I'm looking for a good bead making tool. What tool do you find works best? I have the, I believe, FMM one, and it doesn't seem to work well for me.

I have several, hate them all and do pearls by hand now using Earlene's directions.

LOVE LOVE LOVE the blue CK ones.... they make a totally round pearl stand.

If you want more info, e-mail me,

I only use my pearl clay in them, too. Makes a brilliant, soooo realistic looking pearl.

Jen

I bought the blue silicone pearl molds and find them useless, they don't come out round for me at all. I used Earlene's method and now have a nice little store of pearls!

What is the Earlene method?

I just bought two different size bead cutters from FMM and am so disappointed. Especially with the smaller size since it makes a little extra flat piece along the beads on one side, I guess that is so you have something to hold on to while placing the string on the cake. But I need to make small individual beads to cover all intersections made by the diamond cutter for a 4 tier wedding cake in a couple of weeks and had counted on being able to easily make them with this tool. Obviously not going to work like I thought...

I have gladware containers of several sizes of pearls using Earlene's method. I have never had a problem with them drying out completely-they are still fairly soft on the inside. I just make them and toss them in containers with super pearl. They look gorgeous and you can make them in any color you wish for different cakes. I made thousands when I started doing it, but now I just add to them when I have time or while I'm doing something else.

I HATE the silicone molds! What a waste of money.

Well, if you want the easy way out, I order/get from CK the White Sugar Pearls and they come in a couple of mm sizes. I pay around $2.99 for a 4 oz bottle of them and color or tint with luster dust, or coloring and a bit of lemon extract and there are more in one bottle than you need for an entire cake.

I made my edible pearls using Earlene's method and it is super easy. My fondant was the Michele Foster's recipe and I was so pleased! Will be making more tomorrow for a cake coming up in October... I will freeze them. If the kids want to help, let them. "Many hands make light work".