The Perfect Bead Exchange thread:
http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=85756
Hayley's exchange threads contain lively discussions where you can learn techniques while having a great time.
Before this particular exchange, I did not make obsessively matched beads. I really dug into this exchange. Now, I make matched bead sets almost exclusively and I enjoy it immensely (and they sell darn well too!)
My tip to make the matching beads is to pay special attention to the base bead. I measure each base bead with an electronic caliper to get it to just the right size. Then from lots of practice, I know that if I put the same dots and stringers, the final beads will match.
I also take many notes (and save them in Evernote) about each type of bead - its starting size, etc., because after a couple of months, I forget everything.