Hi SKC,  I'm a beginner also... Well you are most likely pretty good by now.  Not a lot of people use this place.  I really just started about 2 weeks now and have been buying all sorts of things for beading.  If there is just one thing you could not do with out can you please tell me what it would be.  Well need to go finish up my craft room, expecting about 50 strands of beads in less then hr.  Hope to chat with you in the future....Laughsalot2 from FL