The Bead Economist tells you how to get FREE handcrafted art beads

The economy has gone sour and our readers want to know what they can do to to economize. Enter, The Bead Economist, who will weigh in on what beads and findings are worth investing your hard earned cash in. Today, The Bead Economist has some advice on how to get those high quality handmade art beads for FREE.


Contests: Enter enter enter! Often the prizes are art beads and supplies such as the ABS Monthly Challenge and larger competitions like Bead Star. Here are a few links to recent contests:

Jennifer Jangles Blog

ABS Monthly Challenge

Newsletters: Sign up for newsletters from your favorite beadmaker. Special sales and discounts are offered to newsletter subscribers.

Comments on Blogs: Follow your favorite beadmaker blogs. Beadmakers like me and many others will have give aways for comments. ABS Editors have given away beads on their blogs here are links to the most recent giveaways:

Humblebeads Blog

Lampwork Diva

Lynn of Expedition D

Don't forget to check back on the blogs too. Some art beads go unclaimed because commenters don't check back to find out they won!

(Photo Credit - thank you!)

(written by The Bead Economist and glass beadmaker, Cindy Gimbrone.)