Beads & Jewelry Making Supplies and …
Jewelry making supplies are our specialty. Over 25,000 products are here to help you make beautiful jewellery using all of the latest tools, techniques and beads from around the world. We carry everything for making your own jewelry, including all the glass and crystal beads for making jewelry to the large selection of stringing materials and findings components to make it sparkle. We have knowledgeable, experienced staff to help you make your project a success. All of the Beads for Making Jewelry that you can imagine – and hundreds more to keep your creative side busy.
We have an impressive selection of Swarovski Crystals in hundreds of styles, sizes and colors. Swarovski Elements Pendants & Swarovski Crystal Pearls are also here in most colors too!
Do you need Miyuki Delica Cylinders Beads or Miyuki Seedbeads (round)? We have over 2,000 colors, sizes and package sizes to fill all your project needs. Toho Seedbeads are our second huge selection of Japanese Seedbeads,
Czech seedbeads from both Preciosa-Ornela and Jablonex are stocked in hundreds of colors and 6 sizes.
How do I put it all together
We have most Stringing Supplies including needles in Griffin Silk, Fireline, SoftFlex beading cable, C-Lon Beading Cord & Thread and dozens of others including Hemp Cord, and we have several types of stretchy cord for those easy and simple projects too. And all those metal pieces to hold everything together to tie it together like clasps & connectors.
What can I do with Natural Semi-Precious Gemstones
Jade stones, Laboradorite, Amazonite and another 70 Natural stone beads are in our selection, many from Dakota Stones who provide beautiful quality stones at a reasonable price.
Enjoy our huge selection. There is no need to create an account, but once you do, you can log in to have access to any special pricing, use our “Save for Later” shopping cart, and ensure that any preferences you’ve set or items you’ve placed in your cart will still be there when you return, even as you move from your phone to your computer to your laptop to your tablet to “whatever they will invent next!”
Yes, We are open to the public serving all of the U.S. and Canada online.
Got a question? Call Tollfree 1-877-473-2323 or email info@beadfx.com
Latest News and Updates:
- Chroma Pliers, Fan-Tassels, Eastery Pearls, Still 15%, Still Shipping April 2, 2020
Tooooools.
Rainbow colored pliers.
Oh my!
OK, I know what you are thinking, well, if you are thinking the same thing that I thought. That assumes you are as much of a tool junkie + cynic as I am. 😉
“OMG – I want. Gawd, it’s probably a gimmick and they are awful.”
That said, I gave the go-ahead to order some of these anyway. And, much to my surprise – they are actually quite nice tools!
The handles are sleek and smooth to the touch. The action is nice, they are nicely balanced, they close at the tip! The colour is from anodizing the titanium coating, so it’s actually quite durable. The spring is not so strong you have to fight to close them. You know, even your signficant other will probably like them. (I’m keeping an eye on mine, in case they go missing.)
So, if you want to go with “OMG – I want” – you can rest assured that they are not cheap and nasty.
Get yourself a pair, or get the whole set. (We will order more if you don’t get to them in time!)
It’s FAAAAAN-Tassel-ic
Tassels, Tassels everywhere. These lovely fan-shaped tassels are made of a row of tiny, tiny tassels. They would make fun earrings, or … what else can you think of?
I thought that they would make cool plumage for my little wire birdie.
We have that chain tassel too.
Dreamy Swarovski Pearls
Pretty as a pearl, and these pearls are pretty! Amanda wanted me to hustle these pearls into this week’s update because she thought that you might want them for Easter. These are the new Swarovski pearl-colors for spring 2020, called Iridescent Dreamy Rose, and Iridescent Dreamy Blue. They are soft, lovely colors, and very, very pretty.
Travelin’ Bead Boards
Well – here’s a timely product. Not.
Traveling Bead Boards. For the beader on the go, a nice lo-tech way to transport your beads and keep them all tidy, even if your trip is only from Las Kitchenades Tables to St. Couch by the TV. And yes, they are good for just cleaning up so that you can serve dinner on the dining room table, should you want to.
And, one supposes that we will not all be confined to our homes indefinitely. I will say, those of us with hobbies that focus on crafts and hand-making things seem to be coping a lot better than others.
The wood base is very sturdy, no warping and twisting here. The curved bead holes will give you lots of room for your beads for your work in progress, and you can scoop out of the holes. Slide your needle in at an angle to pick up your beads.
And the top fits over it and clamps in place with big binder clips, included. Use the binder clips to hold on the lid, for transport and also to give a slight slope to the base when using it. Curve up a bit of paper to scoop empty a slot if you need to.
Garnet!
Deep, dark garnet, with it’s distinctive lustre. Garnet is the January birthstone, but it is also one of the oldest known gemstones. As such, it has a rich history, having been worn by Egyptian kings and queens, Saxon and Celtic leaders, Native American healers, King Solomon, Christian and Muslim warriors, Russian royalty, Mary Queen of Scots, and Queen Victoria. Garnet is rich in symbolism.
Something Missing from your Stash?
15% off – everything*. You need a little pick-me-up these days, and if your stash doesn’t have everything you need – we’ve got everything still on sale – 15% – so you can get that critical item.
