Wildly Bohemian - News of the Bead World

Tucson 2012 REDUCED COST SHIPPING!!!!

2012-01-31T11:30:00.000-08:00

Tucson 2012 Gem Mall Booth

Tucson 2012 is in full swing!

We have brought LOTS of new items with us and are are also offering exclusive for Tucson 2012 Show Attendees: REDUCED COST SHIPPING!!!!

$5/box Domestic
$20/box International

Come by our booths and ask for details! Gem Mall 2125 and Double Tree Living Room.

SEE YOU SOON!

SHIPPING SPECIAL FOR TUCSON ATTENDEES ONLY!!!!

Countdown to Tucson 2012

2012-01-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

Gem Mall opens tomorrow!Coin Beads 20mm

These big, bold and beautiful beads are a perfect way to show off the color swirls within Czech glass cane. This shape works great as a focal in a simple necklace or you can pair a bunch of them with chunky chain to create a wild fashion statement. I can imagine seed beading around them as well. Look for them near the check out station at our Gem Mall booth.

Coin Beads 15mm

NEWLY LISTED JBB

2012-01-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

Flower Connecters 10mm: http://czechbeads.com/Secure/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=J196-10
Knotwork Bead Caps: http://czechbeads.com/Secure/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=J200-10
Coins: http://czechbeads.com/Secure/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=J192-14
Rope Hooks: http://czechbeads.com/Secure/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=J205-05

Countdown to Tucson 2012

2012-01-26T11:12:00.000-08:00

Two days left until Gem Mall opens. The Starman team has arrived in Tucson and is working tirelessly to assemble the booth in time for Saturday.

Tucson Turquoise

What better place than Tucson to launch our exclusive line of turquoise glass beads. We've improved our color variety this year by experimenting with textured stone finishes as well as formal, super shiny finishes saturated with color.

Our Gem Mall booth has the largest selection of Czech glass beads. To see our selection of Toho Seed beads, including our SuperNova hybrid collection, please visit our Double Tree location (living room).

Double Tree Opens Sunday, January 29th

Bridge the gap between stringing and weaving with Toho SuperNova Hybrids

Valentine's Day Love Affair Beading Kit

2012-01-26T11:02:00.001-08:00

Kits Make Perfect Gifts!

Wildly Bohemian Kits are a quick and easy way to create fun pieces for your customers, friends or yourself. These are perfect to create one of a kind pieces or give the entire kit away as a gift.

Your beading buddies will love the color combinations of the Toho Seed Beads and assorted Czech Pressed Glass beads. These kits are a sure hit and your customers will be back for more!

See our Facebook page for some amazing jewelry made with these kits. There are 12 kits to chose from. Each kit comes with TEN 2.5" Tubes of TOHO seed beads and an assorted mix of Czech Pressed Glass beads.

Inventory has just been restocked with the seasonal Valentine's Day Mix: Love Affair.

Get some for your store today! Limited Supply Available!

Love Affair

Blackberry Bush

Exquisite

Sweet Tooth

Jamaica Me Crazy

Signs of Spring

Many more to choose from on our website:

http://czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?b=K2-00

Count Down to Tucson 2012

2012-01-25T15:28:00.000-08:00

Three days until the Gem Mall opens in Tucson, AZ.
There are countless new colors, shapes and finishes making their debut at both our Gem Mall and Double Tree booths, but no bead can convey the elegance and magnitude of these artful combinations as well as the druk.

4mm Ultra Luster Mix

8mm Blue Turquoise

8mm Green Turquoise

8mm Luster and Stone Earthtones

10mm Milky Turquoise with Mood Dust

More colors and sizes will be available at our booth.

GL&W Gem Show Gem Mall

Booth Numbers 2125/2228

January 28th - February 10

and

To Bead True Blue

(Double Tree Living room)

January 29th - February 3rd

Countdown to Tucson 2012

2012-01-24T16:56:00.000-08:00

Dangly Drop Earrings

Only four days until Gem Mall opens in Tucson. Today's exclusive new item spotlight includes our Table Cut Drop Nuggets in 3 new sizes: 12/9mm, 10/8mm and 16/12mm. 18 new colors total! These beads are a smaller version of the popular 19/16mm nuggets we carry (342-1916).

Table Cut Drop Nugget 10/8mm

Canterbury Bells 12/9mm

Starman's Bead & Pattern Booklet

2012-01-24T15:38:00.000-08:00

New for Tucson 2012!

Come by one of our booths to get a few for your store... only $12 each. Limited quantity available!

Each booklet includes FOUR Royalty Free Patterns that use the latest trend in beading: TWO HOLE TILE BEADS!

These are amazing works of art are fun and easy to teach! See you this weekend!

(Wholesale Only)

Countdown to Tucson 2012

2012-01-23T16:49:00.000-08:00

Only 5 more days until Gem Mall opens its doors, kick starting this year's Tucson show festivities. Here is your first preview of some of the exclusive styles currently making their way down to "The Sunshine Factory".

Texture, Color, Sparkle, Shine.
These color coordinated mixes arrived by sea from Czech Republic just in time for the show. All available stock has been shipped to Tucson so we are unable to ship from our warehouse. We recommend visiting our booth in person, however if you cannot attend the show and would like to order these beads please contact us and we may be able to fill your order from the booth. Orders will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.

Butter Rum

Callisto

Mist

Mahana

Sandstone

Teal/Gold

Tipperary

Vega

Color styles for this year include contrasting metallics; brilliant, saturated jewel tones and subdued, ancient earth tones.

Permanent Finish 15/0's

2012-01-20T17:54:00.000-08:00

Toho has just released the latest innovation in seed bead technology -- Permanent finish seed beads in size 15/o! This durable coating adds to the life of metallic and silverlined seed beads that were once notorious for flaking and discoloring. Bead with confidence knowing that your hard work will not be tarnished by fading finishes.

TR-15-PF558 Permanent Finish - Galvanized Aluminum

TR-15-PF557 Permanent Finish - Galvanized Starlight

TR-15-PF558F Permanent Finish - Matte Galvanized Aluminum

TR-15-PF557F Permanent Finish - Matte Galvanized Starlight

2012-01-19T18:17:00.000-08:00

Don't forget April 6th is the last day to submit artwork to stores for treasures of TOHO competition 2012
Stores will hold their own judging and submit 1 winning piece from each category. Stores must submit the winning pieces to their distributor by April 20th 2012. Final Judging will take place at the Bead and Button Show June 2012

Treasures of Toho Contest

2012 Treasures of TOHO Competition

Competition DivisionsBeginning Beader: 1-2 Years Experience
Intermediate Beader: 3-4 Years Experience
Advanced Beader: 5+ Years Experience

Competition CategoriesWearable Art: necklaces, bracelets, gloves, clothing, purses, adornments

Sculptural Art: free standing work, wall hangings

AIKO Beads: wearable or sculptural

Competition Prizes

First Place: $300 Gift Certificate

Second Place: $200 Gift Certificate

Third Place: $100 Gift Certificate

There will be a First, Second & Third chosen in each Division and Category. Prizes will be supplied by TOHO and issued through the sponsoring store.

　

Please visit your local participating bead store for more information and the complete rules.

Czech Two Hole Tile Beads in Tucson

2012-01-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

Looking for the new Czech Two Hole Tile beads seen on the cover of the current issue of Bead and Button magazine? The entire selection will be available in Tucson while supplies last. Czech tiles can be used with many of the latest patterns that recommend Tila beads. View colors here

We will be exhibiting at:

GL&W Gem Show Gem Mall

Booth Numbers 2125/2228

January 28th - February 10

and

To Bead True Blue

(Double Tree Living room)

January 29th - February 3rd

Wholesale Only. Ask your local bead store to carry the full color selection.

Introducing Decoré

2011-08-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

What is Decoré? It's the latest, most advanced jewelry clay now available at czechbeads.com! The Decoré concept was first introduced in the U.S. during the Tucson show earlier this year.

With Decoré you can easily create unique works of art jewelry within 90 minutes!

How it works: Choose one of the 29 colors available, mix part A and B together, then mold the clay into whichever form you'd like. You can attach it to almost any surface including metal, wood, stone and glass! Add crystals, beads, chain, etc. The clay will start to set after 90 minutes and you're done! You don't have to worry about shrinking, baking, or gluing.

See our full product line here: www.czechbeads.com/catalog/products.aspx?s=DeCore

Rhinestone Buttons

2011-07-13T10:49:00.000-07:00

They're finally here! Brand new rhinestone buttons in the most popular metallic finishes. No need to raid grandma's jewelry box to create today's hottest fashions. Now available are 18+ styles ranging from vintage to contemporary. Each style comes in 4 different color combinations, which work perfectly with wedding jewelry as well as today's hottest interpretations of Victorian and romantic embellishments.

Black
Antique Copper
Silver
Gun Metal

We offer the most brilliant stones set (not glued) into high quality plated brass components. Many styles also incorporate Czech glass pearls for a touch of elegance. All finishes are available in rhinestone rondelles and squaredelles as well.

Two Hole Flat Squares

2011-06-07T16:18:00.001-07:00

Just Added! Check out our current selection of 6mm Two Hole Flat Squares! There are over 50 colors to choose from with plenty more on the way. We picked a wide variety of colors that are sure to compliment any project including hybrids, jeweltone, metallic, dualtone, silverline and picasso!

These itty bitty beads work very well with many of the popular tile bead patterns available. Experiment with them yourself -- we'd love to see what you can come up with!

