Blueberry Cove Beads Subscription Box Review – October 2018

Blueberry Cove Beads is a beading subscription from Canada. Every month they ship beads and supplies and post a challenge incorporating one or more items from the box. If you choose to enter the challenge, you can share photos of your project and may win your next month’s box free!

My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

About Blueberry Cove Beads

The Subscription Box: Blueberry Cove Beads

The Cost: $22 per month plus $3.50 shipping to Canada, $5 shipping to the US, or $8.50 shipping internationally

The Products: A curated selection of beads and findings centered on a theme. 

Ships to: U.S. and Canada

Good to know: You will receive this towards the end of the month or the beginning of the next month if you live in the U.S. since it is shipping from Canada. (Blueberry Cove Beads did recently start using a new shipping service so now you can track your packages, though!)

Blueberry Cove Beads October 2018 Review

Blueberry Cove Beads shipments always center around a theme. This month had a fantasy theme:

There isn’t a traditional information card with this box (i.e., you don’t get an item list). The card typically contains a photo or piece of art on one side and information about the theme on the other.

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. Even different colors of the same size and shape of glass beads are priced differently due to materials needed to make the colors! So I have opted not to provide prices in this review.

Please note that no directions are given and you have to supply your own needles, stringing materials, tools, and findings. Also, note that you will receive this towards the end of the month or the beginning of the next month if you live in the US since it is shipping from Canada. (Blueberry Cove Beads did recently start using a new shipping service so now you can track your packages, though!)

Half-Coated Black Rounds

These have the feel of glass and seem a bit higher-quality than the accent beads we usually get with this subscription. I used some of them in a necklace, which you can see below.

Matte Chinese Crystal Rondelles

I am sure there is an official color name for these but I don’t know what it is. I think the matte finish is interesting in combination with the faceting. I haven’t used them yet, but I have a ton of Chinese crystal in matching finishes, so I am sure they will find a use in a piece of jewelry soon.

Center-Drilled Crystal Drop

There were several options this month for focals or centerpieces. This was one. I didn’t end up using it this time, but I may try doing some wire-wrapping that incorporates it (I need all the practice with wire that I can get).

Crystal Points

These have the look of being dyed rather than natural to me, so you may want to coat with a fixative before using, or at any rate, make sure they don’t get wet. I have seen multi-crystal necklaces but they are a little much for me so I think I’m going to find a way to use these individually.

Glass Rounds

The pattern on these reminds me of dragon scales (perhaps the other contents of the box are influencing me, though). Anyway, you’ll usually get a few accent beads with this subscription. I haven’t used these yet but I think they might look nice with some black onyx and goldtone spacers.

Patina Dragons

These are an antique brass finish with patina. I am all about patina (my own attempts to create it have not been so successful just yet but I don’t have a good place to work without cats around). They are a bit big for my taste for earrings although if you have a bolder style you could certainly use them that way.

Metal-Plated Imitation Druzy

You’ll get metal beads and charms in a variety of colors and finishes in this subscription; they don’t always match (in fact, they usually don’t). But, goldtone was good for the project I had in mind so I used a couple of these.

Antique Brass Filigrees

I have been collecting filigrees because I want to try beading on them, and I don’t have any even remotely like this in my collection, so I am happy to receive these.

Chinese Crystal Hexagons

There were two different styles here. I used the two matching ones in a necklace. I like the iridescence in the background (which the photo actually captures pretty well).

Silver Horn Charms

These sort of make me think of unicorn horns although they could just be spikes. At any rate, these would be good as dangles in earrings or potentially as spikes sticking out in an edgier piece.

Irregular Pendant

This has the weight of stone but I don’t have any idea what it is. It may be coated or dyed. At any rate, I thought it would make a great focal piece for a necklace so that is how I used it.

Purple and Clear Crackle Glass Rounds

Here is another strand of accent beads. They’re a little bright for what I wanted to do this month, but I felt they matched my desired color scheme a little better than the Chinese crystal, so I used a few in my necklace.

Goldtone Sun Spacers

Here is the second goldtone item for the month. These are large-hole spacers so I used them between some of the other rounds in the front part of my necklace for a little sparkle and contrast. I have two left so I may make some matching earrings.

Here is a necklace I made with quite a few of the items from the box. It is a little over-the-top in terms of my usual style but I think it is good to mix it up every now and then.

Verdict: I did not calculate a value here because it is hard to find similar items when you don’t know the precise materials the beads are made from (I do wish there was more information on the card that comes with the box, in case I find something I’d like to order more of). There were 13 items (if I counted right) so you are paying about $2.08 an item once you factor in the cost of shipping.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, your first box would be October's. From Blueberry Cove Beads:

Members are billed on the 3rd of each month and boxes are mailed out around the 9th of the month.

Sometimes leftover monthly boxes show up in the Blueberry Cove Beads shop and they occasionally have sales, too!

Value Breakdown: At $27 for this box, including shipping, you are paying about $2.08 per item.

Check out all of our Blueberry Cove Bead reviews and the Craft Subscription Box Directory for more great craft supply and DIY project boxes!

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What did you think of the October 2018 Blueberry Cove Beads? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?