How do you store your beads?

[SixAcreMeadow]

I have a lot of beads at home, but it's nothing compared to what I have at work as I work in Fashion Design and specialise in embellishment.

At the moment, they're all in bags which are in lots of boxes under my desk and it takes me ages to find anything. I still want them to stay around my area (not put in filing boxes across the room) so I need to find a way that is still small, but organised.

So, I'm wondering how jewellery designers or anyone else who uses beads or other small components - how do you store them!!?

[Former_Member]

For non-metal beads, except crystals and seed beads, I use mostly the 22 compartment floss organizers. ( These are hard to find now I see mostly the 17 compartment ones at the stores here.) For all my stone beads the boxes are mostly alphabetical by each stone type, Adventurine and Agate are in the same box, then each general shape has one column, with each compartment for a different size. So if I have rose quartz the first column is the round ones in 3mm, 4mm, 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm, then the second column is the oblong shapes like rice or barrel, or oval are sorted by size. The triple sized compartment at the bottom I'll use for things like cabs, focals, or other large components made from the same stones in the rest of the box. Also I use those little paper bobbins that come with the floss organizer to record the prices that I've paid with the quanity of beads purchased to help keep track of the cost per bead and record beads used on the opposite side. This helps alot when I need to take inventory of my supplies.

For the glass, acrylic, plastic, and resin beads I try to sort using the color wheel approach where each box is the same type of material in one color in one box sorted by hue or shade then by size. I don't use these materials as often so right now so some boxes have 2 color families and this is working but if I start to buy more shifting things around for the different varieties might become cumbersome.

Metal beads are all kept in their orginal packaging on a pegboard, and if the initial packaging is not vacuum sealed a piece of anti-tarnish paper is inserted. Once opened if the original packaging can not be re-hung I'll put the metals into an anti-tarnish baggie with either the headed card from the original packaging or the sticker from the seller.

For seed beads, I buy them mostly in vials so I use a scrapbook paper plastic tote, then just lay out the vials again in color wheel progression inside the tote. The scrapbook totes generally leave a little wiggle room for the vials so I'll also store my design ideas and pattern papers in the same tote, so there's no room for the vials to roll around.

Swarovski, Preciosa, and other quality crystals they go in several organizer boxes that each fits 24 clear little rectangle boxes with flip-top lids (like a tic-tac boxes). Each different color, size, surface treatment, and shape goes into it's own little box with a label as to what it is and what I paid. Most of the better crystal companies have color sample charts so I organize the lay out of the smaller boxes in the larger one by that color chart. That way if a customer asks for a particular bead as part of design I can quickly find the right box that should have it then see if I have the right size and shape for the piece.

[SixAcreMeadow]

Wow, thanks so much for your detailed reply!

I have some of those tix-tac boxes which I've been using for seedbeads (as I mainly buy them for colour only so I buy the ones in packets rather than vials...

This seems like the best approach, so I just need to buy some more of them...I've only been using the ones wihth 6 sections!...so I'll look into getting the bigger ones!

[Former_Member]

You can see here how I have my space http://redheadhomestead.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-craft-room-office.html

[limegreenmodern]

I have them in ziploc baggies tacked to bulletin boards. And then I have the bulletin boards "stacked" vertically, so I can just flip through them.

It works well because I can see what I have, spread the bulletin boards out if I want, etc.

[Former_Member]

I have those small plastic drawers with labels on them. I try to collect them when they are on sale. For example, one drawer is labeled "glass" and dedicated to glass beads of every size and shape. Other drawers are labeled "crystal", "metal", etc.

The beads, after their respectives package are logged in, are then put into a large bagette with their package info (sometimes I have to cut the package info card to fit the bagette) and bead price on it and placed into their respective drawers with identical colors. Same with wire.

When I take out a bead, the change is reflected in the log. I do have a few of the plastic boxes with the compartments. I use those for that odd bead, metal charm, clipped headpins, and other bead components for those whimiscal projects.

[Former_Member]

I use the three-drawer transparent containers. They are about a 12 inch cube.

I sort by color mainly: the red drawer, the black drawer etc. I also have the flower and leaf drawer, the big bead drawer, the pearl drawer, the neutrals and gold drawer etc. The containers are stacked two high (6 drawers) on my work table which might be about 8 feet long. I have about eight of the containers. They are right in front of me. Easy viewing and easy access. Each bead style is in a separate little baggie and labeled: code number, color, size, shape, and price per bead. Works for me : )

[Claybykim]

All over the place.

[dogzillalives]

I use tackle boxes like these:
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H201088PK

[SixAcreMeadow]

limegreenmodern - I love your bulletin board way, definitely the first time I have read this idea! I'd love to do this but won't have enough space in our studio for it!

dogzillalives - I think this is the way I need to go and I can have them stacked under my desk rather than all chucked into one big box...I daren't look in there at the moment!

[limegreenmodern]

nuvonova said:
limegreenmodern - I love your bulletin board way, definitely the first time I have read this idea! I'd love to do this but won't have enough space in our studio for it!



dogzillalives - I think this is the way I need to go and I can have them stacked under my desk rather than all chucked into one big box...I daren't look in there at the moment!
__________

It has worked really well for me!

You don't have to hang them....that's the best part. I have like 10 of them stacked vertically against a wall. It only takes up about 3 feet or so and I can flip through them. :-)

[Former_Member]

Here's a photo my jewelry workshop. (sorry, I'm signed into my handbag shop)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cocosjewelry/3450572664/in/set-72157620492965115

[Former_Member]

I use those 17 compartment plastic boxes that you can get for $1.99 from Micheals. Right now I don't have a HUGE inventory of beads, so they aren't organized in any particular way in my boxes. I put pearls in one box, crystals in another. Crystals are sorted by color and six. All my other stones and beads, are just thrown in boxes with no real organization.

