Last week I bought a bunch of beads on clearance at JoAnn, to experiment with, and wouldn't you know it? They turned out great--and now, of course, there are no more to be had!
I'm wondering if those with more bead-buying experience than I have could help me track them down--or find a similar replacement? I picked up some standard gold bugle beads, too, but these are just a little more special.
I'm looking for these 8mm gold filigree ovals. The specific ones I have are Blue Moon/Frosting brand item BM20561 "FR BEAD MTL FLGR OVL GLD". I've checked a couple obvious places online already, but perhaps I wasn't searching for the right thing.
(http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL417/1033223/23814262/397035497.jpg)
Ideas? Oh, I need about 90 of 'em!
Thanks!!
Gem, do they have actual openings in the beads, or are they etched? I can't really tell from the photo.
Here are a few I've found, although the specific bead you are looking for might be discontinued.
100 Groovie Gold Plated Oval Beads (http://www.farmerjerry.com/servlet/the-75/100-Groovie-Gold-Plated/Detail)
100 Gold Plated Oval Beads (http://www.farmerjerry.com/servlet/the-73/100-Gold-Plated-Oval/Detail)
Bead, Metal, Melon, 3x7mm (https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=9992&idcategory=0)
None of them are filigree, but they look close in size, shape and color to your beads, so if you can't find more of those you might at least find something close. You might also go back to JoAnn's and see if they will check other stores for you to see if they have them in stock anywhere else, and if so you might be able to buy them and have them shipped to your store for pick-up, or directly to you. There is also the JoAnn's online store, as well.
Can't really see a lot of detail on them..So I found some that maybe close?
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H205368MB
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H205598MB
Hope that helps!
I was going to suggest FireMountain Gems as well for Vermeil beads.
Check Hobby Lobby or Michaels in their Jewelry Findings section if you have one near you.
I have a ton of plastic, metal coated Vermeil beads I bought from JoAnn's that I use for Hats and French Hoods.
I like sunshine crafts for anything that is not a gemstone bead. (http://www.sunshinecrafts.com/dept_view.php?DPath=BEADS%7EBDPRLS~BDPRLMET&Page=1)
Just a hint when buying beads that my mom taught me. Treat it like a fabric stash when you find beads that you like buy as many that you can because murphys law of fabric applies to beads. If you like it you should get it because when they are gone they are gone forever!
It looks really good!
(http://www.beadsandsupplies.com/images/Beads/Pearls/Pearls_1118-93.jpg)
There is also one called Beads and Supplies. (http://www.beadsandsupplies.com/multicolored-metallic-bright-round-beads-p-2360.html)
It looks like Gem's beads are filigree. I know these aren't right because they're not the right color and they have holes on either end but they're filigree:
http://vintagejewelrysupplies.com/filigree/1913-oval-filigree-bead-connectors-oxidized-brass-.html
Thanks, all! Yes, the beads I have are definitely filigree; a diamond openwork very similar to the fabric, actually. I would love to find similar filigree beads (who knew it would be hard?!), but I think size/shape/color are more important at this point... so I think Dona's second link looks like the most promising so far. Nobody's going to be able to see filigree from 10 feet away, anyway.
I have 45 of the original filigree beads; this afternoon I'm going to do some experimenting to see if I can alter my design to use the beads I have, along with the bugle beads I bought yesterday. Thank goodness I'm only working on a hat and not a full dress or something!
http://compare.ebay.com/like/300546357043?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y
My eyesight is not good enough to tell if these are the same type of filigree.
Dona, those are absolutely the same *style,* but they're about three times as long as I need! :D
Yesterday I did some more design testing and think I can come up with something different that will work. This afternoon I picked up 120 8mm round filigree beads at Michaels, plus more 4 mm pearls, so at least now I have options.
Plus, I've identified two local bead shops in my neighborhood/stomping grounds I might have a chance to check out this weekend (after the parrot research trip).
Adriana--no kidding!! This was my first time beading costume stuff, though, and I really didn't know what to buy or what would look right, so I grabbed a bunch of different clearance stuff so I wasn't investing much in money or supplies if whatever I tried didn't work out. I was surprised by what things looked good and which didn't, but now I have a *much* better sense of what I'm looking at/for in the bead department! (And--wow--such a better understanding of sizes, which I could never picture from internet descriptions! Now I know what 4mm or 8 mm or 20 mm is, it's so much easier!)
Well Gem,
now you get to add beadaholic to your list of descriptions. From now one whenever you see some cool or unsual beads that you like you will buy a few hundred. You know, just in case?
Gem, I'll stop by our Joann's today to see if they might have the same bead. If so, I'll grab them for you.
*Edit* Sorry. No luck. The ladies at Joanne suggested one of their larger superstores might have them. I know you looked online. Wish I could be of more help.
Quote from: NicoleBridget on June 02, 2011, 10:33:39 AM
It looks like Gem's beads are filigree. I know these aren't right because they're not the right color and they have holes on either end but they're filigree:
http://vintagejewelrysupplies.com/filigree/1913-oval-filigree-bead-connectors-oxidized-brass-.html
That site is awesome!!!!