2011-04-12T16:50:00.000-07:00

New StarPick Program

Over the past few years, Starman, Inc. has gathered an enormous inventory of Czech glass beads. Our walls are filled with beautiful, unique, beads that are simply taking up too much room as we expand to meet your needs as a customer.

Similar to a traditional “trunk show”, we are starting StarPicks which features a monthly box of Czech glass of our choosing. You have time to look it over, feel it, and see if it works with your stock and customer needs before you buy it. This program gives you the ability to have a “hands on” experience that you cannot get from online purchasing. The beads you will receive might be a discontinued bead, an old mold, or a unique cane color. They may even be up to 50 years old! Customers are looking for the unique, trendy, big, funky beads to make an impression with their designs and you can give them that with this program.

How does it work?

We make it simple by sending a postage paid box with a broad selection of items. There are approximately 25 items with different ranges in size, color and shape. We hope you love it all, but if you don’t you can return it and pay only the weight you keep. We will charge one low flat rate per kilo which means no itemizing, no confusion or extra work for you. You have 30 days to decide which quality Czech glass beads you and your customer cannot live without and then simply return the ones you do not choose. Beautiful beads, no hassle…you truly can’t go wrong with this program!

Call Lisa today to sign up, space is limited!! 1-888-683-2323 x-17

Product Introduction - Wildly Bohemian Kit!

2011-03-22T09:04:00.000-07:00

In the last few months we have had more and more customers asking for kits that combine both Czech glass and TOHO seed beads. Well it took us a little time, but I'm very excited to announce the launch of our new line,Wildly Bohemian Kits!

Look for our ad in the June Bead & Button!

Our kits come in 12 different color combinations and include 10 tubes of TOHO seed beads and a coordinating mix of quality Czech glass beads. This includes holiday themes, basic color palettes and some of today's most popular color combinations.

The Wildly Bohemian Kits were designed with all levels of beaders in mind. Perfect for the beginner who needs a boost to their bead collection, but also great for the advanced beader who may need a jolt of inspiration.

Speaking of inspiration, the selection of beads in each Wildly Bohemian Kit lends it's self to a wide variety of project. From basic stringing to free form peyote the possibilities are endless. I used my kit to show Lisa how to bead embroider a button.

TOHO 3/0 Rounds

2011-03-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take a moment to shine a little light on the TOHO 3/0 Round category. Over the last few months we've been quietly adding to the category and now have close to 40 colors and counting.

The TOHO 3/0 Rounds measures about 5.5mm in diameter and you get about 5-6 beads per gram. Because they are a TOHO product they have the same consistency in size and shape that you have come to expect.

I've always found this size perfect for teaching beginners and kids how to use seed beads. The holes are big enough to see, and the size makes them manageable for small hands and people who are new to seed beads. But don't think that's all they are good for, I use them in both bead embroidery and stringing projects. Their jumbo size makes the different colors and finishes look stunning.

So if large seed beads are what your looking for, You'll want to give TOHO 3/0 Round a try.

2011-01-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

It's three weeks and counting until the Tucson shows, and the race is on to get everything ready. If you were still on the fence about stopping by and seeing us, I'm posting a little sneak peek at some of the cool stuff we have brought in just for the show.

This is just a drop in the bucket compared to the items that have already been packed up. We have new seed bead mixes and hybrids, loose Czech glass, fabulous fire polish and new strung mixes all labeled, packed and ready to go.

So if you find yourself in the Tucson area, stop by one or both of our booths this year and get them while the getting is good. Check "Upcoming Shows" to your right for dates and locations.

Are You a Fan Yet?

2010-12-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to let you all know that we have a Facebook fan page and from time to time we run special promotions for customers who are fans. So click the link to your right and show us some bead love by becoming a fan.

Amiet Thread from TOHO

2010-11-15T13:06:00.001-08:00

Back in June at the Bead & Button show we were fortunate enough to receive some samples of TOHO's latest addition to their line of threads: Amiet Thread. Now free stuff always makes us happy, but this stuff knocked our socks off! Nancy in Order Fulfillment used it for bead crochet with great success. Heather used it for some basic stringing, and loved the fact that she didn't need a needle. And I am using it to teach myself finger weaving. But what really piqued our curiosity was what our customers would do with this unbelievable thread.

Amiet is 100% Polyester. Thin enough to string beads as small as size 11/0 round but stiff enough to not require a needle and with 18 stunning colors to choose from the creative possibilities are endless.

Chain, Cha-Cha-Cha!

2010-10-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

Chain has finally come to czechbeads.com and the timing couldn't have been more perfect.

You don't have to be a fashionista to have noticed that chain is every were. From hats to shoes and all points in between, chain seems to have been a favorite element for fashion and jewelry designers. And the jewelry runs the gamut from a simple cluster of charms on a single long chain to layers with beaded accents and ribbon closers.

It was with this trend in mind that we decided to add chain to our online catalog. Starting out with 42 styles, from basic utilitarian curb chain to fancy textured heart chain, in copper, brass and silver. This category is sure to have something to spark a beader's imagination.

Color Spotlight - Copper & Purple

2010-09-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well folks it's Fall. In Sequim this means shorter days, cooler weather and beautiful Fall colors.

So in the spirit of the changing seasons we're putting the spotlight on a truly modern classic color combination for fall.

( Click the picture above to see a few of our favorite copper & purple beads )

Copper in all of its warm orangy goodness invokes the color of the turning leaves so prevalent this time of year. I love how in the past few years, with the rise in price of gold and silver, this simple metal has made a come back in the bead world. And it deserves all of its new found attention. When at its brightest it glows hot like burning embers and when given a finish such as antiqued or matted the warmth of this color still shines through.

In contrast, purple, whether deep and rich like grapes ready for harvest or soft and ethereal as early morning storm clouds. This color is a perennial favorite,showing up in one shade or another on color forecaster's list for just about every season. And who can blame them it's just so versatile, add more blue to cool it down or give it a dash of red to warm it up, this is a color that can compliment or contrast beautifully with just about any color in the rainbow.

Given these two colors individual qualities it is no wonder they compliment and contrast with each other so well. Rich and warm, this color combination is perfect for fall.

A Bead of a Different Color

2010-08-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a sneak peak at some of the new mixes available soon. 20+ combinations have just arrived on our delivery dock and we're excited about what we've unearthed so far. These mixes include hundreds of new shape/color/and finish combinations. You can see by this photo of olivine oval beads that the type of finish applied to a bead creates dramatically different results. From the top we have Picasso, Luster transparent Topaz/Pink, Silver Specks and Vega finishes. Check them out and if you find a unique color combo you'd like more of let us know!

New Ultra Lusters! This mix includes many colors from the increasingly popular, intensely colored opaque luster collection with an extra layer of Picasso finish added to create a truly warm, rustic feel. Other complimentary shapes are coming soon as well.

Teal Picasso! Milky Pink Picasso! Chroust Picasso?! Yes! No bead was spared in the making of this wonderfully eclectic chunky mix.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

2010-07-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th!!!!

We have been busy working on new projects, putting away shipments with some new items. More new items are on the way. It's so exciting to see what is coming in! We are treating ourselves to a three day 4th of July weekend. A couple of us are going camping, some of us are headed to Seattle to be with family, and some are staying home and relaxing. I am staying home. I have some beading to do on my June Bead Journal Project and marathon True Blood season 2. Whatever you are doing have a good time doing it!

First Beginner Project - complete!

2010-06-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday to everyone!

I have finished my first bead project!

I hope you like them. I think they turned out nicely and cant wait to keep making more. However, so far, it's a Love/Hate relationship.

I love the finished product but the tediousness of it verifies my serious lack of dexterity. I've been assured that will go away with practice so I will keep practicing!

The bead guru taught me what the procedure was once I got it strung and needed to attach the earring loop. I went to WalMart and purchased a set of three tools for about $8 and then realized after dropping the round hoop (jump ring) a hundred times that I was using the wrong tool. Go figure.

I did realize that sharp scissors are a key to happiness in this project. Each one took about 20 minutes to complete due to beginners trial and error.

I strung them, used a crimp bead, looped a jump ring through the thread and attached the earring hook. Then I got really excited and forgot about how frustrating it was to get the crimp bead on and so forth. I did that five times. :-)

I hope you like them and I think I'm going to move on to a bracelet next.

This is great fun but I still say I dont need another hobby! :-)

Necklace by Jennifer

2010-06-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

I was privileged to be asked to make something with one of czechbeads.com's newest handmade beads. Here is my creation. Leave your comments I would love your opinions.

The focal bead is item number 554-4510-21107, it also comes in different colors. For the bail I used a JBB Pewter bail in silver, item #J141-134-ASL

For the clasp I used another JBB Pewter finding. Item #J23-00-ASL. Other items used are 6mm silver lined crystal fire polish, 4 mm opaque light blue fire polish, 4 mm jump rings, and 1.5 inch headpins.

Hello my name is.......

2010-06-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Jennifer. Here it is Friday and it is my day to blog. I thought "hhmmm what should I blog about?" I should introduce myself.

My name is Jennifer Baker and I am the Operations Manager here at Starman, Inc. I see all the orders that come in over the web site, make sure orders get shipped, and maintain the warehouse here. I get to talk to people from all over the world via e-mail and on the phone.

I am also an avid beader, and quilter. I am learning to combine the two. This year I challenged myself with participating in the 2010 Bead Journal Project.

I also have my personal blog Jennifer's Journey where I try to record all my projects that I have completed. Including this great bumble bee--

Hello All !!! A bead newbie has come to the mix!!

