Beading storage options?

Question

I am new to beading and I want to tidy up my supplies. Since I do not (yet) have my own dedicated workspace, I am thinking about buying a storage tote first and a stackable system later when I have a house.

What features should I look for in a good craft tote? In a stackable system?

Have you tried more than one type of storage? What worked and what didn't?

What do you love/hate about the storage you own ( tote or stationary).

Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

My mom bought me a bead/jewelry tote from JoAnn fabrics for Christmas and I absolutely love it! It has been great for me, holds so much and is portable. It has wheels and an extending handle. The top zips open and has two small cases for small items and a roll out pouch with three compartments that zip close. I use them for my stringing materials but I think they are meant to hold strung beads that you purchase. The side opens to a very spacious area that holds many many cases of beads I have. I will try to find the links for the ones that I have...



I have two of these that fit in the side with many other cases. I will look for those too. These cases have individual boxes inside each one and that each close completely. No bead mixing happening here. One of the biggest problems I found with using some other things. I use these for my seed beads and other smaller beads, also for my crystals.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2119&PRODID=prd54006





I use these two for smaller findings like jumprings. This way I can easily see what is in them and open only exactly what I need. I have six of these and they also fit in the side of the tote.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat2119&PRODID=prd27767

I also have about five of these stored in the side of my tote.

http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp?CATID=cat3016&PRODID=prd35979

I think they discontinued the specific tote at JoAnn's I have, they restocked with newer models, but I love mine. I bought a second knitting tote for the complete open space in it to carry more of the last link and my bead lap desk.

Answer 2

Well when I first started beading, I also faced the same problem. I bought a lot of different types of beads but remembered about a storage box after i reached home. So all I did was I had a new spice rack with a lot of bottles aranged neatly and looked very beautiful ( that was why I hadn't used them) and I kept my beads in those spice bottles. One type in one bottle, another type in another bottle. I could even display it on my work table as a show piece and later when my stock grew, I bought one more beautiful spice rack to store the new beads.

Answer 3

check out hardware stores for the multi-drawer units usually used for nails and such. they come in many sizes. some are small enough for findings and bobbins or cards of threads, some are long enough for tubes or even tools. some can be hung on the wall.



i have gone from snap lid boxes for my tubes of beads to stacked drawers long enough to accommodate the long tubes seed beads come in. each drawer holds a lot of tubes, and i can sort by color families and bead type and size.



i have a couple of tackle type boxes i take to classes, and i keep extra needles, nymo, scissors, mat, etc., in them all the time so that the only things i have to worry about putting in are the items i need for the class.



best feature to look for in a tote: a lid that stays on!



remember, shoe boxes are handy and cheap. refrigerator storage containers, new or washed, are good. anything that fits under the bed, or the sofa, or the chair, or on the floor of the closet is useful.



happy beading!

Answer 4

I found that it is much cheaper to get the tackle boxes and use them as bead storage. I recently went and brought two fishing tackle boxes at walmart for 17.86 each and it stores so many of my beads.



there are 4 different separate boxes so it makes it easy to color coordinate and the place all your hardware in one box. I think this is the easiest way to organize your beads.

Answer 5

I love my beads! I bought a large tackle box with removable trays on the bottom - WONDERFUL for beads. I keep my pliers, thread, supplies in top of box and i keep my beads organized in the three removable trays on the bottom.



I keep my jewelry beads in one tray, basic acrylic beads in another and specialty beads in one - so I only have to take out one tray at a time - keeps things easier to find.



Best way to organize beads by far! And least expensive.

Answer 6

im not a super fanatic about beads... but... um use like fishing lure storage boxes 'cuz they have lots of cubbies... or buy bead jars...

best wishes