Dollar Bead Bag is a smaller box from Dollar Bead Box and delivers Czech Fire Polish beads every month. During a given month, reorder your favorite items from the Dollar Bead Box shop for just $1. (This deal is only available to subscribers.)
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
This review is of the Dollar Bead Bag, $8 a month, box.
The Subscription Box: Dollar Bead Bag
The Cost: $8 for the Dollar Bead Bag + free shipping with 3- and 6-month subscriptions (plus get an additional discount on 6-month subscriptions). The Dollar Bead Box is $19.50 + $4.50 shipping.
The Products: 4 strands of 3 mm Czech Fire Polish Beads and 4 strands of 4 mm Czech Fire Polish Beads
Ships to: U.S.
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The bag included a list of items in the box. I received an email this month letting me know that the color names were inadvertently listed under the wrong sizes for this month.
A note on prices: Items like this can come from a variety of different suppliers at many price points depending on how many you buy, etc. I couldn’t find a lot of these exact beads from common sources (e.g., Fire Mountain Gems) and it’s of questionable value to pick something similar because a slight difference in grading or size or material and you are looking at half or double the price (or an even greater difference). Even different colors of the same size and shape of glass beads are priced differently due to materials needed to make the colors!
3 mm Czech Firepolished Beads (from top to bottom): Sienna Travertine Pink Luster, Olive with Ochre Travertine, Matte Ruby AB, and Gold Tinsel with Blue Iris
I know the top two strands will go well with other things in my stash. I think my favorite is the red, which is interesting since I don’t usually go for mattes (though I have been really into sea glass lately). I like the coating on the bottom strand. (Note: these appear larger in the photo than they actually are.)
4 mm Czech Firepolished Beads (from top to bottom): Jet Metallic Iris Mix, Matte Tanzanite Marea, Crystal AB, and Wintermint Green
I thought the bottom three colors went nicely together so I used them in a bracelet. I’m hanging on to the top strand for now; I just ordered some size 15/0 seed beads in a similar color and finish and I have a pattern I want to use from a book with those.
I know I did something very similar in October. I was hoping my technique had improved a bit. Sadly, my stitches are still pretty loose, though I did a better job choosing thread color. I have sought out some advice online about how to tighten up my right angle weave and I think I know what to do, so next time I do one of these, hopefully it won’t be so loose! (Right angle weave is still a new stitch for me but it is a great way to use little crystals and firepolished beads.)
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for the December 2016 Dollar Bead Bag, for reasons explained above. This is one of those subscriptions where you know in advance what you are going to get each month (only the color is a surprise). It works out to $1 per strand, and I think that is reasonable. These strands are a little shorter than what you’d get at Fire Mountain Gems, for example, but the prices are also lower. This is a good subscription if you are looking to build your stash.
Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, and findings.
What did you think of the December 2016 Dollar Bead Bag? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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