2010-06-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

My name is Heather and I have been hired by Starman, Inc. as the Business Manager. I'm so excited to be here in this creative environment but I have ZERO bead experience. I have been an artist all of my life, thanks to my grandfather. My usual mediums are drawing, painting, refinishing furniture and home design. With that said, it is safe to assume that I know nothing about beads, the hardware needed or the proper terms. I will explain everything as I go just in case there are newbie's out there as well.

We have decided to revive the blog and have three different levels for everyone to watch - Beginner (me), Intermediate (Lisa) and Advanced (Jennifer)- it should be great fun!!

We will work on different projects and, occasionally, work with the same color pallette for seasonal projects. Another project will have all of us use the same materials and see what we come up with individually. Suggestions are always welcome.

My first bead purchase was a bag of assorted crystals and varying sizes of red firepolish beads. I plan on doing 3-4 in. strands to insert into the Christmas tree for sparkle. I am very traditional in my decoration of a Christmas tree. I always stay with deep reds, gold, some dark green and crystals for sparkle.

My first question to the 'bead guru' (Jennifer) was how to have the ends finished nicely. I thought a 'stopper' (headpin) would be a possibility but it would need to be longer than we carry. Her two ideas were to use a very small bead (seed bead) or string it and then loop it back through. I thought that would leave a string around the bottom so Im not so sure about that. I also contemplated earring tops. We shall see what works better.
I will be bringing in the beads tomorrow to start learning and sharing with all of you.

I hope you join us on our new adventures and enjoy our trip down the beadin' path!

Happy wishes to all of you!

Heather

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2010-01-01T17:59:00.001-08:00

Here it is the begining of another year!! We recently received shipments of Toho Seed beads and Czech glass. Alot of items have been marked back in to stock, and a few new items will be up soon on the web site.

We are getting ready for Tucson bead show where we will have two booths. Hope to see you there.

The moment we have all been waiting for

2009-11-14T11:43:00.000-08:00

They have finally arrived!! The new batch of Hybrids are ready. There are some great colors to choose from. Some of the colors that were out of stock are back in also. If you don't already know the Toho Hybrid is the mix of two great bead worlds. We have worked with the Toho company and their fabulous seed beads sending them to the Czech Republic to be coated with amazing colors. If you haven't already take a look at what we have, you will be amazed.

Time for Fall, Time for leaves

2009-10-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

The leaves are changing colors here in the Pacific Northwest. Golds, reds, yellows, browns, and greens. Czechbeads.com has a great selection of leaves. Handmade, pressed, and metalized plastic and even glow in the dark ones!!

When you log on check out the new items section for some great new beads. We are always here to help. Give us a call or drop us an e-mail.

New Daggers, Fantastic Colors!

2009-10-03T10:59:00.000-07:00

We have recently stocked our daggers with some great new colors.

This is a beautiful color, it reminds some of the Starman bead pickers of Mardi Gras. We also carry this in the larger size 41-516-16314.

Check out our full list of daggers for more colors not listed here. When you sign in to your account at http://www.czechbeads.com/ type in the search box daggers. All daggers we offer will be listed.

Korean Metalized Plastic, Pewter and Findings

2009-05-07T12:19:00.001-07:00

Mpbeads.com merchandise now available through Czechbeads.com!

You may have noticed the long hiatus from blog posting; That's because we've been busy preparing the website as well as our warehouse for our latest product categories -- Korean Metalized Plastic, Pewter and Findings. Over 800 new items!

Metalized Plastic beads are a lightweight, economical alternative to metal beads. We have hundreds of styles to choose from ranging from jumbo sized focal beads to tiny rondell spacers. Plenty of novelty styles in antiqued gold, silver and copper finishes. Perfect for most beading levels.

Pewter beads are a plated base metal alternative to precious metal beads. They have a similar weight and feel to sterling silver, giving your jewelry a professional look without the premium cost.

We offer a wide variety of some of the most essential findings needed for the many facets of Jewelry design. Basics such as head pins, eye pins, lobster clasps, crimp beads and jump rings, as well as unique components like metal flowers, charm holders and brooch forms. Now available in many types of platings such as antique brass, antique copper, gun metal, nickle, silver, gold, antique silver, and antique gold.

All merchandise is available through czechbeads.com, but you can still order from the mpbeads.com website as well. Now you can get your Czech beads, Japanese seed beads, and Korean findings all in one location!

Beth's Buttons

2009-03-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

Beth's been busy in her spare time playing around with different patterns and color schemes for these gorgeous embroidered button forms. They can also be converted into magnets!

New Colors for Spring

2009-03-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Here is a sampling of some of the 30 new colors added this month! We are continually expanding the availability of the ever popular Silver-Lined Milky collection. More colors to be added next month!

TR-08-2107
Silver-Lined Milky Hot Pink

TR-08-2106
Silver-Lined Milky Mauve

TR-08-2102
Silver-Lined Milky Montana Blue

TR-08-2104
Silver-Lined Milky Teal

Site Feature Refresher Course

2009-02-20T10:05:00.000-08:00

Keep track of the availability of you favorite beads by signing up for out of stock alerts. We will notify you by email as soon as each item is available for purchase.
To add an out of stock item to your list simply click on the "out of stock" link next to the item desired. A pop-up window will display the all out of stock colors for the item. Check the box next to the item and click the update button at the bottom of the window.

To view your out of stock list, go to the customer service window and click on the "manage out of stock items" icon. From there, you can see all items you're waiting for, the expected restock date (if available) and a listing of items that have been marked back in stock.

3mm Pearls

2009-02-04T14:18:00.000-08:00

Added by Popular Demand

3mm pearls now available in three of the most popular colors. Try them out -- if you like them, we'll get more!
See availability here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?b=PRL5-03

New Coatings at Czechbeads

2009-02-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

We've been adding all sorts of surprises to the website lately. Here's a look at one of our newest colors -- Misty Rose. You can never have enough shades of pink beads to choose from and this coating is a nice, subtle color that's similar to French Rose. Czech coated/dyed beads have gained in popularity over the years because of their improved quality and color variety. They are not known to fade or flake under regular use. Colors are more consistent between batches compared to colored glass cane because there is more control during the manufacturing process. The shade does, however change slightly across the different shapes and sizes depending on the depth and distortion of the bead itself.

View our current selection of Misty Rose here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=k3715

Loose Mixes by the Kilo

2009-02-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

Just unpacked! 11 new color coordinated mixes in easily assortable .25 kilo bags! These quality mixes are extremely versatile and are great for both the beginner and professional beader. There are literally hundreds of unique shapes and colors within these mixes!

You can view all 11 mixes here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=vmix

These mixes are also asortable with all items from category VLH-15.

3mm Magatama Collection

2009-01-30T16:37:00.000-08:00

Magatamas

Yet another Toho category expanded this week! Stocked by customer demand -- We've had a limited color and size selection of magatamas on our website for a while and have had many requests for more color, especially 3mm. If you've been dragging you feet about carrying magatamas because of their limited availability, wait no more!

Magatamas are similar to drop, or fringe beads, but are more versatile. They have a large, off center hole and narrow top, which allows them to hang nicely and nest together next to each other.

View the entire selection here.

49 colors are now available -- here's a highlight of some of the new and notable colors. We've really beefed up our selection of pinks and purples! A wide variety of metallic and iris finishes are also available; perfect for matching and accenting other bead styles.

Cube Bead Trifecta

2009-01-29T11:47:00.000-08:00

34 new colors of 1.5mm cubes added this week! That brings the total up to almost 100 of the most popular colors for you to choose from! See the entire selection here! Have fun taking your established cube designs and miniaturizing them just by using a smaller size.
We've also expanded into more 3mm and 4mm colors, filling in color gaps and giving you more options across the board.

1.5mm Cubes 96 colors

3mm Cubes 38 colors

4mm Cubes 79 colors

Check out the color matrix feature here to compare the color selection between sizes (login required).

Tucson Show Schedule

2009-01-16T14:40:00.001-08:00

Click on pictures to view larger versions

More Metallic Beads to Compliment Hybrids

2009-01-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest metallic finish shade we've expanded on our website. We've experimented with this color in our SuperNova Hybrid collection and the first batch is going fast (color #Y601)! Now's the time to stock up for maximum variety.
We've also added some more fire polish to our catalog that compliments the SuperNova's. You can check them out here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=SNHC

New Muted Metallic Collections

2008-12-31T14:41:00.000-08:00

Meet the latest coating we've added to our Czechbead family - Matte Metallic Goldenrod! This is the first of four new metallic finishes that are trickling onto our warehouse shelves. We first introduced this type of coating on our hybrids (item number TR-11-Y601) and have expanded the concept to include fire polished and pressed beads. I did some durability testing and the finish will hold up well under regular use (i.e. don't rinse them in acid or drag them over a concrete floor). Try out our five new styles and keep an eye out for new colors coming soon!

Also check out this week's new additions in HurriCane Glass as well.

Hybrids in Action

2008-12-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

Here are few great examples of how well our new Toho SuperNova Hybrids match up to our Czech product line. We've recently added new fire polished and pressed bead styles to our catalog in order to help you bridge the color gap between the two types of beads. We will be adding more complimentary Czech beads to the site as we receive new shipments from the factory.

New Category - 1.5mm Cubes

2008-12-16T16:22:00.000-08:00

These itty-bitty cubes are amazingly detailed with well defined corners and smooth edges. Approximately 60 colors are now available, with an additional 40 colors to be added within the next few weeks. We've put a lot of research into our color selection to ensure that you have the best variety of today's most popular colors and finishes to choose from. Notice how TOHO has managed to maximize the inner thread space of the bead with their signature diamond shaped hole -- even on such a tiny bead! perfect for interlocking stitches as well as intricate geometric patterns. Have fun and experiment with this new size; try taking some of your favorite cube patterns and shrink them down!