I cut out the label from when I purchased the beads and put it in the section with the beads. That way I know what size, type and color the bead is (especially important with Swarovski crystals) and also where I purchased it from. I usually note the price per bead on the label too as I don't currently have a computerized inventory system.

I get those plastic drawer units from Target and organize tools, boxes of beads, stringing materials, findings, etc. in the drawer units then stack the drawer units along one wall. I label the front of the drawer units indicating what's in that drawer (beads, tools, etc.). I keep my packing materials, etc. in the same drawer units and even keep my invoice and receipts for sales in them. The largest drawer is usually designed for hanging folders. So everything is in one place in my bedroom. There's no room for a crafting space in our current house, so I have to keep all my supplies in our bedroom.

[SixAcreMeadow]

CocoBags - that looks amazing! I wish I had the space to do that!

girlygirlbead - it sounds extremely organized the way you have it!

limegreenmodern - I'm definitely going to keep your idea in mind!

[Former_Member]

TheSpeeceCollection says

I use the three-drawer transparent containers. They are about a 12 inch cube.

I sort by color mainly: the red drawer, the black drawer etc. I also have the flower and leaf drawer, the big bead drawer, the pearl drawer, the neutrals and gold drawer etc. The containers are stacked two high (6 drawers) on my work table which might be about 8 feet long. I have about eight of the containers. They are right in front of me. Easy viewing and easy access. Each bead style is in a separate little baggie and labeled: code number, color, size, shape, and price per bead. Works for me : )
-----
i also use the 3 drawer containers, i have them by color, mine are stacked 2 high on wire shelving, i have 2 shelves. i'm now excited about a new way to store my strands of beads i bought in bunches of 10 strands. i put them in a large baggie, then inserted that baggie into a heavy plastic page protector. which i folded in half, inserted a paperclip into the middle punched hole ( and punched a 2nd hole near it. then i hung them by color again on the wire shelving bookcases. this means i can easily see them and pull off the color i want. i have an index card in the baggie w/ pricing info/# of beads...
here's a link i pulled up quickly to show the type of shelving, i bought mine years ago http://www.uline.com/BL_3878/Adjustable-Open-Wire-Shelving

i'm working out the kinks on storing my finished earrings, the 'plan' is to insert them in baggies on earring cards. then punch hole and hang them on binder rings,,,,
http://www.amazon.com/Binder-Ring-1-50-box/dp/B000J3GCVO
that way i can hang the rings and easily sort through the earrings or whatever finished components vs pawing through them in a drawer

[ElainaLouiseStudios]

I have most of my jewelry supplies in 3 cardboard file boxes. One box holds 10 of the $1.99 17 slot boxes from Michael's. These hold my finding sorted by metal type. The other two boxes hold my beads in various baggies. Each type of bead goes into a baggie from the small medicine bags you can get at the grocery store for 1.99 for 50 up to sandwich baggies size. Then all the beads of one color go into a gallon size bag. If one bag gets too full I'll divide the categories further. This way if I'm working and I need a red bead I can just pull out the red bag and look inside without having to open everything up. Having everything portable in file boxes makes it easy to take when we go on vacation or when I do repair work at other peoples houses.

My problem is how to store the finished pieces. Anyone have any ideas on that?

[Former_Member]

My husband is an optometrist so he brings me the baggies that the glasses come in to use. They would be thrown away otherwise. The beads go in the bag, and I write on what it is and the cost price per unit (so I can easily work out cost price as I am making items), then the bags are stored in small cardboard boxes (again rubbish from husbands work) by colour. Pearls all go in one box, semi-precious separated out alphabetically. The boxes are stored on a shelf. I then have some cheap drawers from IKEA where I keep wire, findings etc organised by what it is.

[Former_Member]

I love craftmates sold on Joannes.com. I sort mostly by color and type.

Craftmates are very portable and lock.

[Former_Member]

cocobags.....you cleaned your room up quick didn't you!!!!! Tee Hee!!

[Former_Member]

goldenwatercreations you should take a photo of how you do your strand...I cant visualize it. Sounds very interesting.

[AnjasArts]

With something similar to this but from wal mart and cheaper http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Beading-Storage-Acrylic-Boxes/dp/B001XV54EW One of the acrylic containers has 20 compartments for the beads. I have my beads organzied by stone, fire polished glass, crackle glass, silver/ silver plated, gold/ gold plated and then alphabetically.

[SunshineandLaughter]

OH MY GOSH ~~ All ya'll are so organized. Our beads look more like this:
(only a small portion of our beads) ~~~

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunshineandlaughter/3446231978/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunshineandlaughter/3445416973/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunshineandlaughter/3446228832/in/photostream

[Former_Member]

This is my jewelry workshop.(CocosJewelry). Actually this was last year and I've addded a few more drawers since then !
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cocosjewelry/3665411158/in/set-72157620492965115

[Former_Member]

I use recycled baby food jars - easy to see everything!

[SixAcreMeadow]

SunshineandLaughter - That's what I had before and I just couldn't see anything without pouring all the bags out!

I've gone for the plastic compartmented boxes and it is working out so much better for me. I have organised mainly by colour which looks really pretty on my desk too! I'll take a photo when I am in work and post it up!