Beadcraft is the name applied to a variety of interesting handicrafts employing a rather large supply of beads of all sizes and shapes, and will not be described here. In days gone by most homes could produce, on a moment's notice, a supply of beads of varying types sufficient to occupy small fingers for a considerable period of time. Nowadays beads are less frequently encountered in the home sewing kit, yet they are not impossible of simulation or, indeed, of fabrication.

Doll's Necklace

During the patient's illness, familiarity with the drugstore may facilitate the acquisition of a supply of empty gelatin medicine capsules of various sizes. Some of these can be lacquered with nail polish and others left plain. After the ends are punctured with a strong needle, they can be strung on stout thread to form a necklace for a favorite doll.

Paper Beads

Cut a piece of colored construction paper 8 or 10 in. long into i-in. strips. Lay one of the strips on a newspaper and cover it with paste. Then place a toothpick or match stick across the lower end of the strip and roll it up tightly. Before the paste dries remove the stick, which will leave a hole for stringing the bead.

Once dry, paint the paper beads with poster colors in various designs. For permanency, dip the dry beads in shellac.

To make oval shaped beads, divide the lower, narrow edge of the paper into i-in. divisions. On the opposite, top narrow side, mark off i-in. divisions opposite the centers of the lower sections, so that when lines are drawn connecting the top and bottom marks, long narrow isosceles triangles will result, as are found on a backgammon board. Cut along these lines, apply paste, and roll around a toothpick as explained above.