First, Dora drafts the pattern with colored pencils and graph paper. It is very important to get the colors just right, so it helps to have upwards of 100 colors to choose from. The color layout is written down for future reproductions.
Next, Dora beads the pattern with tweezers on pegboards. Afterward, she uses contractor-grade masking tape to secure the beads in place so they may be removed from the pegboard. Removing the pattern instead of fusing the design directly atop the pegboard also ensures the lifespan of the pegboards and allows for larger production output, since each design is set aside until Dora is ready to finish the lot. The masking tape keeps the beads in place.
The next step is to cover the designs with parchment paper in preparation for the ironing process. You never want to apply the iron directly onto the beads, as it will only lead to the plastic melting and smearing onto a hot iron. By applying the heat onto the parchment paper, the beads are protected and not melted beyond use. The paper is also translucent which shows the status of the beads as the heat spreads causing the plastic to melt, revealing the pattern as it fuses together over time. This way, you can see how it's melting as you go.
Ironing is the next step. We use a 4ft-6ft tables to ensure enough space to operate. Safety first!: For the most protection, use hand coverings like oven-mitts or silicone finger protectors since the iron must be dangerously hot in order to melt the design effectively. Under-melting a design will cause beads to break loose, which would mean having to redo the pattern. If only a few beads come free, then tweezers can reposition them. Keep in mind that the longer a piece goes unfinished, the greater likelihood there is that it will begin to warp from the heat.
Dora irons the first side of a design until it is thoroughly, consistently melted and then carefully removes the masking tape, before ironing the opposite side. Once satisfied with the melting state of each piece, Dora stacks the designs between heavy books. This ensures the integrity of each piece as the piece cools, preventing any heat-warping from taking place. Once enough time has passed (20-30mins, but the longer the better), Dora checks each piece for potential weak spots or other quality issues that may have happened. If necessary, she re-irons the piece(s) in question.
The final step is to apply magnet strips using industrial strength epoxy glue onto pieces that will be sold as magnets, or to attach chain to those that will become key chains. The finalized pieces are then photographed and published on our website, with video documentation of the process being done on occasion for our social media accounts.
After production is complete, Dora sorts the new pieces into inventory by size or type where they remain in storage until our next vendor opportunity presents itself!
If you have any questions on how to get started or about the beading process, let us know and we will be more than happy to help you. Thank you for reading and we hope to see you soon!
Comments