OT: making beaded jewelry

[Guest guest]

<<does anyone out there have a good online source for

lots of unique beads (inexpensive would be great, but

also good quality).>>

 

Debbie - try Fire Mountain Gems

(www.firemountaingems.com)...I don't know how " unique "

you want, but they've got all sorts of beads -

gemstones, Swarovski crystals, lampwork, etc., etc.,

in addition to wire, findings, tools, art clay, just

about everything you could want.

 

Many people use them, both professional and hobbyist

jewelry designers.

 

You could always make your own unique beads from Fimo

clay or Sculpy.

 

 

Judy in Northern Calif

T.S. GARP (AX OAJ OAC S-NAC O-NJC CL3-R CL3-H CL2-F CGC HOF), MIA-WALKEE (CBX),

CAMEO (CL1-F LDX), STREAK (S-BSA S-BJA CL1-855 points)

" The Pomeranian...the little dog that thinks it can "

[Guest guest]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Debbie! You will love being a beader. I know

because I'm a beader too, and I love it! You could go broke,

however, and you will find yourself also becoming a hoarder of

Michael's coupons so you can run in there and get your one thing at

40% off every week. Ask me how I know.

 

A good resource is the Beads newsgroup at rec.crafts.beads. They're

a fairly friendly group of beadmakers and beaders. A little

family/cliquish sometimes, but that's the same in all newsgroups and

mailing lists, so don't sweat it. The folks there make beautiful

projects, so it's worth even just lurking in the wings there and

clicking on the links they post.

 

For beads and findings, Rio Grande (http://www.riogrande.com) is a

good source, as is Fire Mountain Gems

(http://www.firemountaingems.com). Shipwreck Beads

(http://www.shipwreck.com) is also good. Also check out

http://www.guidetobeadwork.com, http://www.beadbox.com, and

http://www.beadbugle.com. Bead Bugle has an online newsletter you

can to. This is only the tip of the very large iceberg of

beading links I have, including links for bead stores, bead shows,

etc. <grin>

 

Subscribe to Bead and Button magazine and/or Bead Style, or pick them

up from Michael's until you decide if you want to . They're

published by the same folks on alternating months. Lots of ads, but

also plenty of good projects and tips. Any of the Beadwork brand of

beading or wire jewelry magazines are also good.

 

If you're doing wirework, I would recommend the european slimline

tools. Don't get the cheap tools unless you're just starting out and

experimenting to see if you'll even like doing wirework. Wirework is

a whole 'nuther set of tools and money to spend.

 

You will generally get the best prices at bead shows. Start local

and small before branching out to the huge weeklong shows like Tucson

(which I'm hoping to be able to attend in 2008!). Try googling " bead

show " and your city to see what might be nearby. There are easily a

dozen bead show companies that put on shows, literally, all over the

U.S. throughout the entire year. Actually, get yourself one of those

bead magazines and you will find show ads throughout, and a list of

local stores at the back (mind you, that list isn't really

comprehensive; I think you need to pay to be listed there).

 

Here's a link to my Creations page with some of my latest projects

http://personal.linkline.com/kmchan/creations.html

 

Welcome to the obsession!

 

Karen

 

 

Hi Everyone,

I recently went to a DITY beads party and now I am addicted to making

beaded jewelry and I want to play around a bit. I seriously just went to

Walmart today and bought a few things to experiment with, but does

anyone out there have a good online source for lots of unique beads

(inexpensive would be great, but also good quality).

 

Thanks!

--

Debbie

<deb%40bodyhealthcenter.com>deb

www.debrasrhapsody.com

 

--

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karen M. Chan | kmchan | Whatever Happens... Smile!

http://www.linkline.com/personal/kmchan/index.html

P.O. Box 1390 / La Canada, CA 91012-5390

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