Having two mischievous cats in the house is a real cause for concern for a beader. There are always at least two projects going on and who
knows how many pieces of tantalizing string trailing from their tails. And because I'm also weaving, I've got sharp
needles thrown into the mix as well.
Several years
ago (it must've been in one of my grandmother's old craft magazines), I read about a cat who had gotten into her owner's needlepoint project. To make a long story short, the string got stuck in his throat and his mouth was pinned open by the needle. The poor cat lived through it, but his veterinary experience must've been extremely painful!
I would hate for that, or anything like it to happen to my crazy cats, so I take every precaution. I have project boxes that fully close and lock, and I didn't have to spend a fortune on them. Hopefully my project box solution can help you- here's what I did:
I was browsing the aisles at Michael's and I found (in their unfinished wood section) a cigar box that is the perfect size and shape for small bead projects like mine. It was only about 5 dollars. They also have bead mats that fit almost perfectly inside the box. I just cut them to size and use one to line the bottom of the box and I also put one in the top of the box to cover my work. For awhile my boxes were plain, but then I got some acrylic paint and painted on the outside of my boxes and added some decoupage elements. They're really cute.
With boxes like these I find that I can just lock up my projects every night and not worry myself to sleep about what my kitties might be getting themselves into. These boxes are perfect for small beading projects and because they lock, they provide peace of mind for pet owners as well.
