Want more resources? Get my guide on 25+ trusted jewelry suppliers and how to shop for supplies in person here.

After our guide to local fabric stores was published, we received many questions about where to find other supplies locally. As a professional jewelry maker, I have tried hundreds of companies to get my jewelry supplies, and some of them have been better than others. I’ve put this guide together of jewelry companies, with a focus on the few that are in the D.C, Maryland and Virginia area. 

Local

Potomac Beads - Hagerstown, MD. 

Potomac beads is just outside of Frederick and has tons of kits, findings and beads available. It is unclear if you can visit them in person or not, but they are considered a local resource, and if they are online only, it will at least ship fast! 

Bead Soup - Savage, MD.

Bead Soup is not too far away from Frederick and does have a storefront you can visit! They primarily focus on seed beads and kits, but have some great supplies. Visit them in Savage Mill Wednesday - Sunday. 

Leesburg Beads - Leesburg, VA.

Leesburg Beads is the place to go if you want an in-person experience. You cannot shop their selection online, but they are open Wednesday-Saturday for shopping. If you want an even more fun, hands-on experience, they have classes and bead parties as well. 

Beyond the region 

Bead stores are much less common than fabric stores, but we have found some amazing ones on our travels. Here are a few notable shops outside of the DMV area!

Beads Inc. - Charlotte, NC. 

My favorite bead shop, Beads Inc, has the absolute best beads around. They also have a stunning storefront in Charlotte, NC I was able to visit over the summer and do some shopping in person. Their quality is unmatched and I always find exactly what I need. 

Beads Inc. also offers an automatic wholesale discount if you spend over $250, so you can save money on larger orders. 

Toho Shoji - New York, NY. 

Toho is in New York City and is well known for their seed beads. Their NYC shop has just about everything you need for jewelry making. Their materials are affordable and their selection is beyond impressive. Stop by if you need seed beads, findings, or any random jewelry item. 

Online 

Online is where you will find the most reliable sources. Lima Beads, Fire Mountain Gems and Gempacked are all trustworthy online shops, but there are many more out there. 

Lima beads 

My #1 preferred choice since I began making jewelry, Lima has everything. They are online only (based in Michigan), but their quality is phenomenal. They have a great selection of high quality gemstone and crystal beads, tarnish resistant chain and every kind of finding you need. They include a coupon code in every order, so you can always save!

Etsy

Etsy is where a lot of makers get their supplies from. It is mainly a trial and error process finding the right ones, but there are some Etsy shops with over 1 million sales, so I would trust most shops with high sale numbers. You can find everything from beads, charms, findings, earring components and chains on Etsy, you just have to look!

Want more resources? Get my guide for 25 of my personal favorite and trusted jewelry suppliers all over the United States! I break down every online shop, provide more in-person shopping details, and offer tips for finding shops on your own. 

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