Beading Supply

From LoveToKnow Crafts

How's your beading supply? Beaders always seem to be in need of more materials. You may have a stash bigger than one person could use in her lifetime, but still you need more. It’s understandable. You never know what inspiration will strike when, and you’ve got to be prepared, right?

But how do you build up your stash without breaking the bank? Here are some ideas for places you can get all the beads you need without having to take a second job.

Beading Supply on eBay

Of course one of the greatest sources for craft supplies on the cheap is eBay especially if you’re not too picky about what you’re getting or can wait for what you want.

eBay is a great source for all sorts of beads, from cheap plastic pony beads to seed beads to precious gems to handmade lampwork beads. Whatever you want, you’re likely to find it on eBay, and perhaps at a good price.

If you aren’t picky about what you get, search for auctions that end soonest. Sometimes you can catch an auction right before it ends and get a really good deal.

You can also search for large lots where other people are getting rid of their stashes. You might find a large collection of Swarovski crystal one day and a lot of mixed gemstones the next. These lots are great because you can usually get the beads for cheaper than retail and seeing lots of different colors together can inspire you to creat different things.

Antique Stores and Flea Markets

Another great source for small quantities of beading materials is local antique stores, flea markets and swap meets. Again, you have to have an open mind, and be willing to buy something when it grabs you because it might not stay for sale for long.

You can buy vintage pieces inexpensively and take them apart for your own designs. Don’t be afraid to buy a piece that’s awful but has a really great clasp. You can harvest the closure and then maybe mix the beads into another project, or give them to someone else who can use them.

Sometimes it’s hard to see the potential in already finished pieces, but try to look at the quality of the individual beads rather than the piece as a whole and see if you could make something different and better from it. Or collect a whole bunch of different vintage pieces and work them all into a new bracelet, necklace or something else.

Internet Beading Supply Swaps

If you already have an established stash with things you love and things you could bear to part with, look on the Internet for a bead exchange group, like Budget Bead Share or Bead Swap.

You could even set up your own group or look for local swappers on sites like Freecycle where you could offer your unloved beads and ask others if they have beads or old costume jewelry they would be willing to part with.

Bead Supply Bargain Clubs

Speaking of Internet groups, there are also groups that amount to Internet buying clubs for beaders, like this one, which focuses on Czech beads or this small but busy group. Search “bead buying” in Yahoo Groups to find more choices.

These groups are great because they allow you to make individual-sized purchases with bulk discounts. A lot of the bigger wholesalers of beads require huge minimum purchases, too, so these groups can allow you to buy beads from places you normally wouldn’t be able to because the minimum purchase is, say $500.

These groups are also a good place for hints, inspiration and bead swaps, so they are a good resource to know about.

Beading Supply Shop Sales

As in all things, a great deal can often be found if you shop during a sale. This is true in buying beads both online and off. If you shop for beads at a major chain craft store, you will find that they often have beads or findings on sale for as much as 50 percent off. The prices might not be as good as you could find online with a discount club, but there’s something to be said for seeing what you’re buying before you buy and for not having to wait for the stuff to get to you.

Internet “stores” have sales, too. Type beading supply closeout into your favorite search engine and you’ll find tons of sellers who have sale pages on their sites. You’ll have to do a bit of hunting to find things you like, but it’s worth it if you can get a good deal.

Finding beads to use in your projects is kind of like a treasure hunt. There are lots of places to look and you never know what you might find on any given day. But the hunt is a lot of fun and you can find a lot of inspiration in some unexpected places.

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