Facet Jewelry Box Bead Stitching Review – August 2019

Facet Jewelry Box is a jewelry-making subscription box from the editors at Facet Jewelry and Bead & Button magazine.  They offer two versions, the “Quick and Easy Stringing” version and the “Bead Stitching Version,” so you can choose a subscription based on your skill level and interests, as well as the amount of time you want to invest in the projects.

This is a review of the “Bead Stitching” version for $24.95/month (both versions cost the same).

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

About Facet Jewelry Box

The Subscription Box: Facet Jewelry Box (bead stitching version)

The Cost: $24.95 per month on a month-to-month basis, save with longer subscriptions

The Products: Materials and instructions to complete two beading/jewelry making projects using bead stitching techniques.

Ships to: The US (free) and international (shipping fee will be assessed during checkout and you will be responsible for customs charges, VAT, receiving charges, etc., as appropriate for your location)

Facet Jewelry Box (Bead Stitching Version) August 2019 Review

I am never sure whether I’ll be working on a project for days or just a few hours with this subscription:

The first thing you see when you open the box is this full-color booklet. I haven’t shown you all of the pages inside, because part of the subscription fee is for the projects that are included. (Lately I’ve been noticing some of the projects are from older issues of Bead & Button magazine, so if you’d like to do some similar projects, check out this series of books, especially numbers 10 and 11.)

This is a really nice-looking booklet, honestly, but I’d expect nothing less from the folks at Bead & Button (I’ve been a subscriber for awhile now). There are also links to online resources if you need a little help with a technique.

Flat Spiral Bracelet

I don’t do much work with seed bead mixes but I actually really liked the mix of colors provided for this bracelet.  (If you are into seed bead mixes, check out SupplyEmporium on Etsy for some great ones.) I was a bit puzzled by the lack of a clasp, but we will get to that.

This project didn’t take a super long time, maybe a couple of hours split up into three sessions. But I would finish one part, turn the page of the instructions, and my eyes would glaze over with all the text. I know this is an individual preference, but with beading, I figure things out much more quickly from diagrams than from words. Especially because I don’t always read each line carefully, so I can miss things. Anyway, I would’ve been in favor of more pictures and less text. But like I said, that’s just me, and it didn’t stop me from completing the project.

I think I may have put the center strip on backwards or upside down, but once you make the clasp buttons and attach them, you are sort of committed to the button side being “up.” But I think it still looks nice, regardless. It just may not have been what the designer had in mind. The clasp buttons actually work pretty well to keep this closed. Also this bracelet is another time I am glad I have tiny wrists because I got to stop with the center line section sooner (and I have a lot of beads left over).

One minor issue, but the instructions say to measure the DIAMETER of your wrist and add a half inch to get your bracelet length. I am pretty sure they actually mean CIRCUMFERENCE.

Fringe and Stitch Earrings

This one involved very little actual beading, just making two small odd-count peyote tubes and attaching some fringe.

Minor gripe, but you are supposed to cut six lengths of chain ranging from ½ inch to 2.5 inches. If you go in half inch increments, there are only five values there – 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 inches. I ended up cutting those five and then splitting the last bit of chain in half and just using whatever it was as the sixth length. I would’ve liked a bit more chain to work with as if you mess up at all, or try to cut to match up chain links (due to the figaro style of chain), you will run out. It did appear to be nice quality chain, though.

Very glad this one did not involve wrapped loops. I liked getting soldered jump rings as there is no danger of thread slipping through them, and the earring findings provided worked nicely with the soldered jump rings. I also liked the twist hex beads for the peyote; I thought they fitted together nicely and added some fun texture.

Verdict: I did not calculate a value for Facet Jewelry Box, but you get the materials and instructions for making two complete pieces of jewelry. I was mostly happy with the instructions though I think a few more pictures could’ve cleared some things up and saved me some time. I liked the seed bead mix provided for the bracelet and also the seed beads provided for the earrings and the materials were nice quality, overall. I don’t think I’m going to rush out and bead my own clasps anytime soon, but I did enjoy trying it once.

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? Boxes go out after the 20th and people who sign up before the 15th will get that month’s box. If you sign up after the 15th, you may still be able to get that month’s box but this is not guaranteed.

Value Breakdown: At $24.95 per box, you are paying about $12.48 per project.

See my past reviews of Facet Jewelry Box here or check out the Craft Subscription Box list for more great beading, craft supply, and DIY project boxes.

Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!

What did you think of the August 2019 Facet Jewelry Box?  Do you subscribe to any beading or craft boxes?