See the current new items here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=new

New Shapes, New Colors, New Sizes

2008-11-19T16:43:00.000-08:00

They're finally up -- See all 15 new items in 3 great shapes! These new colors were an experiment from the glass factory and may never be produced again.

http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=LEC

Try out the new curvy leaf shape or go abstract with the vintage styled 17/11mm flat twists. Perfect for Earrings, pendants and other dangles!

Another new addition to our catalog are our 5mm Mini Melons:

Now one of our most popular pressed bead shapes is available miniaturized! Enjoy working with the 8mm Melons? Have fun shrinking down some of your designs to a whole new level. We've got a great selection to start with plenty more to come! In stock now are some of today's most popular colors that coordinate nicely with the larger melons, which have a newly expanded selection as well.

http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?b=287-05

To see the latest selection of new items click here

Saturated With Color, Surrounded by Beads

2008-11-07T16:41:00.000-08:00

We unexpectedly received our latest ocean container full of beads bright and early this morning! We usually get a heads up from the trucking company but were pleasantly surprised nevertheless. We've been busy digging through the boxes and organizing all the new styles as well as the many restock items. Be sure to watch as we add plenty of new items to our catalog including 5mm & 8mm Melon Rounds, HurriCane Glass, Polished Rectangles, Dagger beads and much much more!

Here are some of the beads I was able to photograph and activate right away. This non-facetted briolette shape is a staff favorite because of the way it amplifies and distorts the colors in the glass. The opaque colored beads are impressive as well because of their natural stone look. The beads in the pictures below are bunched together, but if you take a look at our website stock photos you can see how the colors change with more light shining through their wide surfaces.

To see the rest of the new items we've recently added go to: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=new

TOHO SuperNova Hybrids

2008-10-28T13:08:00.000-07:00

Introducing the newest innovation in seed beads

Toho SuperNova Hybrids!

Here at Starman, Inc. we pride ourselves in bringing you the best of both bead worlds, Czech glass and Japanese seed beads. Now we've combined the two greatest names in the bead industry to bring you the latest technologies in color, quality and variety.
Toho manufactures the most uniform, wide-holed glass seed bead shapes you can buy, but beaders are always on the lookout for more color variety. Many people enjoy the color selection of Czech seed beads, but are fed up with the amount of unusable beads per hank. Our factory in the Czech Republic is the leader of finish technology throughout the region. It takes a village to manufacture a bead from start to finish and it's quite possible that most of your own stash from Czech Republic that has been treated with luster, picasso, or metallic finishes have passed through our factory doors. Toho hybrids bridge the gap between Czech and Japanese seed beads by giving you quality beads with a sought after color palette. Now you can easily match your seed bead components to your fire polished, pressed and table cut beads without sacrificing quality! Stay tuned for more examples of how these beads compare to our most popular Czech beads.
90 colors to choose from! Since the manufacturing process takes longer than traditional Toho beads supplies are limited and outages are expected to occur. Stock up while you can and be one of the first vendors to offer the latest addition to the Toho product line -- SuperNova Hybrids!

Metallic Amethyst Comparison

Apollo Comparison

View our selection here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=hybrid

Special Glass Cane, Special Shapes!

2008-10-22T14:22:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon! Here's a sneak peak of some of the fancy colors about to appear on czechbeads.com!

We're adding 15 new beads in an assortment of unique and vintage shapes. The beads are made of glass cane that is no longer manufactured by the Czech glass factory.

Keep an eye out for these new items. You won't want to miss them! Supplies are extremely limited and cannot be reproduced!

Check our new items page to see what's been recently added: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=new

Each batch of glass varies slightly from the next, and some colors look completely different in cane form than when they are reheated and pressed into beads. The glass factory presses a small amout of each batch as a sample for customers to use for color matching. You can see on the above sample how the striped pattern changes depending on how the bead is pressed. We never know how a bead batch will turn out until it arrives on our doorstep! The real fun is trying to find the right shape to compliment the natural color swirls of the glass.

Strawberries to Peaches

2008-10-03T16:59:00.000-07:00

The Czech glass industry has a rich history that spans multiple generations. The quality and variety produced throughout the years continues to be unmatched by any other country.

Although manufacturing technologies are constantly improving, the true art of glass making is still reliant on the knowledge and skills of the glassmaker's themselves. Many fascinating colors have been discontinued over the years because their recipes have been lost; mostly due to talented people leaving the industry, or sadly even death. Relatives still living in the glass making regions of Bohemia often tell avid vintage bead collectors of their families history in the area, including how war and communism effected the production, variety, and availability of some beads.
There are multiple bead manufacturers throughout Bohemia ranging from small, independent cottage workers, to large, full service factories. Regardless of size, each company complies with the industry standard numbering system, which categorizes the shape, size, glass cane color, and finish of each and every bead produced. This helps the companies work together in a seamless manner.
No matter how organized and technologically advanced the industry gets, there are always small changes that are beyond anyone's control. If you've noticed copper lined beads, for example, have become extremely difficult to come by these days. Why? because the one manufacturer that supplied the coating to the the rest of the factories was suddenly unable to reproduce the same quality as before. In this blog I will occasionally note some of the changes we've come across that are simply unavoidable. Sometimes the changes could be temporary; the glass factory makes such large batches that it may take six months before they need to produce more. Sure, it can be frustrating at times, but there is always a chance that the latest batch will turn out even better than before. In any case, the odd colored beads make for a great addition to any bead collector's stash!
Below is a picture of one of the latest changes to our catalog. "Strawberries and Creme" is now being described as "Peaches and Creme". We never know how a bead batch turns out until it shows up on our doorstep. The strawberry version is a relatively recent addition to our catalog and we've carried it in many styles. As new batches have been arriving over the past six months or so, we've had to rename and re-photograph the new beads for accuracy. When will it change back? Nobody knows. If you like one or the other better, make sure you get as much as you can while you can!

New Czech Fire Polish

2008-09-29T11:33:00.001-07:00

Take an in-depth look at our new, brightly colored 8mm fire polished beads. Look familiar? They are finished with the same coating as our popular luster collection, except they're opaque instead of transparent. Such rich, saturated colors!

Click on the photos to see enlarged versions, or go see them on the website: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=fp+new

You can see our entire luster collections by using the following links:
Fire Polished
Pressed

MJSA Rhode Island Show 2008

2008-09-23T10:53:00.000-07:00

Well, we're back in Sequim after spending a week on the east coast for the Providence MJSA Summer show 2008. We met a lot of great people in the industry and were able to catch up with friends, customers and business associates we don't see very often.

The MJSA Shows are a greatly under-utilized resource for bead stores and large scale jewelry designers. There are representatives from some of the largest names in the industry. Since it's not a cash and carry show you get personalized service from prospective vendors and you're able to make informed decisions about product lines before you buy.

On a lighter note, I've included the picture below for fellow west-coasters as evidence that I was in fact, partaking in east coast culture:

I hadn't been to a Dunkin' Donuts in over 20 years! It was my guilty pleasure throughout the week and I was surprised to see them on just about every corner. Even the Rhode Island convention center was sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts!

Melon Season

2008-09-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

It's been quite the busy week here at the warehouse. We not only received our eagerly anticipated ocean container on wednesday, a week earlier than scheduled, but our oft delayed air shipment showed up a few hours later. This means we'll be spending the next week digging through towers of boxes and piles of shring wrap -- just like Christmas! We've already been able to mark dozens of items back in stock, but there's plenty more to come over the next few days. Also included in these shipments are dozens of new items in all sorts of shape, color and finish combinations.
Here are pictures of some of the new melons we were able to organize and upload to the website. There are many of our regular 8mm melon colors back in stock as well. Check them all out here!

287-08-Z5080: Chrysolite Celsian

287-08-77553: Coral Pink/Green

287-08-12000: Milky Caramel

End of a Legacy

2008-09-08T09:22:00.001-07:00

http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?s=hmmd

As many of you may be aware, one of our most talented and reliable Czech lampwork designers has left the industry. She moved on to another field of work in The Czech Republic and will be greatly missed. Her collection of traditional Czech lampwork beads has been an integral part of our catalog since the beginning as well as the many unique creations she has released over the years.

You can view our remaining stock from her company here. They are extremely limited and are only available while supplies last. Some of the styles may make a comeback on our website through different artisans at a later time; however the color, shape and overall style may vary slightly due to artistic differences.
Stay tuned for more designer Czech lampwork to be added on czechbeads.com in the coming months!

Black Light Sensitive Glass - Milky Jonquil

2008-08-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Glass color #81000 - Milky Jonquil

Big Bold and Beautiful - These Chunky Nugget beads are fun and flashy. Milky Jonquil is a mild yellow that can blend in with soft pastels as well as stand out on its own when paird with other vivid and lively colors. Unlike many UV sensitive beads, milky jonquil is a great complimentary color to the brilliant green it turns into under the black light.

These beads are available for a limited time -Loose Large Nuggets 33/19mm : Milky Yellow - Get them while supplies last!

Alexandrite at its Best

2008-08-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

Click on picture to see an enlarged version.

Pear Shaped Drops 315-1216: Color 21210 - Milky Alexandrite

Some beads beg to have their picture taken. I don't usually jump at the chance to take pictures of alexandrite glass because its shape shifting, color bending properties do not make great stock photos. This time it was different; the beads couldn't hide their excitement from being touched by the sun beaming through the window. I grabbed my point and shoot and clicked away.

