| If you are into bead craft as a hobby you will | | | | bead organizer may be best. These are typically |
| understand the importance of keeping track of | | | | large plastic cases that come with smaller plastic |
| the little devils both whilst working with them and | | | | boxes inside. The inside boxes are usually varied in |
| whilst storing them. Luckily there are many bead | | | | size, giving more appropriate options for your |
| storage options available to you, but where do | | | | varied sizes or numbers of different beads. Each |
| you start looking and how do you choose | | | | box has its own lid, meaning you can use, fill or |
| between them? | | | | empty individual sets easily. Try and avoid the |
| What are your requirements? | | | | compartmentalized versions with only one lid for |
| The first thing you need to think about is what | | | | the whole organizer as these create problems |
| your collection of beads and tools is like. How | | | | when beads slip across dividers. |
| many do you have? What size beads are they? | | | | Criteria for the best bead storage |
| How many different piles do you need to keep | | | | Whichever type of bead storage container you |
| separate and how big is each one? Next you need | | | | go for, you should ensure it meets certain |
| to decide where you are going to keep the whole | | | | fundamental criteria before buying. The boxes |
| system when you are not working on it. Do you | | | | should be see through to some extent. The lids |
| have a dedicated room or table in your house or | | | | should be individual for each section and secure. |
| do you need to pack everything away into a | | | | The system as a whole should offer some |
| cupboard? And finally do you want a bead | | | | degree of flexibility as your collection is likely to |
| storage system that you can take out and about | | | | change over time and it should be portable if you |
| with you? Once you know your requirements you | | | | intend to work with it away from home at any |
| are better equipped to find the right containers | | | | time. |
| for you. | | | | Recycled bead storage? |
| Types of bead storage | | | | As well as purpose made bead storage options, |
| Bead storage comes in a number of designs. To | | | | you can also repurpose containers that you |
| keep a large number of small collections of small | | | | already have lying around your house. This will |
| beads, plastic tubes or vials are ideal. They are | | | | save you money but may not be as easy to |
| clear so you can see at a glance which beads are | | | | handle as a whole system and will not look as |
| in which tubes and you can buy tube holders that | | | | nice. Ideas include fishing tackle boxes, screw or |
| fold up easily to make a portable and easily tidied | | | | nail boxes, sweet or medicine bottles or even |
| storage solution. For a more varied collection a | | | | spice bottles and racks. |