Facebook PixelBlueberry Cove Beads Subscription Box Review – November 2018 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Blueberry Cove Beads Subscription Box Review – November 2018

Ragan Buckley
ByRagan BuckleyDec 1, 2018 | 3 comments

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Box

Blueberry Cove Beads
4.8 overall rating
4 Ratings | 2 Reviews

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!

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Black Bag

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

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Review

About Blueberry Cove Beads

The Subscription Box: Blueberry Cove Beads

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

The Cost: $27 ($22 for the subscription + $5 shipping)

Ships to: US and Canada

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 Review

Blueberry Cove Beads shipments always center around a theme. This month’s theme was “Africa”:

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Booklet Front

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Booklet Back

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 if you live in the US since it is shipping from Canada. (Blueberry Cove Beads uses the Chitchats shipping service so now you can track your packages, though!)

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Semicircles

Goldtone Semicircles

These are pretty bold but I went for it and used them in a pair of earrings which you can see below. They’re not actually that heavy.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Carved

Carved Beads

I think these are some kind of carved or etched stone but I could be wrong about that. (I really wish there was a materials list provided outside Facebook for this subscription. I don’t have a Facebook account so I can’t access all those features.) I haven’t used them yet, but they are a good size for accent beads on either side of a pendant, or they’re also small enough for use in a bracelet.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Wood Circles

Wood (?) Circles

I’m honestly not sure if these are wood or some kind of imitation wood (like plastic? or possibly coconut shell? Although they’re probably too smooth and regular to be shell). They are super lightweight, though, which made them great for earrings (see an example below).

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Leopards

Goldtone Leopards

Sorry if the item names are not creative, I am having to come up with these all on my own! So I am just being descriptive. Anyway, these also came in a pair so I used them with the wood circles to make some earrings. They’re just on the upper limit of what I would consider in an earring dangle, but I have a preference for delicate jewelry.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Charms

Goldtone Spiral Charms

These would be great for a charm bracelet (or at least, a bracelet with some charms on it). I think they would contrast well with some of the red and black accent beads from this shipment (see below).

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Sea Glass

Sea Glass (?) Beads

I don’t know if these are actual sea glass, probably not since they are pretty regular in shape (and come in matching pairs). But they have that look of tumbled glass. I used two of these in some earrings but I still have the other two left over.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Spirals

Goldtone Spiral Beads

Lots of spirals this month (more below). They are all yellow metals, too, so if you are creative you could figure out a way to use them all together and have a shape theme for a jewelry piece. I feel like these would work well with some natural materials (shell, neutral stones, etc.) so I will see what I have in my stash that fits that description.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Large Red

Ceramic Rondelles

These have large holes. I’m not sure if the included cord (see below) would fit through, but they would be great on some hemp cord for macramé or strung on some imitation leather with other large-hole beads.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Feathers

Silvertone “Feathers”

I think these are supposed to be feathers, but they could be something else. They are long enough that I think they would be best used in earrings or dangling from a necklace, they’d be a bit much for a bracelet.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Black

Black Accent Beads

These are disc-shaped with the drill hole in the center. They are lightweight and may be some form of painted or shell or coconut shell. They’re sort of organic-looking and I think they would look great paired with some bright, shiny metals.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Red

Red Accent Beads

I’m *almost* positive these are painted/dyed coconut shell, as they remind me a great deal of some other coconut shell beads I’ve had in the past. Anyway, I used some of these in a pair of earrings, which you can see below.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Jasper

Gemstone Rounds

These have the look of some type of jasper or other, though I’m not good at identifying most semiprecious stones. Anyway, I’ve been wanting to do more work with some larger gemstone rounds and these will serve nicely. I like the mix of earth tones and neutrals.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Cord

Decorative Cord

I think this could be used in a loomed bracelet with beads in between, or perhaps you could put some large-hole beads on it, or even just glue on some cord ends and hang a pendant from it. I haven’t done too much work with cords like this in the past so I will have to think about this some more.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Springs

Goldtone Graduated Springs

I am fascinated with these. They remind me of those springs from door stoppers but on a smaller scale. I used a few in earrings. They would probably work well to hide ends of cords in a multistrand necklace, as well.

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Earrings 1

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Earrings 2

Blueberry Cove Beads November 2018 - Earrings 3

Here are some earrings I made using the items from the box. None of them took very long so I made three pairs. The hooks are an off-color because they’re niobium (which is hypoallergenic but can’t be anodized to quite the color of gold or brass). I realize my wire work is a little sloppy on the hoop ones but I’m not actually very good at wire work.

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 14 items so you are paying about $1.93 an item once you factor in the cost of shipping. This month’s contents definitely took me out of my comfort zone but then, it was also really easy for me to come up with ideas.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? No, your first box would come in December. However, sometimes leftover monthly boxes show up in the Blueberry Cove Beads shop and they occasionally have sales, too!

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

Value Breakdown: At $27 for this box, including shipping, you are paying $1.93 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 November 2018 Blueberry Cove Beads? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?

Starting at $27.00
Subscribe Now
The monthly subscription service for everyone with a bead addiction has arrived, delivering a surprise themed selection of beads directly to you every month!
Ragan Buckley
Ragan Buckley
Ragan stumbled across My Subscription Addiction in late 2013 and immediately subscribed to way too many beauty boxes. She's now focused on boxes for her cats and dog, vegan/vegetarian food boxes, and craft subscriptions (and she didn't give up beauty boxes entirely).

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

3 comments

Beth

Great box. I love your description of the graduated springs. A door stopper is exactly what I thought!

You did a beautiful job using the items. I especially like the earrings with the door stoppers.

Reply ButtonReply

Ragan

It was on my mind because one of my cats (Monkey) keeps detaching a door stopper from the wall.

Reply ButtonReply

Virginia

This box had a nice variety of items to make some really pretty pieces of jewelry. Really like the earrings you did.

Reply ButtonReply