Facet Jewelry Box is a new subscription box from the editors at Facet Jewelry and Bead & Button magazine. They offer two versions, the “Quick and Easy Stringing” version and the “Bead Stitching Version,” so you can choose a subscription based on your skill level and interests, as well as the amount of time you want to invest in the projects.
This is a review of the “Bead Stitching” version (both versions cost the same).
Facet Jewelry Box provided this box at no cost for review purposes. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Facet Jewelry Box
The Subscription Box: Facet Jewelry Box (bead stitching version)
The Cost: $24.95 per month on a month-to-month basis, save with longer subscriptions
The Products: Materials and instructions to complete two beading/jewelry making projects using bead stitching techniques.
Ships to: US (free) and international (shipping fee will be assessed during checkout and you will be responsible for customs charges, VAT, receiving charges, etc., as appropriate for your location)
Facet Jewelry Box (Bead Stitching Version) February 2019 Review
I am never sure whether I’ll be working on a project for days or just a few hours with this subscription:
The first thing you see when you open the box is this full-color booklet. I haven’t shown you all of the pages inside, because part of the subscription fee is for the projects that are included.
This is a really nice-looking booklet, honestly, but I’d expect nothing less from the folks at Bead & Button (I’ve been a subscriber for a while now). There are also links to online resources if you need a little help with a technique.
Simple Stitch Necklace
I worked on this one second because it looked like it would take less time, and I was right. The stitched central part of this worked up quickly and without a lot of fuss. And then it came time to finish the necklace and the problems began.
Pay no heed to my poor crimping technique, what I’m showing here is that the crimp is goldtone instead of antique copper. Antique copper crimps were provided with the box but they were enormous, far too large to go with the wire that was provided. (Crimps have different sizes. Beading wire sometimes even says on the spool what size of crimp to use with it.) So, I raided my stash for some #1 crimp tubes. But the only ones I had were goldtone, so that’s what I used. I should also point out that I broke a lot of beads when trying to crimp between seed beads, I think my crimping pliers were too big for the tight space.
And here you will see that I had to add some chain to reach the clasp. After you completed the middle part, you were supposed to alternate 8/0 and 15/0 seed beads on the wire to your desired length. They suggested 56 8/0 seed beads. Only, by the time I got to this part, I had 88 8/0 seed beads left, which was only enough for 44 seed beads on each side (OK, 43 on one side because I dropped one and couldn’t find it again). This would not have fit around my neck (and I have a thin neck). So I raided my stash again for some chain and jump rings (this time I did have them in antique copper) to extend the length.
I’m not sure how easy the fixes here would be without an enormous stash (it is taking over two rooms of my house at this point…). You could get an inexpensive spool of wire and some crimps on Amazon and have them in two days if you were a Prime member (I wouldn’t necessarily count on a craft store, though a dedicated beading store might be able to help). Anyway, although I do like the look of alternating 15/0 and 8/0 seed beads, I strongly dislike stringing seed beads on long lengths of wire or thread and I couldn’t use my bead spinner because of the alternating pattern you were supposed to form.
FYI, the jump rings fit nicely through the crystal drops. One was a bit of trouble but I tried going through the drop with the other edge of the open jump ring and that solved the problem. No issues there.
Peyote Picasso Bracelet
This is the project I did first and it took me about four days. But, I am not complaining. I find repetitive peyote stitching kind of meditative and this was a good activity for evenings when I wasn’t really mentally capable of anything more complex. It was also good practice at odd-count peyote (I tend to stick to even-count because it’s easier) and the odd-count choice makes total sense considering the clasp that was provided. My wrists are 5.25 inches around so I didn’t have to make this too long but it would take you obviously a bit longer for a 7 or 8-inch bracelet (I’m not sure there were actually enough beads for an 8-inch bracelet). I like Picasso beads a lot too, so working with them was a bonus for me.
Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Facet Jewelry Box, but you get the materials and instructions for making two complete pieces of jewelry. The bracelet project was pretty straightforward if lengthy, and the necklace project had some hiccups but I think I recovered nicely.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Boxes go out after the 20th and people who sign up before the 15th will get that month’s box. If you sign up after the 15th, you may still be able to get that month’s box but this is not guaranteed. (This was February’s box and it is now March so it’s too late for this one at any rate.)
Value Breakdown: At $24.95 per box, you are paying about $12.48 per project.
See my past reviews of Facet Jewelry Box here or check out the Craft Subscription Box list for more great beading, 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 February 2019 Facet Jewelry Box (bead stitching version)? Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?
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