BellaOnline Forums Hobbies and Crafts Beadwork Where do you keep your beads?

Hi Everyone
I'm new to this forum but an old hand when it comes to collecting beads. Mine began in 1969. Remember love beads? The main problen has been travel, I was a military nomad and at one point had beads stored on three continents with all my relatives. I'm retired now and all the beads have to fit in one small apartment. My measure was somewhat drastic and a little expensive but it worked. They are now stored in plastic tic-tac like containers. I ordered about 2500 of them from the manufacterer. The containers fit beautifully into standard jewelry trays, the kind found in the Rio Grande catalog. The trays in turn fit into lateral files, three of them filled with beads arranged by size, type, and material. Whew, now I can find them and don't have to remember which relative is holding them for ransom.
Bev

I was recently given a wonderful gift...an old sewing box that opens to the sides and has several levels. I buy the tic tac type boxes and they fit into the sewing box beautifully! I work mostly in seed beads so I can get LOTS of beads inside...open wide as I am using beads and then fold up when done. Takes up little floor space and doubles as a side table. Of course I have tons of the plastic drawer things that are kept in the other room, but can fill up the sewing box with whatever I need for the current project which right now is crystal wreaths and snow flakes for the up-coming craft fair!

The sewing box sounds wonderful. My mother has one of the acordian style sewing boxes that is on legs and I have contemplated getting one of those.

[color:"purple"] Where did you get your fishing tackle box and what brand is it please! i've been looking at them but haven't found a good one yet!
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Flowr [/color]

[color:"purple"] [/color] I keep my seed beads in original containers and then place them in a utensil caddy lazy susan. I have labeled the compartments in the lazy susan with the sizes of the beads . [/color]

That is a great tip! At the second hand store I purchased a bunch of glass spice jars and a wooden tray with sides and I have put seed beads in the jars.

I was stackable tupperware to keep my beads in. That way u can use the small to larger ones for your beads.And you can also see them threw the side for colours as well.I also label them by size and colour. Take Care all..(L)

wow! I want that software too, let me know what its called

I have some bead organizers from WalMart they are 8.97 and they are a plastic carrying case that has many little snap boxes inside and they are GREAT,I now have three and want more, they stack really well and have 3 sizes of snap boxe inside to put larger amounts of beads in one, scrap leftovers in the small ones.. I love them

Babyfood jars are good. You can see what's in each one and you can also stack them.

I got a fishing tackle box at Walmart. The fishing dept has lots of plastic boxes with little compartments in them.

I use stackable canisters and plastic tubes I've gotten at WalMart and Hobby Lobby for my beads and finishings, and a large plastic box for my tools. Right now I keep them all in a straw tote and have to drag everything out when I want to do anything. We're moving soon and there's a 'bonus' room in the attic that I've already claimed for my craft room, so soon everything will be out where I can see it.