It’s not often that I get a new tool that I can totally flip out over but I just got this in the mail YESTERDAY, tore open the package and was blown away by it.
And I just had to share it with you today.
You may remember the Leaf Chain Copper and Coral Earrings I made a couple of weeks ago. Well, I gave them away as a part of my last Facebook mile marker giveaway and I wanted to make another pair. You know, so I would actually have a pair of my own to wear? 🙂
It probably took me a good 45-60 minutes to make those earrings with all of the little loops involved.
I’d been hearing about the Beadsmith 1-Step Looper for a bit on the web and was itching to get my hands on one. Turns out though that they are BRAND NEW and not many places had them in stock yet. So I went around to a few online bead tool suppliers and put myself on their waiting lists.
And waited.
The first company to email me that they were available got my business and within a few days I had my very own Beadsmith 1-Step Looper. Yippee!
I decided to break it in by making myself a pair of the Leaf Chain Copper and Coral Earrings.
I watched the handy video on the Beadsmith website and got right down to work.
Want to know how long it took me to make all of the beaded loops for a second pair of earrings? About 15 minutes.
Yup. Seriously.
And that was with the learning curve.
I love that the Beadsmith 1-Step Looper has a spring action handle so it’s easier on my hands. I’ve worked on projects in the past where my hands hurt the following day from making so many loops. I also like that it’s the only tool I need to make a loop.
One thing I did note though is that if you are working with crystals you don’t want to push the crystal too close to the tool prior to creating the loop. When the tool closes it can crunch the crystal a little bit. If you look at that action on the video you can see what I mean a little better.
I think that lots of people with a bit of arthritis that have just about given up on jewelry making are really going to fall in love with this. Honestly.
Oh! And just so you know, I bought this tool myself for $29.95 from Beadaholique. I’d never purchased anything from them before but I was very happy with my purchase.
Hiya, I have just bought the bead looper tool and although I think it’s a brilliant idea, the loops never quite close far enough (so I have to use another of my tools to pull the loop round a bit further). Is my bead looper faulty or is everyone’s like that? It’s still makes my jewellery a lot neater even if I still have to use another tool afterwards.
Caroline, Brighton UK
Hi Caroline,
Thanks for the question. There is a link toward the end of this post to a video. In the video they show that you need to push the headpin clockwise a bit in order to straighten out the head of the loop. I don’t think it’s necessarily bad that the loop doesn’t close all of the way as it makes it easier to add to another element. You would have to open and close it again anyway.
Watch the video and let me know if you are having problems. I’ll do what I can to help. OK?
Vicki
Hi Vicki, I meant to get back sooner and thank you for this review. I hadn’t realized how much I was avoiding projects that involve lots of loops! Here in Canada, this tool is a bit difficult to obtain. Actually even major U.S. mail-order houses seem to be completely out of stock. I did find a couple of Etsians selling and now have one on the way. I bought from Granny Quilter (she has a few more), and Minor Details also have some. Hope that helps anyone still searching!
Hi Monique,
Thanks for keeping me in the loop. (Haha! See what I did there?) They have been hard to come by here too. From what I’ve gathered they have just been released so they are a brand new item. I think they officially released the first of May but a few people had advanced items & that’s where I was finding them (though I could never be quick enough to get one of the very few offered). I just don’t think they had enough of the tools produced to fill the demand for them. My guess is that by fall they will be widely available.
So look at like this. YOU are on the leading edge with this new tool. 🙂
I am so getting one of these! One of the things that I dislike about making jewelry is that my loops are always awful looking and I mess up more head pins than I care to admit to. This would make things so much better!
Hi Lorrie,
I just can’t say enough about it. I think it’s one of the best jewelry making tools that has come along in a long time. I’ve even been thinking about carrying them in my shop. I like it THAT much!
Well Vicki I do believe that you have gotten a new buyer for the bead looper! I received my wonderful jewelry that I won in your giveaway yesterday! Wonderful beautiful jewelry! I will wear it all and it’s just so pretty but the leaf earrings are the bomb! I know you’ll be happy with your pair too. Also, that bracelet will even fit my big wrist and it’s so colorful! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’m glad that you received the jewelry and like it, Barbara. It means a lot to me that you will wear and enjoy it. I enjoyed making it all and hope you get lots of use out of it.
You’ll have to let me know if you get the looper and how you like it.