Theme ideas, resources abound for crafters

Tailor-make gifts are perfect for those on your holiday list.
By DEBORAH LOHSE
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Once you've mastered the basics, there are countless variations and some mind-bending designs that are sure to send some of you to beaders anonymous. (I'll be there, too.)
Some suggestions and ideas:
USports fans cheer for ornaments made in their team's colors.
UThe camouflage-themed ornament was a big hit with my dad, a retired Air Force officer. I left off the fringe for that one, figuring it wasn't quite macho, and instead kept beading to the bottom, essentially reversing the sizing from the top until the bead was wrapped like a piece of fruit.
UFlag themes are fun, both the red-white-and-blue variety and for friends from other countries.
UNewlyweds might like an all-white ornament, with different shades or sizes of white beads.
UPay attention to the sheen and style of the beads. I try to avoid mixing matte and shiny, or silver lined with regular beads. The camouflage ornament, for instance, was made entirely with matte beads.
UCovers, which you can remove from an ornament, are often preferable to fully wrapping the ornament. If the latter breaks, all those hours of hard work are down the drain.
UAs you go along, your thread strings will start to get too short to continue. Just before that happens, say when you have about 8 inches left, you can add more thread by tying a new strand onto the existing one. But (very important) you need to make sure the knot won't come undone or you'll have a very unhappy bead-cascade moment.
UTo make sure the knot won't come undone once you've tied it, try pulling opposite sections until you hear the knot "snap." (Some of the books in the resource section have tips on how to do this correctly every time.)
UIf you can pull the two main sections without the knot slipping, it's secure. Cut the short ends to about 1 inch each. The knot will fit through the seed beads, and if you continue beading smoothly, those 1-inch sections will be hidden inside the beading pattern. (Don't cut the short ends too short or you increase the risk that your creation will fall apart.)
Here are some resources for ideas on making beaded ornaments and getting supplies.
U"The Beadecked Ornament" by Laura Jansen. 4 volumes of books, $14.95 to $18.95 each, $52 for all four. www.beadecked.com.
U"Accent On: Beaded Ornament Covers," "Accent On: Celestial Series Beaded Ornament Covers" and "Accent On: International Series Beaded Ornament Covers," by Karen DeSousa, $17.95 each or $44.95 for all three. www.accentbead.com.
UOnline bead supply stores include www.shipwreckbeads.com and www.firemountaingems.com.