Bulk Designer Bead Mixes

I am trying to find bead mixes that contain glass beads of various sizes and shapes, freshwater pearls, sometimes wood or bone, etc.  I have spent several hours searching the web and the closest I've come to what I'm looking for is listed under Designer Bead Mixes on www.beadbee.com.  The thing is, I want to order a large quantity of these mixes.  As in, several pounds.  Someone gave me a couple freezer bags full of these mixes a few months ago when they were getting rid of their bead inventory, but I have no idea where they came from and the donor can't remember.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Thank you!

 Have you tried www.shipwreckbeads.com?  If you go into their "Mixtures" section they have lots of great bead mixes at very reasonable prices.  Look at the India beads, the sputniks and all the Czech mixtures.

Hope that helps

Mikki

Shasta ~ You may want to try FireMountainGems for large quantities.  Good Luck in your search

 Well, here is the "bosses bead bag" from fmgs and it's sold by the pound.

http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H201928PB

Hope it's along the lines of what you were looking for!

Lois

 It looks like the ones on Shipwreck Beads are what I am looking for.  Thank you so much everyone for your help!!

I was going to recommend the FMG bosses' bead bag also.  It's a really random selection of stuff, some good & some junk but I like to buy one from time to time just to see what I get.  Fun to sort through at any rate!

 You're welcome....glad to help.

Ok....the Boss's Bags at FMG....so tell me...do you think they are worth it?  I've often wondered....I worried there would be a lot of junk in them.  Though I have to say I love their mixed caboachon bags.

I think they're worth it if you get it at one of the higher discount brackets.  I've gotten everything from floor sweepings and plastic beads to Swarovskis.  Some of it can be junk, but I've gotten enough good stuff that I still get one from time to time.  I think they must have a big bucket that they put actual floor sweepings (ie dropped beads) to closeout items into, then scoop it all into bags.

 Ahh.....kinda like flavored coffee beans. (sorry if you buy flavored beans....they use the worst beans that have bad flavor and disguise it).

Some of my students and I are going to do an order this week as they have their $1 sale...easy to get to the 200+ category...so maybe I'll give it a try.

try http://www.orientalgem.com, you might get all what you need really gr8 quality and cheap prices.

JSmaz:

  I think they must have a big bucket that they put actual floor sweepings (ie dropped beads) to closeout items into, then scoop it all into bags.

 That's EXACTLY what they do. There is even a blurb on their website telling you that. Stuff that isn't selling well, busted bags/containers, floor sweepings, and very old stock that is 'found' in various oddball places, among others. I actually got some nice real turquoise(I thought it was dyed howlite until I broke one because they were very close to the Tidy Bowl Blue *laughz*) tumbled chunks in a bag that I bought a few months ago. There were about 30ish of them and they are very cool. Between 1/4" and 3/8" in size and kind of rustic looking. There was also a few 6mm rounds of what I call calico jasper(sorry, don't know the 'real' name and Pam is resting atm, but it is basically white with yellows, browns and golds in it). There was also about 10 swarks in several colors as well as a couple of dozen very nice wood ovals(4mmx8mm). The rest were pretty much glass and a few one-ofs in different stones, but there were only about 10-12 plastic/acrylic beads in the entire bag. It was well worth the few dollars in my opinion. However, I have only done this once and I may have just gotten a good draw as it were. With things like this you do take a chance, but life is a gamble in and of itself, so why not try one now and again, ya know. They are very reasonably priced and it's always a surprise.

 Billy ;o)