[fgaussm]

I am a newbie beader and I need some help. I am looking for wholesale beading websites. The only one i've found and trusted to buy from was Fire Mountain but I was disappointed with them. I spent a lot of money on poor quality beads and it seemed a bit too expensive. Any suggestions on wholesale beading supplies website as well as pearls?

[jerin]

Fgaussm,

have a look at Integritypearls.com. Nice Pearls, good prices. Integrity is buying directly from China.

Good luck!

[Caitlin]

Hi fgaussm
I think it is a great subject and time to pursue it.

Here is a list I found fro elsewhere om the forum
Halstead Beads (www.halsteadbead.com)
Willis the Beadmeister (www.southpacificwholesale.com)
New York Findings (www.newyorkfindings.com)
www.alphaimports.com


What kind of pearls are striking your fancy right now? What kind of quality do you want? What shapes? Any preferences for colors?

*

Anybody heard from Treasure Island? Are they answering?

[fgaussm]

thank you for all the suggestions and help. I've checked out the websites that have been posted on this thread and WOW!!! Thank you. I am a happy beader. What I was looking for was a variety of different sizes of pearls but good quality. I am just looking for a company that deliver what they advertise. thanks for the help everyone.

[Doug (Integrity Pearls)]

(Thanks, Inge, for the mention!) When it comes to freshwater pearl beads, generally one "quality factor" that affects their value is whether or not they have "rings". Cheap pearls with rings on them (bands, ridges, or whatever you want to call them) are widely available, and SHOULD cost you 2/3rds or even half of what the same pearls without rings would cost. Whoever you order from, try to determine if the pearls have rings or not. (I'm not saying rings are wrong. Many creative people LOVE them. But you should not pay MORE for the rings - you should pay LESS!)

[knotty panda]

I found this link to a PBS show on making jewelry. http://www.beadsbaublesandjewels.com/ I think they've been doing it about two years. I haven't actually seen the show and I think alot of it is an infomercial for Fire Mountain. But they do have projects and ideas. They also have a design gallery on their website but no instructions, if I'm not mistaken. Also, jewelrysupply.com has projects. Their site not only has instructions, it also tells you how much the piece will cost to make, which is really helpful.
I also saw some unusual magnetic clasps on autie's beads website.

[Satine De La Courcel]

Originally Posted by fgaussm

I am a newbie beader and I need some help. I am looking for wholesale beading websites. The only one i've found and trusted to buy from was Fire Mountain but I was disappointed with them. I spent a lot of money on poor quality beads and it seemed a bit too expensive. Any suggestions on wholesale beading supplies website as well as pearls?

FMG is Great For many things Beading.. and with them the mroe you get the cheaper the Price. So it is better to buy in bulk form them not just one or two things.

The sites that have been listed are good ones...

also Shipwreck beads is another good place. for beads....

Neither of these siites are wholesale theya re retail.
Abeada.com is another site However it is just a registration site not a site like FMG.. you need ot be a vendor to use them.. This is a wholesale business...

Knowinfg hat you want especially the Quality of pearls is half the battle.. GOOD LUCK!!!!!!