Round and Round

2008-08-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

New colors now available for a limited time. Since we can't always fit the full impact of the color infusion contain within each HurriCane glass bead in a standard catalog stock photo, I've added these larger pictures for your enjoyment. Click on the individual photos for even larger versions.

See all 6mm HurriCane Glass beads here!

Matte - Fuzzy Peach

Matte - Stratosphere

Mudbath

Summer & Lightning

Gusto

Toho's Colorful Gold Lined Rainbow Series

2008-08-08T12:16:00.001-07:00

Click on pictures to view large, high resolution versions.
990 - Gold-Lined Aqua
991 - Gold-Lined Peridot
992 - Gold-Lined Lt Montana Blue
993 - Gold-Lined Black Diamond
994 - Gold-Lined Rainbow Crystal
995 - Gold-Lined Rainbow Aqua
996 - Gold-Lined Rainbow Peridot
997 - Gold-Lined Rainbow Lt Sapphire
998 - Gold-Lined Rainbow Lt Jonquil
999- Gold-Lined Rainbow Black Diamond

These beads are some of my favorites to work with. This series (color numbers 990 thru 999) includes both the super shiny luster finish as well as the soap bubbly rainbow iris. The gold colored lining contrasts with the brilliant glass color and finish to create beads with a wide color spectrum, which makes the beads easy to include in just about any design. View our entire color selection here!

Rustic Table Cut Collection

2008-08-01T15:21:00.001-07:00

New Crystal Colors

2008-07-31T17:32:00.000-07:00

11 New crystal colors just added-- New & unique colors like none other! We offer many color combinations and luster finishes that are unavailable through any other vendor! Looking for the right colors to compliment Czech fire polished beads in your design? These colorful crystals will add sparkle to any project. What a fun addition to any crystal junkie's collection!
View our entire 4mm bicone collection here.

Down to Earth Tones

2008-07-30T14:53:00.000-07:00

Just added! Check out our entire selection of 24 soft, organic color combinations. Names inspired by some of the most beautiful points of interest in North America and around the globe; these beads are truly unique. Available while supplies last -- these colors cannot be reproduced!

Lavender Inspiration

2008-07-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Every year in mid July our sleepy little country town hosts the now famous Sequim Lavender Festival. There are many colorful and fragrant plants that thrive here in the Olympic rain shadow, but none are as celebrated as lavender. On your way into town you will pass many brilliant fields of mesmerizing purple and green. Many more farms are tucked away into the hillsides, waiting to be discovered. In town you can sample a wide variety of lavender products including soaps, perfumes, seasonings and even ice cream! The city side walks as well as residential and commercial properties are lined with these thick, bushy plants, which fill the air with their unmistakable and fragrant aroma. Hundreds of varieties are on display and in full bloom now, ready for picking!

We receive much of our inspiration for our color selection and even our color names from the scenic countryside that's viewable from outside our warehouse windows. Be sure to come visit us when you're in the area!

Here's our warehouse mascot, Milo, enjoying the beautiful summer sunset. He's a four year old Golden Retriever and comes to work with us everyday. His responsibilities include mail delivery, security, and UPS pickup monitoring.

Why Toho? Cubes!

2008-07-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

Japanese seed beads are quickly becoming the standard seed bead of our industry because of their quality, variety, and color selection. Bead stores throughout the world are constantly expanding their selection to include not only rounds, but the more unique shapes such as triangles, cubes, cylinders and hexes. With all the different varieties of seed beads out there you would think that it would be impossible to tell the difference between manufacturers but it's not when you know what to look for. Toho Co. has created beads that stand out from the rest because of their continued determination to improve the production and design of quality beads. The latest example of this is the introduction of their line of permanent finish beads. Galvanized and ceylon silver-lined finishes are some of the more sought after colors on the market and have always sold incredibly well considering they have one major flaw - the colors will eventually fade or flake over time. Toho took their customer's requests seriously and came up with a solution that has the whole industry buzzing and pondering the many possibilities this new technology can create.

The first and easiest tip on how to spot a Toho bead is to examine the hole shape on the cubes. Toho prides itself on having the largest, most uniform holes of all seed bead manufacturers and it's most obvious on the larger sized cube beads. You can see below that the holes on the Toho cubes are not only larger, but shaped like a diamond. This design allows for maximum hole capacity while still maintaining bead integrity. Thread nestles into the corners of the hole, which can help keep the beads aligned in a pattern. And of course having a larger hole makes the beads lighter, which will get you more beads per kilo!

TOHO 4mm cubes with diamond shaped holes
" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_xXxnqnm4mJg/SIJl2CguslI/AAAAAAAACjY/MmiC_2F9ACk/s400/Miyuki-Cube.jpg" border="0" />Miyuki 4mm cubes with round holes
Have fun re-exploring your own bead stash and check out your local bead store's selection. If they don't have diamond shaped holes then be sure to ask for TOHO by name! More colors and sizes coming soon!

Latest Permanent Finish Additions

2008-07-17T12:45:00.001-07:00

NEW

TOHO Round Size 11/0 - Permanent Finish Silver-Lined
Milky/CeylonColors

PF2102 - Montana Blue
PF2120 - Soft Pink
PF2123 - Sapphire
PF2109 - Jonquil
PF2107 - Electric Pink
PF2126 - Peachy Pink
PF2105 - Baby Pink
PF2103 - Peridot
New bright, brilliant colors that won't rub off! Pinks that won't fade! Silver linings that won't oxidize and flake -- Just try to wear them out! More color added regularly.

Visit us at the Summer CHA show!

2008-07-10T15:23:00.000-07:00

This triptych style Aiko Loomwork will be on display, as well as many other intricate works of art and finished jewelry at the summer CHA show in Rosemont Illinois. Click on the above picture to view an enlarged version. Aiko beads are the most perfect beads, especially for loomwork because of their precision shape and color variety. Notice how straight and even the rows and edges of each piece are as they are displayed in a floating glass frame. Round seed beads of all sizes can also be used and can drastically change the proportion and feel of the finished piece.

CHA Summer Show2008
Chicago, ILBooth #525
July 17-20, 2008
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL (Map)http://www.chashow.org/

Come meet us at our booth and view our entire selection of Toho seed beads as well as the many program and display options we have available for you to choose from. We have programs designed to fit any size of bead or craft store!

Wildly Bohemian Czech fire polished and pressed glass bead programs are also available. Our Starman Rainbow Bead Collection is a great way to add hundreds of unique strands of pressed beads to your store in very little showroom space. Come on by and ask us how!

Treasures of Toho Contest

2008-06-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

Treasures of TOHO
An Emerging Artist Bead Competition
Toho Prize: The designer of the prize winning entry, the store owner and 1 companion of each will receive round trip airline tickets, train tickets, 4 night's hotel accommodations and 2 meals a day for a 3 day visit in Hiroshima, Japan. While in Hiroshima you will visit the factory and see how these beautiful beads are made, visit the museums at the factory and also do some sight seeing. Travel will be as a group.
Participant Rules:

This is a competition for emerging artists - no previous winners may submit their work.
All entries must use 80% TOHO beads in any sizes available.
You must register with your local store to participate. Materials must be purchased from the store in which you register.
All work entered must be original. Please do not submit items that you have learned in classes, from kits or any other sources. Techniques and stitches leaned from any of these sources may be used but the finished piece must be of your original design.
Your entries must be submitted to your local store. Your local store will choose one piece to submit to their Toho distributor. The finalists will be on display at The Bead and Button Show 2009 and the winner will be selected by an independent panel of judges.
The winning piece from each store will be submitted to your stores TOHO vendor.
A completed entry form must accompany each entry.
Collaborative work will not be accepted
Entries may not be submitted if they have been entered in any previous shows, contests
or articles.
TOHO Beads retains the right to use the work of prize winners in a promotional way including book publications, publicity or photographs with credit to the contributing artist. Directions to be provided by artist if required.

Judging:
Entries will be judged on originality, use of colors, beads and workmanship

Store Rules:
The purpose of this competition is to promote our local stores by making this a store based event. As a participating store you will be responsible for promoting this competition to your customers and you will hold your own judging to find a winning piece. Our hope in holding this kind of competition is that more people will seek out their local bead store for their bead selections. If your customer's design is selected you will also share in the prize.
Rules:

A participating store must register by phone, fax or email with their participatjng vendor. Contact your vendor for further details.
At least 3 qualified people must be involved in an impartial judging of the submitted entries at each store.
The store winning entry must be submitted with the designer's registration form and a $25 entry fee which covers the cost of returning the piece entered.
Winning entry will be submitted to the vendor that you registered with and they will hold their own judging, The piece they choose will then be submitted for the final round and the overall winner will be selected.
The winning entry must be submitted to your vendor by May 1, 2009
Travel to Japan will take place in October of 2009. Your roundtrip tickets will be provided and if you would like to add more time to your visit you may do so with the hotel and meals at your own expense for days beyond the 3 provided. We would be happy to help you with any arrangements.

If you are a bead store owner and would like to participate in the contest please contact me for registration forms. If you are a jewelry designer, please encourage your local bead store to register.

Toho has just posted the rules as well: http://www.tohobeads.net/compe/compe1.html

Bead Stores -- download the official rules and entry forms here.

New Bead Bonanza!

