****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I thought long and hard on this issue of bead storage. Years ago I had put lots of $$$ into another available bead storage system only to find it very troublesome. They were those stacking round clear plastic screw-on stackable bead containers, but every time you’d go to get beads out, the screw tops would fail and all your beads would be scattered far and wide across the floor. It was frustrating. It was a waste. And if you had invested lots of $$$ into that system like I had, you’d be as livid as I was about that said bead organizing system. I can’t tell you how many times those problems occurred even when being cautious, and so by the end of a few years what I had was just mixed beads in various containers instead of beads neatly sorted and organized. I had also lost a great majority of my beads because of their faulty system... lots of beads now most likely hidden in the deepest recesses and corners of the room. $$$, down the drain..Er, ...down the ducts and forever stuck between floorboards. I never wanted to make that mistake again.So when it came to finding a replacement system, it took me years to decide. I searched around the internet. I found and went with these. I can tell you, they aren’t perfect, but it’s the best out there. My only concerns are that the lids will most likely break over time and the other issue being it’s hard to find the right sized container for different sized collections of beads. Doubling up on one sized container for one specific bead type will have to do when they all won’t fit into one container... but that’s 1st world problems, and nothing to really gripe about. Having an organized system with beads greatly helps with the creative process. I love how I can sort and stack these according to color size and type. It makes it easy to find the beads you want and also lets you know if you are low on bead quantities. Each container is separate, so there is no fearing upsetting other bead containments like with other systems. If you want to go to another place or room with just a few specific beads, you can quickly grab the ones you want and go.....and without worry of spilling. (If you do, it’s you’re fault for not shutting the lid!) All these factors make for a great investment.One last note I wanted to share: You don’t have to store them in the trays, though they are helpful. I found I needed something different, and so I arranged all the beads containers in a large pull out drawer. That way, they are kept in one place and can be seen easily instead of stacking them in the trays and having to move each tray to see all the beads. Also, if someone desired, a wall unit could be made to hold a great many of these containers if one wished to display them in such a way. Such a contraption wouldn’t be difficult to make and could provide a nice organized visual for efficient beading. Lastly, thankfully the Elizabeth Ward beading system sells the containers separately without the trays and I ended up purchasing more of those to finish organizing my beads. ...another great plus!So, I am very happy with finding this product and very pleased with the versatility and efficiency this bead organization system provides. No more approaching my beads with fear of spilling, no more messes to clean up and spending hours to try to resort, no more lost beads and investment. Oh, and as far as affordability... I didn’t do actual crunching of numbers, but round about, this system actually cost me a bit less or same as the other bead storage system I spoke about in my first paragraph. So THANK YOU Elizabeth Ward company. You have made serious crafting so much better.
