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Hi there!
I've never done any beading before but I want to try my hand at beadweaving. (I need some portable projects.) I'd love to hear what your favorite online bead supply stores are. I'm looking for the best value out there... Thanks in advance!
I've never done any beading before but I want to try my hand at beadweaving. (I need some portable projects.) I'd love to hear what your favorite online bead supply stores are. I'm looking for the best value out there... Thanks in advance!
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Tue, March 17, 2009 - 9:43 AMI always try to support my local bead shops, first .(It is nice to see the actual beads you are buying, too) In SF, there is a store called Beadissimo, at 1051 Valencia St., and in Berkeley, Baubles and Beads at 1676 Shattuck St. Plus, you can often take classes to learn new techniques at your local shop.
For online beads, the largest seller I know of is Shipwreck Beads ( www.shipwreckbeads.com ) out of Seattle. They have an absolutely HUGE selection, and are good to work with. I also buy from Harlequin Beads ( www.harlequinbeads.com ) out of Oregon. I lived in Eugene, OR for 16+ years, and Harlequin is still my favorite bead shop. Their staff is very knowledgable and friendly!
I have been dreaming of making a belly dance bra with bead embroidery in the style of Sherri Serafini ( www.serafinibeadedjewelry.com ). Good luck with your new addiction! ;D Feel free to pm me if I can help you with anything. (I have been beading for over 35 years.)
~Pip -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Tue, March 17, 2009 - 9:46 AMThanks for all the good info Pippi! How does Beadissimo pricing compare to online? I would like to support local if it's reasonable but if it's significantly cheaper to do it online then I gotta choose the value route... -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Tue, March 17, 2009 - 9:51 AMThat I don't know. I haven't bought anything there. I just found their address in the back of one of my Bead and Button mags. It might still be good to check out the shop and prices, ask questions about the various types of beads, and see them in your hands first. Then, if you can find them cheaper online, more power to ya!
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Tue, March 17, 2009 - 5:01 PMI'd like to second Shipwreck Beads!!! For buying in bulk they're awesome. I usually stop there when we take trips up to Seattle. I've been really happy with the beads I've got from them. -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Tue, March 17, 2009 - 5:22 PMI can't say enough nice things about firemountaingems.com.
They provide great customer service. For example, I had purchased from them 3 huge bags of beads about a year ago. It took that long for me to figure out what to do with them. I decided to make my own beaded fringe for a cab costume. I explained to them which beads I purchased (the bag had the label on it) and I asked about theire "Fire Line" thread. I asked them which "lb" I would need, to be able to make 2 passes with the thread (one down, one back up). They explained that the largest weight thread they have would work with the beads I had bought (6 lb). They were absolutely right! Plus, whenever you buy a certain number of items (even if it's $1.50/each), they give you a discount off of your entire order. They are always my first go-to source for beads. -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Tue, March 17, 2009 - 6:05 PMI forgot about them. I haven't bought from them, but my friend does all the time, and loves them, too. -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Wed, March 18, 2009 - 6:20 PMFire Mountain has decent prices and awesome customer service. Exchanges and returns are handled with no questions asked......I get their catalog regularly and spend lots of time drooling and dreaming over it!! -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Thu, March 19, 2009 - 4:21 AMShipwreck, Fire Mountain and Etsy. Use "destash" in the Etsy.com search box and you will be amazed at the deals you can find.
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Sun, March 22, 2009 - 9:13 AMI agree on the FireMountainGems... huge selection online and if you order you get the catalog that has even more... The actual factory is about 7 minutes from my house =-) -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Sat, April 18, 2009 - 10:30 AMAfter discovering that Beadissimo has gone the way of the dodo, I visited another local shop on the Peninsula and they just didn't have the selection in seed beads I needed (I already knew what colors I wanted to work with). So I placed 2 orders from Shipwreck Beads and it was a great experience. I'm into supporting local but at the same time it makes sense to me that a bead shop needs to carry a HUGE variety of inventory on relatively inexpensive items, and would need to branch out to the internet in order to stay afloat (so not shocked that a boutique store on an expensive street in SF went under). Thanks for the tips!
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Wed, June 10, 2009 - 7:35 AMOh my GOD Serafini's beading is amazing... GORGEOUS! I dread to think how expensive her jewellry is though right...?
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Sun, April 19, 2009 - 10:23 AMI say Fire Mountain also. I am a stickler for customer service and they have the best I have delt with.
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Sun, April 19, 2009 - 2:11 PMFireMountain Gems, also. Fabulous customer service, large selection of quality products, and reasonably priced fast shipping (even to Hawaii - yay!!). Plus, you get a free gift with every order, tee hee :) -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Thu, June 4, 2009 - 1:08 PMI posted a picture of my first beading project! I love how it turned out.
I highly recommend this book! www.amazon.com/Beaded-Col.../1589233816 -
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Re: Favorite bead store?
Sat, June 6, 2009 - 12:23 AMbe careful when you buy to read the descriptions carefully. I just bought some lapis tabs and did not read carefully. they were immitaion lapis. The company was not misrepresenting, I did not read carefully enough.
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