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ONLINE BEAD SHOPPING
(NOTE: These are some of my favorite places to shop online where I've found the prices, service and delivery to be the best.)
ABOUT BEADS
http://www.about-beads.com
This is a great place to shop for Miyuki Delica beads. The prices are great, and they are sorted by number, making it easy to find what you need when you know exactly what you need. They also sell Japanese 11/0 and 15/0 seed beads and bugle beads.
ANYBEADS.COM
http://www.anybeads.com
This site has some fantastic prices on Swarovski crystal, especially bicone crystals (25 4mm amethyst 5301 bicones for $1.40!!), and a wonderful selection of colors. On top of that, orders over $80 get a 5% discount and they accept PayPal.
ARTBEADS.COM
http://www.artbeads.com
You can find everything you need at this online bead store, plus some excellent prices on Swarovski crystal. They also have a huge selection of Toho brand beads.
AUNTIE'S BEADS & SUPPLIES
http://www.auntiesbeads.com
Although this site has some great prices and an excellent selection of Swarovski crystal and sterling silver beads, Auntie's is where I go when I'm looking for unique beads, pendants and clasps. In addition, they have many free project directions, design ideas, beading "How Tos" and numerous free online videos that are worth checking out no matter what your beading skill level.
BEADAHOLIQUE
http://www.beadaholique.com
This is a great online bead shop that has some excellent prices on Swarovski crystal and chain. You can pay via Paypal, which I think is an added plus. They have some wonderful deals during many of their sales so it's well worth it to get on the Beadaholique mailing list.
BEADBABE
http://www.beadbabe.com
Beadbabe has a lot of unique beads that you won't find anywhere else (I love their mood beads), and some hand-crafted beads from a number of talented bead artists. As a premium member ($25 a year), there are always lots of discounts on beads but even better, you get a free copy of a 19-project Alice Korach e-book, a subscription to Bead-Bugle.com magazine and access to the entire archive of Bead-Bugle.com projects in PDF form since the online magazine was started years ago. That's QUITE a lot for $25. Even better, the patterns are great!
BEAD-PATTERNS.COM
http://www.bead-patterns.com
SOVA-ENTERPRISES.COM
http://www.sova-enterprises.com
Rita Sova and her family at Sova Enterprises have created two unique and wonderful Web sites for beaders and designers. There are literally hundreds of bead patterns for sale in downloadable PDF format (or you can have Sova print and mail them to you). There's also quite a few free patterns available, as well as lots of free instructional material on the different beading stitches and techniques.
CABELA'S
http://www.cabelas.com
Yes, it's a fishing store but they have the best prices on FireLine that I have found.
CARAVAN BEADS, INC.
http://www.caravanbeads.com
Caravan has an extensive collection of Japanese seed beads of all types and sizes, including cubes, hex and bugle beads. If you are looking for Miyuki sample cards, this is the site to visit.
CHARLENE'S BEADS
http://www.cbbeads.com
Charlene Booth has some FANTASTIC prices on Japanese seed beads, and a great selection as well. Her site was a wonderful find and I will be ordering from her again.
DREAMTIME CREATIONS
http://www.dreamtimecreations.com
If you are looking for rivolis or Swarovski stones at decent prices, this is the site to visit. Aside from eBay, Dreamtime Creations has the best selection that I have found.
EMBELLISHMENTS BEADS AND FINDINGS
http://www.embellishmentsinc.com
This is where I go to shop for unique clasps, especially vermeil clasps. They have a huge selection that changes often, and many of the clasps they offer, I haven't seen anywhere on the Internet. They ship priority mail from Anchorage, Alaska, and I've never had an order take more than week to arrive.
FOXDEN DESIGNS
http://www.foxdendesigns.com
Fantastic selection of Japanese Miyuki beads: Delica beads, seed beads, cubes, triangle and bugle beads of all sizes. Great prices and excellent service.
FUSION BEADS
http://www.fusionbeads.com
This site continues to grow in some wonderful ways. The have a vast selection of just about every bead that you could possibly need, including the largest selection of fire-polished beads that I have run across. However, what makes this site so impressive is it's lengthy Inspiration page where you can peruse dozens of gorgeous beaded designs with direct links to the beads and materials you need to purchase to make each piece.
INM CRYSTAL
http://www.inmcrystal.com
Another great place to shop for Swarovski crystal beads. The more you buy, the cheaper the beads are.
FIRE MOUNTAIN GEMS
http://www.firemountaingems.com
Fire Mountain is, perhaps, the largest bead seller on the Internet. The have a large selection of just about everything, quantity discount pricing and an Outlet area.
LAND OF ODDS
http://www.landofodds.com
This bead shop offers just about everything and in great abundance. However, you have to know what you are buying because the Web site doesn't provide a lot of pictures. Orders of over $75 get a 15% discount. They've also got the entire selection of C-LON.
1STOPBEADSHOP.COM
www.1stopbeadshop.com
This bead shop located in Columbus, Ohio has a wonderful online store as well. They have a fantastic selection of Japanese Toho and Miyuki seed beads and HUGE array of beading books for sale.
PLASABALI
http://www.plasabali.com
Because Plasabali is located in Bali, shipping to the U.S. is expensive ($15 to the U.S. FedEx only), but they have some amazing prices on silver and vermeil beads and findings that certainly make up for the shipping cost if you can buy in bulk. Quality is excellent, especially their sterling silver clasps.
RISHASHAY
http://www.rishashay.com
Another site where I shop for clasps, although they have much, much more to offer. Their entire catalog is online, and checkout is very easy. I believe all the beads and findings come from their workshop in Bali, Indonesia, although their American headquarters is in Missoula, Montana.
SAPPHIRE GARDEN
http://www.sapphiregarden.com
If you are looking for top quality gemstones, Sapphire Garden has some of the finest at the best prices. This is especially true of their selection of gemstone briolette beads.
SHIPWRECK BEADS
http://www.shipwreck-beads.com
I once beaded with a woman who said she’s bought so many beads from Shipwreck over the years that she feels like she owns part of the place. The prices are good and the selection is vast indeed.
2 BEAD OR NOT TO BEAD
http://www.2beadornot2bead.com
Nice site with a wide variety of beads and findings. Quantity discount pricing is available, they always have some great deals on shipping, the service is excellent and they frequently add to their product line.
U BEAD IT
http://www.ubeaditsacramento.com
U Bead It has a wonderfully large selection of Japanese beads (Delicas, hex, seed, bugle and triangle beads), especially size 8 Japanese Hex beads. The also have good prices on fire-polished beads and some unique clasps. If you are looking for the rectangular flip-top tubes and 4 by 6-inch hinged boxes to hold them, this is the place to go.
VENETIAN BEAD SHOP
http://www.venetianbeadshop.com
Okay... yes, these beads are costly. And they are the most beautiful sold on the Internet today. Each time I visit this site, I spend money but it's hard not to. The artistry is just so extraordinary. This is the site to visit when you are looking for extra special beads for extra special occasions.
WHIMBEADS
http://www.whimbeads.com
Whimbeads has, in my opinion, the largest selection of Japanese seed beads and Delica beads for sale on the Internet, as well as an extensive collection of 3mm and 4mm Japanese cubes beads. They also sell the rectangular flip-top tubes and 4 by 6-inch hinged boxes to hold them.
WIGJIG STORE
http://beadstore.wigjig.com
If you are exploring wirework, then Wigjig is the site for you. They have a huge selection of jewelry making tools and jigs, as well as over 2900 pages of free wirework instructions and some videos. |