2008-06-25T16:58:00.000-07:00

65 New Items Recently Added!
Click on items to be directed to the respective categories
Loose pressed Kilo

Loose HurriCane Glass

Strung Fire Polish

Strung Pressed Beads

Did you know you can view new items by date? Find out what you've missed since you last visited by doing custom searches. Hundreds of new items will be added to the website this summer so make sure you don't miss a thing!
Items recently added to our system will display in the new items list for up to two weeks. To find out what you've missed check out some of these example search phrases:
Try it!
click on the links below to be directed to the customized search results
New
New since 6/1/08
New since 5/1/08
or, narrow your search to specific categories:
New fire polish
New pressed beads
Rhinestone New since 5/01/08
New HurriCane since 4/01/08

Spearitural Journey by Stephanie Eddy

2008-06-20T11:13:00.000-07:00

Coming soon to a magazine near you!

World renowned jewelry designer Stephanie Eddy accepted our challenge of finding a new and unique pattern for our selection of two-hole daggers and her design has just recently been accepted as a featured pattern in a major bead magazine.

Spearitual Journey is an intricately detailed piece that takes full advantage of the two-hole layout of the dagger bead. She has masterfully incorporated Czech fire polish, pressed beads and crystal rose montees into a combination of multiple bead weaving techniques. Stephanie used Japanese seed beads for the base and added elegant embellishments to finish the piece.

Kits are available in multiple color coordinated versions available on her website: http://www.stephanieeddy.com/index.html

Two-hole dagger beads are relatively new to the bead world and therefore need ambitious jewelry artists to experiment with them. 30 wild colors available! Dagger beads are one of the most popular and universal Czech pressed bead styles. Just think of the whole new level of design possibilities waiting to be discovered. Send us photos of your designs and we'll proudly feature you on our blog!

I'll give you an update when this necklace gets a publication date.

Aiko, Treasures, Antiques and Delicas Defined

2008-06-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Ever since we started into seed beads we've been asked many interesting questions regarding the differences between sizes, styles and brands of seed beads on the market today.
When purchasing beads, the beginner beader might not be able to tell the difference between Japanese, Czech, Indian, or Chinese seed beads. They will, however, notice the quality difference when they get the beads home and start using them. With seed beads you get what you pay for!

Professional jewelry designers and reputable beads stores will only work with high quality premium beads. Why? Because the time spent on creating a beaded masterpiece is worth more than the components themselves. Nothing is more discouraging than to have beads break, flake or fade even before the piece has been completed. Even more frustrating is when you find out the hard way that the seed bead holes are not uniform enough to pass a thread through more than once, causing hours of rework and stress.

That's why we chose to carry Toho beads, the best quality seed bead you can buy. I'll be highlighting the many distinguishable features of these fascinating little beads on this blog as time permits.

Cylinder Beads - what's so special about them and who makes them?

Cylinder beads are exactly that -- cylinders. Unlike regular rounded seed beads, cylinders look like tiny little tubes with crisp edges. When loose in a tube or baggie the two styles can be difficult to tell apart, but the finished results are dramatically different. Cylinder beads stack neatly against each other, creating a flat interlocking surface when stitched together. They work great in patterns where precision is key:

Beaded Cuffs
Loomwork (less culling)
Peyote stitch
Lampshades
Beaded Figurines
Beaded Boxes

Round beads give a piece a more natural, organic feel and are suitable for most projects. Toho rounds especially are more uniform than other brands. You can see by the diagrams below how the shape and hole size varies between the Toho cylinders and round beads. There is plenty of room for thread in the holes for just about any pattern available.

Brands of Japanese Cylinders

Treasures (formerly known as TOHO Antiques) - These beads are TOHO's most popular cylinder bead. Not only does the large hole come in handy for stringing projects, it also makes the beads lighter, which in turn translates to more beads per kilo! These are available in a wide variety of popular colors, viewable on our website. Larger size #3 are also availble.

AIKO - TOHO's premium quality, precision cut cylinders. Also known throughout the industry as the world's most perfect bead. People who have had the opportunity to feel woven examples of Aiko beads have compared them to soft, silky fabric that's supple and malleable to the touch. Aikos as explained on Toho's website:

"In addition to Treasure Beads, Toho offers another line of cylindrical beads called Aiko Beads." Designed especially for bead weaving, Aiko Beads are top-quality beads manufactured with dedicated, state-of-the art machinery. Since they are totally consistent in shape and size, weaving with them is a delight, and the resulting woven piece has a wonderfully smooth, silken finish. Aiko Beads are available in the same colors as Treasure Beads. To honor our president's determination to make these the finest beads in the world, we have named these beautiful, delicate beads after Aiko, his beloved wife."

Although they are still difficult to find in the U.S market, let your local bead store know that you are interested in trying them. Aiko kits such as the leaf necklace showcased above are also available. Toho Bead Artistry kits are an easy way to try out a large assortment of Aiko beads with flattering designs that accentuate the exquisite cylinder bead form.

As with any TOHO bead style, over a thousand colors are possible. We value your thoughts and opinions so please let us know what colors you want to see the most!

Delicas - Manufactured by MIYUKI SHOJI CO.,LTD - Popular in the US, these beads have their own unique color numbering system which is different than the regular Miyuki seed bead product line. A lot of the confusion over cylinder beads stems from the fact that Miyuki was the first Japanese company to export cylinder beads to the US. The word "delica" is often mis-used and has become synonymous with both Miyuki the company and Miyuki's cylinder bead style (the Delica). As with TOHO, Miyuki cylinder beads come in a basic cylinder and also a precision hex cut.

As for QUALITY the Miyuki delica is comparable with the TOHO treasure bead, while the TOHO Aiko beads are used by the most discerning beaders.

Who knew so much technology could be crammed into such a tiny bead!

TOHO Permanent Finish Galvanized Seed Beads

2008-06-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a listing of all the permanent finish galvanized seed beads now available. More colors to be added soon! We've had these beads in stock for a few months now and they have proved to be extremely popular. Toho has created a quality seed bead finish that's as durable as it is beautiful. Rub them, wash them, wear them, you'll see the difference!

Regular/Matte
PF558: Galvanized Aluminum
PF557: Galvanized Starlight
PF564: Galvanized Brick Red
PF556: Galvanized Mauve
PF553: Galvanized Pink Lilac
PF554: Galvanized Lilac
PF552: Galvanized Peach Coral
PF562: Galvanized Saffron
PF561: Galvanized Green Teal

TOHO Permanent Finish Beads

Black Light Sensitive Czech Glass

2008-06-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Color #56218 - Mint Julep
When I was going through our warehouse with a portable black light I was extremely suprised to find this color glow. Mint julep is one of my favorite black light sensitive glass beads because of its pleasing color and subtle beauty.
We carry multiple shapes and sizes of beads made with this glass cane, which you can view here. It can be difficult to keep beads of this glass cane in stock since it is so specialized so we try to change up our stock selection regularly.
The most impressive shape and color combination that i've seen come through our doors is the mint Julep glass cane in the Pressed Cube shape -- 24/26mm! That's one of the biggest beads we've ever carried. You can see from the pictures that they are big and chunky, each with their own color swirl patterns. These beads have a large surface area and are quite heavy, which tends to create small friction marks along the edges of the beads. The roughness gives the beads a slightly textured surface and an authentic vintage look. A very fun bead!

Mint Julep in the daylight
Same bead under black light

Shiny as a New Penny

2008-06-09T14:27:00.000-07:00

Copper Penny - Czech Finish #275

Check out our ever-growing selection of copper finished beads! We carry a wide selection coated with this durable copper finish in both Firepolish and pressed beads. Great for spacers, accents, or focals!

Antique Copper Rhinestone Rondelles

2008-05-28T09:12:00.001-07:00

Just added! Our popular collection of Czech rhinestone findings has just expanded to include antique copper finished rondelles. The state of the economy and it's effect on the cost of metals has inspired our industry to be creative with different materials. Copper, which has always been in the shadow of gold and silver, has now become the frontrunner of style. With its unique ability to enhance whichever color it is paired with, copper will continue to increase in popularity and finally receive the appreciation it deserves!

Now available in 4,6 and 7mm - More colors coming soon!

View antique copper Czech rondelles

View all Czech rhinestone findings

Chunky Table Cut Diamonds 24/20mm

2008-05-25T08:37:00.000-07:00

The latest addition to our table cut selection -- Huge chunky diamonds! These beads are gorgeous when bunched together within a bracelet or necklace, but also make a great impression as a simple focal. Available are 7 brilliant jewel tone colors, each with matted edges that help create the illusion of depth and light distortion. Since these diamond beads have a natural beveled wedge shape their facets are offset from each other; this creates even more light refraction and faceted surface area than regular table cut beads.

View our selection of Czech Table Cut Diamonds

View our entire selection of Czech Table Cut Beads

Toho Size 15/o Charlottes

2008-05-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

10 Colors Now Available!

And there's more on the way! We've started our Charlotte collection with the most important colors you need to get creative. It's amazing how much bling these tiny facets can add to a project. Our first batch includes classic black and white, as well as the hard to find, yet ever-popular tuquoise and terra cotta. We also offer a wide variety of metallics, such as hematite, bronze, and multi-colored iris finishes. The perfect high class beads with coordinating colors to use as glitzy accents to any design!

T1-15-49: Opaque Jet

T1-15-41: Opaque White

T1-15-46L: Terra Cotta

T1-15-55: Turquoise

T1-15-81: Hematite

T1-15-83: Iris Brown

T1-15-84: Iris Green/Brown

T1-15-85: Iris Purple

T1-15-88: Cosmos

T1-15-221: Bronze

New Pressed Bead Category on Czechbeads.com!

