| Nora sent me a Tacky BOB™ (Box for Beads)
last year and I finally took it out of the plastic bag to try it out. The
Tacky BOB™ is a small plastic box with an
acid-free tacky lining, magnetic needle holder and a non-skid bottom.
It is made in the USA by Flying Needles. The box, which is basically a
miniature CD jewel case, opens to reveal two 3" square working areas, with a
magnet along the exposed spine. The manufacturer warns that you should
resist touching the tacky pads to extend the life of the product. This
product is designed to hold your beads in place, while you pick them up with
the tip of your needle. Since this
product is advertised for "beading on the go", I thought I would test it by
turning it over. Small beads are very light and I figured they would
stick to any mildly tacky surface. So for my experiment I used size
six
beads, which are larger and heavier than I would ordinarily use in bead
embroidery. The Tacky BOB™ lived up
to its claim. None of the beads moved when it was moved or even when
it was placed on its side.
 
I am guessing that it has a limited lifespan,
based on how much you (or your pets) touch the surface and the longevity of
the acrylic case itself. Using the open
tube to scoop a couple of beads at a time worked well, but I had a hard time
resisting the urge to pick up the unused beads. That said, I think
this is a marvelous idea for anyone who uses small amounts of beads in their
crazy quilting. You will worry less about spilling your beads while
you are working and it is quite portable. |
