The Bead Spot

Fusions Beads finally has its new site up, and I have to say, it looks great. I think it's much easier to navigate than it was before, because it allows users to winnow down their searches as they go. To change a search just slightly -- for instance, if you'd like to search for some yellow round seed beads to go with the red ones you just selected -- takes only a couple clicks, rather than having to start a whole new search, as shoppers had to on FB's old site.

Yay! I received my order from Fusion Beads in the mail yesterday. I now have plenty of size D thread, some beads in pink hues for my children's bracelets, some blue beads and some size 15 black beads (far right) for a fringe on a bracelet I have in mind. I also got a notice that the Fusion Beads website (should debut tomorrow) was being revamped and a coupon code for 10 percent off my next order from the new site. I'm curious to see what changes will be made. I haven't had much time for beading over the past couple of days, but I should be able to make some headway on the herringbone bracelet during my lunch break at work today.

Welcome! This is my 100th post on this blog!  I wish I had something outstanding to post for this occasion, but I don't. All I have are just a handful of odds and ends. I've finally reached the width I want on the rose-colored, right-angle weave bracelet I've been working on. Now, I just need to finish this last row and then it's on to the clasp. I've thought about weaving some Charlotte beads* into it, but I can't find the ones I want. In search for Charlottes, I came across a new online bead retailer. It's called Shipwreck Beads , and it seems to have quite an extensive selection of Charlottes. I've never ordered from them before, but once I do, I'll mention my experience with them here. A couple of my nephews are into crafts, too. One is an ace at making dream catchers. The other likes to work more with beads making bracelets and stuff. However, this past weekend, he gave me something he made with craft sticks: A sailboat. That's my birth...

I've shopped a time or two at Thunderbird Supply Co. for beads, findings and stringing material. I love the site's variety and that, like Fire Mountain Gems, it offers bigger discounts for bigger orders. Unlike Fire Mountain, though, the combination discount doesn't apply to everything the site offers, just select items, but the prices are still pretty good. Its shipping prices are a little higher than FM, but not enough to deter me from buying through Thunderbird. I browse every once in a while. It's been a year or more since I've bought from T-bird, but I'm just not buying beads as often as I did before I had my daughter.

Every now and then, I like to branch out and try other online bead stores, but I still get quite a bit from Fire Mountain Gems . Not too long ago, I discovered it has a page for user-submitted tips, which cover subjects such as organizing your beads, findings, marketing and the different types of stringing materials. It's worth checking out by beaders of all skill levels. For a direct link, click here .

I stumbled across an online bead retailer yesterday that I had not used before -- The Bead Room. It doesn’t seem to have a whole lot as far as stringing materials and findings, but it does seem to have quite a few seed beads. I’ve placed an order through the site, and I’ll post an update on what I think of the site when I get my order.