2008-05-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

Just added! Teeny tiny, itty bitty flat squares -- now available in 20 of our most popular and inventive colors. These dainty little beads are highly sought after in the market today. They have a well defined shape and crisp edges; impressive for a bead that small! Some colors even look like miniature ceramic tiles.

Watch as these shiny squares add sparkle and flash to your bead and jewelry collections.

View our entire collection of 6mm flat squares here!

You can also see our full line of complimenting 9mm flat squares here.

African Sunset

2008-05-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

With its golden glow and blood red core, African Sunset (color #329) is one of our most popular seed bead colors. We've just received a shipment of new items that increases our selection in this color to nine shapes and sizes including rounds, hexes, bugles, triangles and treasures.

SilverWear

2008-05-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

We're all aware of the unbelievable increase in the cost of precious metals on the world market. Gold, silver, platinum, and copper are all going up in value with little hope of retuning to previous trade prices. This has had a profound effect on the style and cost of jewelry and its components. The style of chunky, weighty jewelry made mostly of silver spacers and charms has been replaced with lightweight chains and plated components. Copper's popularity in jewelry has increased dramatically over the past few months, not only because of it's color coordinating appeal, but because it's a relatively inexpensive alternative to gold and silver.

For those who like the metallic look without the inflated price, we recommend our wide variety of silver, gold, and copper finished beads. These quality finishes are available on many accent shapes such as rondells, firepolish, druks, pinch beads and drops. The core beads are usually made from crystal or alabaster glass that are coated with a durable galvanized finish. Compare our prices with the going cost of precious metals and I'm sure you won't be dissappointed!

Czech Metallic Finished Beads:

270 - 24K Gold Plated

27000 - Silver (Full Coat)

27001 - Silver (1/2 Coat)

275 - Copper Penny

14400 - Hematite

90215 - Bronze

14415 - Dark Bronze

One of the Perks of International Business

2008-04-18T18:48:00.001-07:00

Stamps -- what a beautiful way to brighten up an otherwise bleak envelope. In a world of mass emails and automated postage machines I have come to appreciate the simple art and symbolism contained within such a sticky form of payment for government services. What started as a hobby has become a fascination of mine to collect the wide array of cancelled postage stamps we receive from business partners across the globe. I get lots of help creating this inconsequential, yet gratifying artistic archive and am thankful for the support of my fellow coworkers, especially Jenn, who distributes the mail for us everyday. Over the years I’ve watched as the collection has outgrown its miniature Altoids tin and now its jumbo sized one as well. I’m not sure where it will be contained in the future, but I know it will expand greatly with the introduction of new stamps, which inevitably follows a rate hike.

Don’t forget the next increase starts May 12th. Get your forever stamps now!

Alexandrite Color Spectrum

2008-04-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Alexandrite (color# 2021) -- Is it blue? Is it purple? It's one of a kind that's for sure!

This pleasingly gentle color is notorious for confusing beaders with its ability to change from sapphire to lavender depending on what type of light shines on it. Regular indoor lighting can sometimes make it difficult for customers to tell alexandrite apart from light sapphire (color # 3001). When in doubt I recommend taking the beads outside into direct sunlight, or near a bright window.

Getting the beads to display the way you want them to in a photo can also prove to be difficult. Daylight fluorescent bulbs are an ideal light source for taking accurate product shots, but they can only show one side of alexandrite.
The contrast between the two variations is so striking that it is very difficult to switch one to the other by attempting drastic adjustments in photoshop.

To get the deep brilliance to show you may need to play around with your camera's white balance settings. The purple versions of these pictures were taken under halogen lighting with the white balance of the camera set to incandescent. The pictures were then modified and adjusted slightly in photoshop.

Color Spotlight - Diamond

2008-04-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

When choosing a birthstone color to spotlight for the month of April the choice was clear -- crystal clear.

Below are some quick links to see our brilliant alternatives to diamonds.

Czech Glass
0003 : Crystal
X0003: Crystal AB
SL0003: Crystal Silverlined
L0003: Luster Crystal
LR0003: Luster Iris Crystal
28001: Crystal/Marea
28003: Silver/Blue/Crystal
M0003: Matte - Crystal
MX0003: Matte - Crystal AB

Toho Seed Bead Color Numbers:
1: Crystal
1F: Frosted Crystal
21: Crystal Silverline
21F: Fronsted Crystal Silverline
161: Trans-Rainbow Crystal
161F: Frosted Trans-Rainbow Crystal
3201: Crystal/Silver Mix

This link will take you to a list of Rhinestone Findings with crystal clear chatons. We carry a full line of birthstone colors in many shapes and sizes. Of all the colored stones in settings we carry, none are more popular than crystal.

Glow in the Dark Czech Beads

2008-04-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Nightlights - Glow in the Dark Pressed Beads

Now Available in 50 Styles!

View the entire glow in the dark bead collection

Exclusive from Starman, Inc.
Retail Ready in hanks that consist of 6 strands, 6 inches long each. All of the styles are assortable when you buy a minimum combination of 5 hanks. You'll be able to offer your customers a wide variety at great prices!
These beads are unlike any other glow in the dark bead available in the market today. It's not a cheap flaky coating that makes these beads glow; they are made of quality Czech glass with a special glowing mineral added to the glass at the time of pressing. The glass takes on a natural dual-tone glow that brightens and intensifies even the most brilliant glass colors. We also offer lustered glow in the dark beads for a more elusive look. No one will suspect that they glow until after the sun goes down. The beads are also sensitive enough to give off an ominous glow even in the shade, or in dimly lit hallways.

You will notice that each glass color reacts with the glow in the dark substance slightly different. Some colors , such as 2021 and 3003 give off a bright blue-green swirl while colors like 1006 have a speckled, greenish glow.

Give your jewelry a new look after dark with our Wildly Bohemian Nightlight collection. They quickly charge under daylight, lamplight and also UV Light. Their glow lasts for hours and black light can give it an extra boost. Perfect for daily wear as well as the party scene!

Beads used for the bracelet:

227-1210-D88495 - Flattened Ovals 12/10mm : Glow in the Dark - Luster Transparent Topaz/Pink

TR-11-2031F - Round 11/0 : Silver-Lined Frosted Rainbow Rosaline

TR-11-999 - Round 11/0 : Gold-Lined Rainbow Black Diamond

TR-11-21 - Round 11/0 : Silver-Lined Crystal

TR-03-993 - Round 6/0 : Gold-Lined Black Diamond

34-44-91002 - M.C. Beads 4/4mm - Bicone : Luster - Pink Lemonade

(Click on the pictures to see enlarged versions)

Glow in the Dark Color Variations

2008-04-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pictures of the glow in the dark beads in action.

Night Light
Dim Light
Daylight

14/9 Leaves: 101-149-D1006 - Dim Light

Black Light Sensitive Czech Glass

2008-04-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

Color #88126 Jonquil Tortoise

There are many beautiful shades of glass cane with the traditional Czech, wildly contrasting blackish brown swirls known as tortoise; but none of them are as brilliant and intriguing as Jonquil Tortoise. By itself, Jonquil (class cane number 8013) is a nice lemon yellow color thats intensity changes based on the shape and depth of the bead it is made into. Small beads, such as 3 and 4mm fire polish usually turn out to be a light cream color while 8-12 mm beads are a nice and sunny bright yellow. This glass is especially impressive when table cut since the beveled edges add depth and distortion to the pattern.Please note that only the pressed, fire polished and machine cut beads on our website are known to fluoresce. Some batches may glow more than others. If you are interested in purchasing these beads for their UV sensitive properties, please let us know so that we can double check them under the light for you.

New TOHO Pretties!

2008-03-31T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some quick links to the new beads that just arrived. There are some really unique and fancy beads in this batch that I'm sure will impress even the most extensive bead collector. Absolutely Stunning!Get them while you can; some of these colors are marked for discontinuation by Toho and may not be produced in the future.

Note: Click on the picture to be directed to the specific item; click
on the color number to see all styles available in that color.

Toho Round 3/o

#993 : Gold-Lined Black Diamond
#992 : Gold-Lined Lt Montana Blue
#332 : Gold-Lustered Raspberry
#52 : Opaque Lavender
#990 :Gold-Lined Aqua
#721 : Galvanized Blue Gold
#267 : Inside-Color Crystal/Rose Gold Lined

11/o Hex

#1625F : Opaque-Frosted Espresso Bean
#1624F : Opaque-Frosted Pea Green Soup
#1612F : Opaque-Pastel-Frosted* Lt Turqouise
#952 : Inside-Color Rainbow Lt Topaz/Sea Foam Lined
#721 : Galvanized Blue Gold

11/o Round

#2031F: Silver-Lined Frosted Rainbow Rosaline
#2024F : Silver-Lined Frosted Rainbow Lime Green
#2012 : Ancient Turquoise

We also received more supply permanent finish Galvanized beads (tubed available as well).

Quick Announcement: Size 15/o Charlottes coming soon! Stay tuned for a list of colors coming on our next shipment.

Color Spotlight - Aquamarine

2008-03-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a list of links to quickly browse our selection of March's birthstone color - Aquamarine!

