Beads, beads and more beads. That’s what you see when you walk into a bead store. Log onto any bead website, more beads! Which ones do you buy? What are you going to make with them? How are you going to put them altogether? Where do you start? Your confidence starts to plummet as the overwhelming anxiety of where to start takes over.

If this scenario sounds like something you have experienced, understand this; you are not alone. Even the most experienced beaders felt exactly the same when they started out. Only the naturally gifted get it first pop; and let’s face it, how many of them are there around? So if you fall in the majority, do what I did when I first started; ask an expert! Ask someone that makes jewellery for sale.

As a new beader you might look at, for example, a reel of wire, and wonder what you could do with it. I offer this advice to you. Simply ask the retailer to show you how to use the wire and give you ideas on what to make.

Who better to consult than someone who makes their own jewellery and sells the beads and findings as well! If that’s the jewellery piece you want to make, at least you know where to find the required beads and findings.

A reliable and trustworthy bead retailer will encourage questions and happily give you free advice, if it means traffic to their store.

If you are a beading beginner, check out the items of jewellery you think you might want to create. Then ask the bead retailer what beads, chain and findings they have used to put this unique piece of jewellery together. Better yet, ask them to give you a copy of their instructions on how to make that piece of jewellery. If they are a trusty and reliable retailer they will gladly hand out the instructions.

Regular beaders, with your experience and confidence feel free to shop til you drop. Checking out the jewellery piece you want to make will make it easier to select your goodies; you know what you need.

Some people are not very good at visualizing the end product. You may look a range of beads you think might look great together, but can’t actually picture how they will look as a finished jewellery piece. So go the other way; find the jewellery piece, then choose the beads. At least then you know what it is going to look like!

Don’t spend a fortune on beads you are not going to use. Buy in smaller quantities to ensure you use the lot. You might save by buying in bulk but think of the money you lose when you have left over beads sitting around idle. Small quantities of different beads mean you end up with lots of unique jewellery pieces and no wastage.

Buy findings in larger quantities and save. Basic items such as head pins, eye pins, jump rings and crimps, can be used in many different ways to put your jewellery pieces together. They are the foundation of your jewellery piece. You shouldn’t have to spend big on the basics. You’re better off using that money on all those beautiful beads!

Passionate bead retailers are more than happy to share their ideas with you. They will save you money and time by equipping you with all their expert hints and tips, anything to keep your passion growing. Why spend loads of money on fancy gadgets when you can use household goodies for the same result. The more money you save means the more money you have for the bling bling beads.

Beading can be overwhelming to a beginner. An expert bead retailer will take you from overwhelmed and anxious, to excited and creative. Liaise with the experts now.