If you're going to make our "Lizbeth Band" pattern, you're going to need some 3mm round beads. As you probably know, the 3mm ones aren't as readily available as the 4mm ones. It was even harder to find them in 3mm when I first started beading a few years ago but more and more shops are starting to carry them. Besides searching for the word "druks", also try searching for "smooth round" or "pressed round" beads. You might also try searching for Czech glass pearls and Czech melon beads.
Paloma's Path Bracelet
It's a mystery to me why bead sites and local shops don't sell more 3mm beads. I counted at least 24 of Deb Roberti's patterns that call for that size and those are just the patterns of hers that I have. That alone should prompt the bead suppliers to stock up on 3mm druks and pearls since Deb's are the most popular beading patterns in the entire world.
Quick SuperDuo Bracelet
I'm including quite a few examples in this post of bracelets and earrings that are made with 3mm druks or pearls.
SuperDuo Rosette Bracelet
All of the shops below have druks in the 3mm size:
Ankes-Perlenstube (Germany)
I didn't see any druks here but they do have 3mm melon beads.
Artbeads
Aura Crystals
I've been buying beads from Aura Crystals almost as long as I've been beading. However, it is only in the past couple of years that they've started carrying the 3mm size. They have a nice selection but it seems to be gradually dwindling.
Bead Buddies
No druks but they have a lot of 3mm glass pearls
Bead House (Netherlands)
BeadsParade Etsy
ArteBellaSurplus Etsy
Arte Bella Surplus has them in six colors
Bead Haven
Bead Passion Studio
Beads Gone Wild
No druks that I could find but they do have 3mm Czech pearls
Beads Mine (Italy)
Bello Modo
CJ Beaders UK
They have a few colors
Crystals and Ice Bead Shop (UK)
CzechBeadsExclusive Etsy
Di Marca Online (France)
DrBead Etsy
EarthTreasuresGems Etsy
Eureka Crystal Beads
Fire Mountain Gems & Beads
Fofinhas Perlenstuebchen (Germany)
Fusion Beads
They have 3mm druks, melon beads and Fiesta pearls
Gyöngysziget (Hungary)
Highly Strung Beads (UK)
No druks but they have a nice selection of 3mm glass pearls
Hobby Lobby
I haven't searched their website but they do sell 3mm metal beads in the store and they're often 50% off.
JellyBeads (Australia)
Small assortment
Jill Wiseman Designs
Lima Beads
Odyssey Cache
Odyssey Cache Etsy
Old Bicycle Shop (UK)
Over the Rainbow (Australia)
They have a few 3mm glass pearls
Perles & Co (UK)
Potomac Beads
Queen City Bead Etsy
Red Panda
Robin's Beads (UK)
ScaraBeads (Czech Republic)
ScaraBeads Etsy (Czech Republic)
Shipwreck Beads
They have some 3mm druks and 3mm Preciosa pearls
Simply Beads USA
Druks and 3mm glass pearls
Spoilt Rotten Beads (UK)
A small assortment of 3mm druks and pearls
SupplyEmporium Etsy
The Bead Obsession
Just a few colors in 3mm
Arulla Earrings
Princess Earrings
Petites Fleurs Earrings
Lovely Lace Bracelet
Sophia Bracelet
Eclipse Bracelet
Quick SuperDuo Bracelet
Starflower Bracelet
SuperDuo Rosette Bracelet
Lizbeth Band
Thanks, Linda, good to know! You're right that it's hard to find 3mm especially round.
ReplyDeleteBeadlady a.k.a. Cindy's Crafts has lots of druks and crystals, firepolished in 3mm and 4 mm. Some beautiful colors. Check them out. That's where I get mine.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.beadlady.biz/index.html Cindys Crafts
http://www.picturetrail.com/beadlady
Tonihrabak
I would like to add Fire Mountain Gems to the list of online bead retailers. They sell 3 mm pearls, druks and fire polished. http://www.firemountaingems.com/
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra. They're on the list. I added them early this morning.
DeleteOops! Sorry Linda, I missed that somehow when I first read through the list.
DeleteGyöngysziget in Hungary has a nice selection of 3mm druks, as well as 3mm firepolished beads.
ReplyDeletehttps://gyongysziget.hu/en/Czech-pressed-round-bead-_3mm
I don't know about shipping costs to the US, but within Europe, they are reasonable.
Thank you, Yersinia. I just added them to the list. They have a very nice selection of druks and Fiesta pearls. I did have them on my main bead shop list but somehow missed them when I compiled this list.
DeleteFYI - Lima Beads is having a good sale and free shipping for Feb.
ReplyDelete