Jewelry Making Supplies: Beading Q And A (9/9/2011)

BeadGal answers:

I like Fire Mountain Gems. They also have useful info, a gallery of designs, tools and how-to videos.

The more you buy the better the price break. Only $5 shipping, regardless of size of order!

The only other place I get some supplies from, because they had something I couldn’t find elsewhere, is Oriental Trading company. But they don’t have too many items in a pack.

BeadGal answers:

Yes, you can sell your creations made from purchased beads. I have three favorite sources, plus the eBay beads section. For metals and wire and such, I use the Santa Fe Jewelers Supply. For beads, I use Fire Mountain Gems. For some beads, leather, some findings, and whatever interesting stuff they happen to have at the moment, I use the 8Season wholesale site. All three of these are wholesalers, but do not require a resale license.

BeadGal answers:

You can find very nice jewelry making supplies at Michael’s crafts. They are a higher end craft store that specializes in a lot of wedding + event crafts. This makes the jewelry very very nice looking.

BeadGal answers:

This website is the best place I’ve found to buy jewelry making supplies (to answer the first part of your question!): http://www.firemountaingems.com

I am having trouble finding that exact heart style, but what you are looking for is going to be quartz crystal or “non leaded crystal.” Leaded crystal, like Swaroski, sparkle more than other crystal. They add lead to increase the sparkle.

This website has some more info on the lead in Swarovski:  http://www.beadboard.net/lead-swarovski-crystal-beads/ In particular, the State of California has issued an overly broad requirement for product warnings on anything containing lead – this link explains that requirement and a statement from Swarovski about the lead in their products.

BeadGal answers:

It really depends on how much you want to spend. You can find decent resin at the craft store for as little as $10. You will need the resin, plastic molds and your decorative item.

My best resin jewelry sellers are bracelets and necklaces. I have plastic candy molds in all kinds of shapes and sizes that I bought at yard sales. I use “found” objects like lego blocks, cool looking leaves I find on the ground, monopoly pieces, neat pieces off of old earrings etc. The number of things you can suspend in resin is limitless! Right now I am having a ball with dead japanese beetles that killed off my holly hocks and roses.

So to answer your original question, you can get started on less than $20.