Czech Glass

6001: Aquamarine

6002: Aquamarine

6003: Dark Aquamarine

61000: Milky Aquamarine

Toho Seed Beads

3: Aquamarine

23: Silver-Lined Aquamarine

3B: Dark Aquamarine

3F: Transparent-Frosted Aquamarine

3BF: Transparent-Frosted Medium Aquamarine

23BF: Silver-Lined-Frosted Dark Aquamarine

163: Trans-Rainbow Aquamarine

163BF: Trans-Rainbow-Frosted Dark Aquamarine

143: Ceylon Aqua

954: Inside-Color Aqua/Lt Jonquil Lined

932: Inside-Color Aqua/Capri Lined

990: Gold-Lined Aqua

TOHO Seed Beads - Tubed and Ready!

2008-03-12T10:48:00.000-07:00

As a wholesaler, we are always trying to find new and dynamic packaging options for our customers. We know it's important now more than ever for bead stores to maintain efficiency.

Since launching our Toho product line in September 2006 we have had many requests for pre-tubed beads. Over the past few months we have gradually added tubed beads to our site as they become available. We now have over 1,000 different beads tubed and ready to order.

We asked many of our customers what type of tubing they preferred and have come up with the following tubing options:

TOHO Beads sold in 5.5"x .5" tubes:

Prepackaged 5.5 inch by 0.5 inch round tubes of TOHO beads. Each tube will contain approximately 16.6 - 19.5 grams. Note: this is an approximated average measure that varies depending on bead style and color; no effort has been made to ensure the weight. Smaller sizes generally have a greater weight per vial.

TOHO Beads sold in 2.5"x .5" tubes:

Prepackaged 2.5 inch, 0.5 inch round tubes of TOHO beads, each tube will contain approximately 7 - 9 grams. Note: this is an approximated average measure that varies depending on bead style and color; no effort has been made to ensure the weight. Smaller sizes generally have a greater weight per vial.

HurriCane Glass Defined

2008-03-05T16:39:00.000-08:00

What is HurriCane Glass?

HurriCane glass is characterized by its unique color combinations and swirl patterns. Mixing so many colors in such a way was previously unachievable by convential methods. Using HurriCane glass accentuates beads; giving them vintage styling and color infusions as intricate as lampworked glass. Please note that each batch of glass is unique, therefore our color selection will vary.

Latest additions to our catalog can be found here.

Look for our latest additions to the HurriCane glass product line including Table Cut, Loose, Matte, and Luster finishes.

Black Light Sensitive Czech Glass

2008-03-04T14:27:00.000-08:00

Color #: 61100 - Milky Peridot

Visit the whole other world that lies beneath a black light. Fluorescent glassware and beads have been highly sought after collectibles for generations. Some of the most vivid glass canes give off bright green or muted yellow/orange hues depending on the minerals that are used during production. Colors such as jonquil and chrysolite are well known in the industry for their glowing properties; however, there are many other beautiful glass canes that may surprise you. We will be featuring these colors individually over the next few months. There are many names for UV sensitive glass including "Vaseline glass", "Uranium Glass", and "Custard Glass". Each has a slightly different definition. If you would like to know more about this phenomenon I recommend the websites listed below, or try searching Google for "Vaseline Glass".

http://www.vaselineglass.org/

http://1st.glassman.com/vaselineglass.html

Please note that only the pressed, fire polished and machine cut beads on our website are known to fluoresce. Some batches may glow more than others. If you are interested in purchasing these beads for their UV sensitive properties, please let us know so that we can double check them under the light for you.

This Week's New Loose Pressed Beads by Kilo

2008-02-29T16:55:00.000-08:00

We try to update the loose pressed kilo category every week. Here are some quick links to the latest batch!

New Toho Colors and Styles!

2008-02-28T13:36:00.001-08:00

We just received our latest shipment of new Toho beads. I've listed them below. Click on the picture to be directed to the item in our catalog, or you can click on the color number to see all items we have available in that color.

Toho Round 3/o

#991 -Silver-Lined Peridot

#1013 -Silver-Lined Citrus

#989 -Gold-Lined Crystal

#929 - Rainbow Yellow/Capri Lined

Toho Round 8/o

#2031F -Silver-Lined Frosted Rainbow Rosaline
2027BDF -Silver-Lined Frosted Rainbow Teal
#1833 - Rainbow Lt. Sapphire/Teal Lined

Toho Round 11/o

#2035F -Silver-Lined Frosted Rainbow Sapphire
#15F -Transparent-Frosted Citrus Spritz
#15 -Citrus Spritz

Toho Hex 11/o

#135 -Transparent Lemon Lime
#990 -Gold-Lined Aqua
#991 -Gold-Lined Peridot
#989 -Gold-Lined Crystal

Color Spotlight - Amethyst

2008-02-26T15:37:00.001-08:00

It's a little late in the month, but I thought i'd take the opportunity to spotlight February's birthstone color -- Amethyst.

Our catalog has over 10,000 active items listed over 15 categories. It can be quite the task to search through the items one by one. Searching by color number is one of the many helpful hints we will be covering on a regular basis.

Common amethyst czech glass cane and Toho seed bead numbers:
Czech Glass
2002: Light Amethyst
2003: Medium Amethyst
2004: Amethyst
2006: Dark Amethyst
15726: Luster Amethyst
23020: Opaque Amethyst
23030: Opaque Dark Amethyst
21000: Milky Amethyst

Toho Seed Beads
6: Transparent Light Amethyst/6F Matte
6B: Transparent Medium Amethyst/6BF - Matte
6C: Transparent Amethyst/6CF - Matte
166: Trans-Rainbow Lt. Amethyst/166F - Matte
166B: Trans-Rainbow Med Amethyst/166BF - Matte
166C: Trans Rainbow Amethyst/166CF - Matte
26: Silver-Lined Frosted Light Amethyst/26F - Matte
26B: Silver-Lined Medium Amethyst/26BF - Matte
110B: Trans-Lustered Med Amethyst
502 : Higher-Metallic Amethyst
503: Higher-Metallic Dark Amethyst
201: Gold-Lustered Amethyst

To get more results you can simply type in "Amethyst", but it may take you a while to load depending on your internet connection.

Beads in Design

2008-02-26T14:04:00.000-08:00

Crystal Dewdrop Bracelet

Beadwork Magazine April/May 2007

Vol. 10 No. 3

"A glowing crystal bracelet made with a
chevron chain stitch variation".

I made up three copies of this bracelet for my sister's wedding last June. The pattern was easy to follow and uses readily available materials. You can find the colors I used on http://www.czechbeads.com/. click on the photos to be directed right to them!

1. 2.

3. 4. 5.

1. TR-11-922 : Toho 11/o round - Ceylon Gladiola
2. TR-15-90 : Toho 15/o round - Metallic - Amethyst Gun Metal

3. 34-44-Z2051 : Czech Crystal 4mm - Tanzanite - Celsian

4. 34-44-91001 : Czech Crystal 4mm - Luster - Pink/Crystal

5. PT-50-11 : Toho One-G Thread - Purple

Permanent Finish Galvanized Toho Beads

2008-02-25T17:34:00.001-08:00

Coming soon! Toho has just expanded their selection of permanent finished galvanized seed beads. Regular galvanized metallic coated seed beads have been on the market for many years and are extremely popular because of their wide variety of shimmering colors and matte finishes. They are eye-catching to anyone who's had the opportunity of seeing them in person; they can, however, be difficult to work with in Jewelry. Their metallic coating has been known to come off with strong friction. Therefore, they've been used sparingly. No need to skimp any longer!

Permanent finish is not just for galvanized, it also protects silverlined beads from being tarnished by chemicals -- perfect for use in bridal jewelry and garments! Toho - quality beads & quality finishes.

A full list of available permanent finish items along with pictures will be posted as they become available.

TOHO OneG Thread

2008-02-22T10:08:00.001-08:00

In June of 2006, Toho launched their own brand of beading thread -- One G. This quality twisted Nylon beading thread has quickly become favored by some of the most reputable designers in the industry. Since it doesn't fray, it's easy to thread time and time again. It's super strong and holds up well to the wear and tear of notoriously sharp beads such as bugles and crystals. Beadwork finishes up stronger, smoother and cleaner than with most regular threads. Plus There's no wax needed! Just unspool what you need, stretch it a little to straighten it out and it's ready to work for you.
All colors are available on our website. They are also available in a fancy assortment pack of all 12 colors in an acrylic carrying case.

Loose beads sold by the 1/4 kilo on czechbeads.com

2008-02-21T14:12:00.000-08:00

Loose beads -- the latest addition to our ever-growing catalog! For years we have been proud to offer our entire selection of Czech pressed glass and fire polished beads strung in easy to work with hanks. The beads usually come strung in hanks of 300, 600, or 1,200 beads, depending on the size of the bead. Having the beads strung at the factory in Czech Republic saves valuable time for local bead stores because the merchandise is easily prepared for sale.

Hanks are a great packaging format for most beads, especially the really small ones that are difficult to count. But what about those tricky big beads? Some beads are so wide that their hanks end up being 2 feet long! Each bead store handles them in their own way; selling partial strands, loose in a dish, etc. Buying loose beads by the kilo is an easy way to add variety at a low cost. String them yourself, or sell them loose... either way they're a great deal!

See our current selection here: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?b=VLH-15

We also carry a wide variety of HurriCane glass loose by the 1/4 kilo: http://www.czechbeads.com/Catalog/Products.aspx?b=VLH-13

New styles added weekly!

Opening Message

2008-02-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the blog of Starman, Inc., most commonly known as czechbeads.com, your source for wholesale Czech Glass beads and TOHO Japanese seed beads. Our goal with this blog is to inform bead lovers of the many new and exciting products and events that happen within our multi-facetted industry. Starman, Inc. is a close-knit family business, and all of us here hope to offer you insightful stories about our pride and joy -- beads!