the Beads mystery

In message , Mirjam Bruck-Cohen writes

It could be that the beads in bags are Japanese ones that are better quality than the ones on hanks, the ones on hanks are usually Czech which you have to cull for uniformity. I prefer to use the Japanese ones. Shirley

Shirley we checked them they are THE SAME BEADS ,, same quality same maker ...mirjam

Some Japanese beads come in hanks (strung), some come in vials or bags. Same with Czech beads. (I've had orders come with half the beads hanked and half the beads bagged.)

I suspect that the difference Mirjam is seeing is the difference in packaging, maybe from difference distributors.

Japanese beads do tend to be more expensive than Czech beads, but they're made on much newer machines.

-- Jenn Ridley : snipped-for-privacy@chartermi.net WIP: Oriental Butterfly, Floral Sampler, Rose Trio, Carousel (TW) Most recently Finished: Insect Sampler, TicTacToe Sampler, Snow Stitching log:

Here in the US there's a company, Mill Hill, that sells seed beads for embellishment of cross stitch (as well as cute little beaded kits.) The beads are in little plastic bubble packs. They're very expensive compared to buying the same beads (Delicas for example) in vials from jewelry/beading supply companies. I've often noticed that something "for crafters" will be more expensive than the same item in another catalog. For instance, some online shops are selling "laying tools" made of carved bone. You can buy them for less from Firemountain Gems, described as "hair sticks."

Alison

Yep. A friend went into a fishing shop with her DH, and reported back to me that the Kreinik in the Fly Tying department was significantly cheaper than the same Kreinik at LNS.

So, a couple years ago, when DBF took it into his head to go on one last fishing trip with his dad and made the rounds of the fishing stores, I insisted on going with him. Grrrrrrr. Not a one of those we visited had Kreinik.