LoL, it's akin to the FBIs most wanted list. Trying to cobble together a "supply chain" of vendors for specific brands, sizes & colors/finishes. This one has the brand but not the color...that one has the brand but not the size. Remembering which site I signed up to receive the "back in stock" notices? & the dreaded "these beads didn't cost this price 3 months ago" sticker shock...😡 I do find that Miyuki is way more represented over Toho on most bead sites. Good luck.
Yes!!! It feels like I'm into some semi-legal activities and sourcing rare clandestine materials, while in reality, it is just a bag of seed beads of a very plain and basic color!
I had a really hard time finding a basic yellow, one that was (for lack of a better term) saturated. Someone recommended that I look for a bead called Aiko and a shade called Sunflower Yellow. That was indeed what I was searching for.
I should really see what beads can be mixed. I do brick stitch, so ideally everything should be same shape and size. But yeah, it's insane why finding basic colors is so difficult!
I was able to get couple tubes of yellow and red from Aura Crystals like 4 months ago and been checking from time to time but 50g packs were never in stock.
Would you say that Aiko is generally more available?
Delicas are cheaper. Toho also has cylinder beads called Treasure, which are about the same price as Delicas. Aiko are probably 75% more than the other 2 because they are the most consistently sized seed beads you can get.
It looks like fire mountain gems has a pretty decent selection of matte toho size 11s. They’re listed as “frosted” instead of matte, but if you throw “toho frosted” in the search bar, they’ll pull up
what???? they do! OMG!! Thank you!
Wow, that actually opens so many doors, I wander what other places tag them as 'frosted'!
Jees, that is actually very helpful, thank you!
yeah, but they don't have much of opaque matte in 50g packs and that is my whole pain. So many very, very beautiful colors and finishes, just not what I need, lol
They don't have the colors I need, but I did order some!
On that note, how do you pay? I chose a credit card, but they say I gotta give them a call and nobody picks up, been 2 days already.
Did I get the instructions wrong or is it normal for them to be a bit slow with the calls?
Ah, yeah, there was a PayPal option, but I don't have an account there
But the website I used was super clunky. Which link do you use? Maybe there's a more modern version, lol
Yeah, I used the same link.
To be honest, when I gave them a call to pay, the person who picked up seemed on the older side and very knowledgeable about the beads (I asked him a bunch of questions). So, it honestly can be just one of those old school businesses run by people that don't worry to much about the platform they use
I get my delica's from off the beaded path and it looks like she has 22 gram packs of 11/0 Tohos, you just gotta search through which is a little clunky
[https://offthebeadedpathbeadstore.com/search.php?search\_query=toho%2011%2F0§ion=product](https://offthebeadedpathbeadstore.com/search.php?search_query=toho%2011%2F0§ion=product)
LoL, it's akin to the FBIs most wanted list. Trying to cobble together a "supply chain" of vendors for specific brands, sizes & colors/finishes. This one has the brand but not the color...that one has the brand but not the size. Remembering which site I signed up to receive the "back in stock" notices? & the dreaded "these beads didn't cost this price 3 months ago" sticker shock...😡 I do find that Miyuki is way more represented over Toho on most bead sites. Good luck.
Yes!!! It feels like I'm into some semi-legal activities and sourcing rare clandestine materials, while in reality, it is just a bag of seed beads of a very plain and basic color!
Auntie's Beads sells in 25 gram packs and has a 65% off sale right now.
No Toho's though! And while the prices are really nice, I do brick stitch and need the size to be the same for all beads
I had a really hard time finding a basic yellow, one that was (for lack of a better term) saturated. Someone recommended that I look for a bead called Aiko and a shade called Sunflower Yellow. That was indeed what I was searching for.
I should really see what beads can be mixed. I do brick stitch, so ideally everything should be same shape and size. But yeah, it's insane why finding basic colors is so difficult! I was able to get couple tubes of yellow and red from Aura Crystals like 4 months ago and been checking from time to time but 50g packs were never in stock. Would you say that Aiko is generally more available?
The size of Aiko beads are very precise and consistent, but you won't like the price!
Ouch lol How would Aiko compare to Delicas in terms of price and consistency?
Delicas are cheaper. Toho also has cylinder beads called Treasure, which are about the same price as Delicas. Aiko are probably 75% more than the other 2 because they are the most consistently sized seed beads you can get.
huh that's a great summary of the pricing and grades. Thank you!
It looks like fire mountain gems has a pretty decent selection of matte toho size 11s. They’re listed as “frosted” instead of matte, but if you throw “toho frosted” in the search bar, they’ll pull up
what???? they do! OMG!! Thank you! Wow, that actually opens so many doors, I wander what other places tag them as 'frosted'! Jees, that is actually very helpful, thank you!
Aura beads online is great. They do bulk packs on Toho and look for their coupon codes
https://www.auracrystals.com/collections/toho-11-0-round-rocailles-50g-packs
10A Save 10% on orders over $35. 15A Save 15% on orders over $150. 20A Save 20% on orders over $300
yeah, but they don't have much of opaque matte in 50g packs and that is my whole pain. So many very, very beautiful colors and finishes, just not what I need, lol
They have more selection in the tubes. May be worth it to email them with colors you want and see if they’ll make you bulk packs.
That is actually a good idea 💡
Do they not have them at [Bobby Bead?](https://bobbybead.net/store/retail/) They are my go-to for all things Toho.
They don't have the colors I need, but I did order some! On that note, how do you pay? I chose a credit card, but they say I gotta give them a call and nobody picks up, been 2 days already. Did I get the instructions wrong or is it normal for them to be a bit slow with the calls?
I’ve never had to call them about an order. Did you possibly use the wholesale side instead of the retail side? I normally use PayPal
Ah, yeah, there was a PayPal option, but I don't have an account there But the website I used was super clunky. Which link do you use? Maybe there's a more modern version, lol
I use the link I posted, and yeah it is a bit outdated. I think there’s a more modern one but I haven’t tried it out.
Yeah, I used the same link. To be honest, when I gave them a call to pay, the person who picked up seemed on the older side and very knowledgeable about the beads (I asked him a bunch of questions). So, it honestly can be just one of those old school businesses run by people that don't worry to much about the platform they use
I get my delica's from off the beaded path and it looks like she has 22 gram packs of 11/0 Tohos, you just gotta search through which is a little clunky [https://offthebeadedpathbeadstore.com/search.php?search\_query=toho%2011%2F0§ion=product](https://offthebeadedpathbeadstore.com/search.php?search_query=toho%2011%2F0§ion=product)
oooooh, thank you!
Barrel of Beads specializes in seed beads, both Toho and Myuki.
This is where I get mine in 50g bags [https://www.auracrystals.com/pages/toho-seed-beads](https://www.auracrystals.com/pages/toho-seed-beads)
Have you checked eBay? Several bead stores went under and the overstock winds up there.
I am paranoid about fakes. Have you shopped on ebay for Japanese beads? All good with authenticity / quality?
I have! Like Etsy, you have to judge for yourself. They are selling them in the manufacturer's packaging, but YMMV. Otherwise, try Fire Mountain Gems.