Bead Stringing Blog

If you are new to bead stringing, I recommend that after you get your sea legs and decide that you are truly addicted to the craft, you go to a bead show.

Beading is such a popular craft that there are probably some bead shows that should be easy to get to in your car.

I go to three to four shows a year and I really enjoy seeing all kinds of different bead types. It makes a big difference to see beads up close and personal rather than looking at them on a computer screen. Beads are still a “high touch” product.

If you head out to a show I’ve got some advice that may help you:

Buddy Up

When you go to the show, take some of your fellow beaders along with you. You can share the fuel cost if you have to drive a long distance! It’s also just fun to share your experience at the show with others. When I go, even if I don’t have beading buddies, I take my daughter along.

Pay Attention to Your Shoes

I can’t stress enough how important it is to make sure you wear shoes that fit well and feel comfortable to you. I use walking shoes. The reason it’s important is because you will be walking and standing a lot more than you probably are used to. If your feet start hurting after just an hour of the show, you’ll want to leave even before you’ve seen all the good stuff.

Be Careful About Prices

Don’t assume that vendors at bead shows are offering the best prices. Sometimes online sources are more affordable. Also, many vendors at the show sell the same or very similar items so if you see something you like, walk around and see if another vendor is offering it cheaper before you commit to buy. Also, if you can get access to the vendor list before you attend the show visit their websites to see if they offer any promotions or discounts.

Don’t Forget to Take Home Vendor Information

Most vendors will have some kind of information for you to take home. Make sure you take those with you because I guarantee you will forget the names of some of the vendors you liked and you won’t be able to visit their sites for additional purchases.

With the economy the way it is, everybody can stand to save a little money where possible.

Of course, that includes bead stringers like you and me.

I’m kind of cheap and am always trying to think of ways to save a few pennies here and there, so I thought I would share a few ideas with you.

Take time to Find the Best Prices
OK, that seems kind of obvious, but I often meet fellow beaders who just stick with one or two vendors. I know that’s easier and more convenient and there’s value in that, but you are probably missing some big time savings opportunities if you don’t shop around. Some of the vendors I use have great prices on beads, and not so great prices on other beading parts, while another vendor is just the opposite. You also need to keep an eye out for different promotions and sales that can save you money. It all adds up!

Buy in Bulk with Your Friends
If you have some fellow bead stringers you know, then it probably makes sense for you to pool your money together and buy in bulk. As with most purchases, the more you buy at once the cheaper it tends to be.

Use Up Existing Supplies First
This used to be a big problem for me when I would get so excited about new beads and I would just keep buying without using what I had bought. Then my hubby got mad at me for spending so much on supplies, so I started getting more disciplined about my purchases. What works best for me is to make sure I have used up most of the supplies I bought before I buy new supplies. It takes a little discipline, but it has save me a bundle.

Trade with Fellow Beaders
You may find that your fellow beading buddies have excess stock of exactly what you are looking for, and you may have what they need. That’s a match made in heaven! You both get what you want without having to spend a penny!

Keep an Inventory List for Your Supplies
If you bead a lot, I am sure you’ve had the experience of buying new beads only to discover you already had some stashed away someplace that you forgot about. That has happened to me more times than I care to admit. I find that when I keep everything well organized, I don’t have the “double purchase” experience. There is also software available these days that can help keep inventory tracking of your beads and supplies.

Reuse Beads from Older Jewelry
I find myself doing this more often as my stock of finished jewelry grows. I have many pieces that either didn’t sell, or I didn’t put them up for sell because I fell in love with them. But if they’ve been sitting around for years, why not take them apart and give the beads new life with an exciting new design idea floating around in your head.

If you have been bead stringing or making jewelry for awhile, you have probably heard of the company called Vintaj.

They make really beautiful filigree findings that you can find in most craft shops or bead shows.

Vintaj’s findings are very useful for various bead stringing creations. They have beautiful filigree cones that you can use in various ways.

They also have their own style of crimp beads, clasps, and jump rings.

Then they have some very creative filigree designs that you can use in creative ways. One of my favorites is their dragonfly pendant.

To learn more about Vintaj and to see how you can use it in your own jewelry creations, check out some of the designs at this link:

Vintaj Creations

If you are looking to try something a little different with your bead stringing, I encourage you to give the Vintaj components a try. They can really take your jewelry making in a new direction.

When you are bead stringing, you of course want to make your finished jewelry look as nice as possible. You also want to make sure that your finished piece is durable.

I have seen many bead stringing pieces in stores where the finishing did not look very good at all. Fortunately, there are some techniques you can use to make sure your bead stringing pieces look as professional as possible.

I have a few unique techniques that I use to hide crimp beads and wire, but the easiest way is to use crimp bead covers or wire guardians.

At this link you can find a very good tutorial showing how to use these two parts: Crimp bead covers and Wire Guardians

If you are new to bead stringing, then I encourage you to take a look at a free online video course I ran across.

It is offered by Jewelry Making Professor and includes two videos.

The first one explains about all the basic tools and parts you need to start bead stringing.

The second video shows you how to string a crystal bead necklace.

It’s a very easy way for beginning jewelry makers to start learning how to make jewelry.

The course also includes a list of online resources you can use to learn more about the jewelry making business.

Here’s a link where you can learn more and sign up for the course: Bead Stringing Video Guide