I think I may have found a wonder item for beaders. This product is called Foamies, and it is a simple sheet of foam. Very fine and soft foam, but sturdy enough to be used as a table topper on your bead table.

"Foamies" are meant to be used in making foam craft products such as ornaments and other goodies, but I use it for something completely different. It is available in sheet sizes 9" X 12", 12" X 18" and 36" X 18" and in 2 mm, 3 mm and 6 mm thicknesses.

Currently, my beading table is covered with this product. I just purchased one of the large sheets and cut it to fit. It will not slip around, and beads will not bounce or roll around on it. It is dense enough not to catch your needle, and soft enough not to spring up and cause the beads to go flying.

Smaller pieces can be used to line small shallow containers to hold beads, to cover a small bead board, to put behind your warps on the loom for a contrast color to work against. Tiny scraps can be used to pull a needle through a reluctant bead. It also makes an excellent backing for cabochons pins and bracelets. When I loom, I always weave a small strip of thread before I start weaving with beads and have used this product to glue to this little strip before I put a clamp-on finding over it.

I think I may have found the perfect addition to every bead work area and best of all, it's not  expensive. I got 8 large sheets, two medium sheets and two small sheets for less than  $25.00.

Darice does not have a web site to sell to the public, but you can go to their site to take a look at this product. You can order by phone from the delightful folks at Schrocks International Mail Order Craft Supply at 1-800-426-4659. Foamies are also available at most craft and fabric stores.