLine is the perfect fluid, drapey beading thread, WildFire is fantastic for sturdy, structured pieces with some body to them.  It's a little bigger, despite having the same advertised diameter, but I use it whenever it will fit when I'm aiming for a structured piece of bead weaving.  One of my newer favorite obsessions is dimensional, shaped weaving.  I get a ridiculous kick out of creating 3D shapes with seed beads.  I love how strong the WildFire makes these pieces.  I don't bead without these threads!

FireLine Beading Thread

Have I mentioned by love for bead weaving?  If you've seen my Etsy shop, you'll know how much of my crafty time is spent with a needle, thread, and seed beads.  In the past, I always just used whatever beading thread I had lying around.  But when I started my current job, a coworker introduced me to FireLine.  Oooooh.

FireLine is a braided nylon beading thread.  It's strong, it doesn't tangle as easily as regular nylon thread, and it doesn't separate and pierce itself so easily.  That means that it's easier to undo stitching when you (inevitably) make a boo boo.  Basically, it's a bead weaving miracle.  It's very fine, and makes for some beautiful beadwork.  It's my thread of choice for finer, more fluid weaving projects.  Stay tuned for my structured project thread of choice, that's next.

Magnetic Clasps

I was never sure of the best way to close a bracelet when I started making jewelry.  Bracelets can be tricky, since you've got to work the clasp one-handed.  One of my favorite purchased bracelets has a magnetic clasp, and I always thought it was genius, but I never thought to look for magnetic clasps for my own work until more recently.

And when I did it was miraculous.  I found these magnetic clasps at Beadaholique - there are a number of finishes and different sizes, etc.  They make me so happy.  They are a neat, clean finish to keep the focus on the bracelet, plus they're super easy to open and close one-handed, but strong enough to stay closed while wearing.  Definitely my favorite go-to bracelet clasp these days.

My Favorite Bead Weaving Book

Okay, you might not fully understand the weight of the statement when I say that Teach Yourself Visually: Beadwork is my favorite resource for bead weaving techniques.  Bead weaving is one of my favorite crafty activities...EVER.  And it can be tricky, but I keep this book on hand for when I forget how to decrease square stitch or make round netting and it's always easy to find what I'm looking for in a moment.  The photos and illustrations are clear and the instruction makes sense.  Plus, the way it's organized is really user friendly and makes finding what you're looking for a breeze.  If you're learning how to bead weave, or like me, you just like to keep a reference guide, I highly recommend this book.  Amazon's got it for a pretty good price.

Bead Stoppers - Don't Bead Weave Without Them

Bead weaving is one of my favorite things.  And it became much easier when I discovered Bead Stoppers!  They're a lifesaver for bead weaving or stringing - They just clamp right onto the end of your thread or wire where you would usually put an anchor bead (or hold on for dear life) and keep your beads from sliding off the strand.  Then, when you're done, they just open right up and they're off in a jiff!  They're one of my favorite, favorite tools!  I found mine at Beadaholique.