(*Almost everything. You can see in the shopping cart if it is on sale or not. Some of the manager’s specials are more than 15% off)
Your beads bring you peace and solace, and make life more joyful. Stay home and Bead!
Remember, 15% off, so you might want to see what you need! As always – the new stuff is all here!
COVID-19 – This Week
We are still shipping. Who the heck figured for a world-wide pandemic in their business plans? Congratulations to those of you who did, but for the rest of us, we are figuring it out one day at a time.
Many of our suppliers and our warehouse have preventatively shut down due to “the rona” or are located somewhere that mandates that they shelter in place. Some are operating on skeleton staff (i.e. 3 people doing the work of 20.) Normal service standards in this situation? Uh-uh. Orders are being processed as fast as we can – while staying safe.
We are on reduced hours: picking, packing and shipping Monday through Thursday. Our back office staff are social distancing, hand-washing, and sanitizing like champions.
Phones will be answered Monday through Thursday. Emails are still being answered 7 days a week. If you need answers about does “this” go with “that,” just ask and we will try to help.
We are still shipping, but for some items we are waiting for our stock to arrive, and may be delayed.
And thank you for all your good wishes. A huge number of you put lovely little notes of support in the “addition info” box when placing an order. Truly – we appreciate every one of them!
Don’t forget to browse through the Manager Specials – some pretty good deals there!
Cheers!
Can’t find what you are looking for? Feel free to just email us and ask!
Our Class News
- Question Corner: Beading Thread
Every so often, we get questions about materials or a customers looking for explanations about wire sizes, gauges, etc. Share your questions with me at pam@beadfx.com and I’ll get answers to your inquiries about materials from our very creative and knowledgeable instructors!
As there are quite a few beading thread options, many customers can be confused about thread. Crystal asked the following questions:
” Which thread would you recommend for beaded fringe earrings?”
Great question! For small brick stitch projects, such as earrings, you do want to use thread – Fireline is too stiff for the fringe and the earring are too small to be switching threads. Because brick stitch can be tough on thread, you want to use a thread that doesn’t fray easily. Toho One-G and Miyuki threads are perfect for this application. You do need to stretch the thread – gently but firmly stretch (not yank) the thread in sections to remove the curl and align the fibres. For larger brick stitch projects such as ornaments, etc., I use 4lb Fireline. It is as thin as thread, won’t add space between rows of beads and won’t fray.
“Just curious – do you prefer one over the other – in terms of the Toho or Miyuki thread? I’ve also noticed some shredding with the Nymo when I use if for leather wrap bracelets – thinking I could try one of these threads for that application as well or is there something else you would recommend?“
It depends what technique you’re doing. I find Toho One-G, K-O, and Miyuki threads very similar although One-G has less stretch. You could use any of them for the leather wrap bracelet.
Everyone has their own preferences, but here is what I personally use for various techniques:
Spiral Rope: 6lb or 8lb Fireline; it is thin enough to go through the core beads multiple times and won’t fray with the multiple passes.
Flat Peyote: Miyuki, K-O, or Toho One-G; Fireline is not necessary..
Dimensional Peyote: 6lb Fireline if I want the resulting beadwork to be stiff; Hana or Myuki thread if I need some stretch for certain shapes (Hana thread is very stretchy).
Bead Embroidery: Miyuki, K-O, or Toho One-G; it withstands going through the beads and the base fabric very well without fraying.
Loomwork: Coned Nymo (not bobbin) for the warp thread – something without any stretch. You can use Miyuki, K-O, or Toho One-G for the weft threads.
Netting/Fringe work/Coral work: Miyuki, K-O, or Toho One-G to allow your beading to drape.
Using all these different threads may seem complicated and cumbersome, but the thread is the only thing holding your beading together! You won’t notice a good thread as you stitch, but using an inappropriate choice of thread can be a major source of frustration.
By the way, beading thread is vastly different than sewing thread. Beading thread is made from long nylon fibres that don’t break easily. Sewing thread is cotton, polyester, or a cotton/polyester blend and is spun from short fibres. It won’t stand up to the abrasion of seed beading.
With respect to Nymo, it was originally developed by, and is still used, in the upholstery and manufacturing industry. It is a nylon monochord, which means it is a single bonded strand, not several twisted together. Nymo thread is strong and supple, but it can fray when it is overworked. The bonding on coned Nymo is a better quality than found on bobbins, which is why fraying occurs easier when using bobbin Nymo.
You can condition any thread by using bee’s wax or thread conditioners such as Bead Buddy Thread Magic. It causes the surface of the thread to be slicker when stitching with it; it does need to be reapplied as you stitch.
Thanks Crystal, for helping us kick-off this new blog topic! Please send us your questions and we’ll provide an answer.
Our Latest Inspiration
- InspirationFX: Falling Leaves
InspirationFX
Get your creative juices flowing
by: Rosemary Beasley
When I saw the two strands of the “freeform” tiger iron, I was inspired by their “leafy” shape to make a necklace inspired by the fall season. The tiger iron is streaked with slate, rust and little hits of mustard yellow making me think of November skies and falling leaves. The glass leaves and 2mm pearls add a lightness contrasting with the darkness of the tiger iron.
Components
Go to our components list for this project and to buy what you need!
Need some help with some of the techniques? Check our tips page.