I do get asked what beads do I use and what cotton. so to answer this.  Majority of my beads come from a company in the US called Shipwreck Beads when I want to buy in large quantities, for smaller amounts I buy from someone who sells these beads here in Australia.  There is over 250 varieties and colours of beads, from silver-lined beads to opaque to silk to colour-lined, the list can go forever.  My favourite are the Luster type of bead which comes in nice colours and to me they seem to knit more evenly than the others. I also look for a supplier of Beadsmith Beads there is a bead called Ceylon which have nice pastel shades.
As for the cottons, here in Australia we have the choice of 3 or 4 brands but everyone in the world knows DMC and their range of colours. They are a hidden cost that no one thinks off but they can be expensive.  Lately I have been using Size 10 and Size 20 Crochet Cotton again from DMC and there is a good colour range, it is the price difference that is surprising.  Size 20 cotton will take majority of the size 11/0 bead and where you pay approximately $4.00 a ball for Perle no. 8 for a 10 gram ball, you pay only $5.60 for a 50 gram ball of Size 20 cotton. It is does not have the shine of Perle 8 but when it is covered with beads who sees it.  If I am doing a piece where you see a lot of cotton then I use the Perle 8 just for the shiny finish of the cotton.  If I use the different cottons I will say on my patterns what I have used. The buy both your beads and cotton the best place to go to is my friends website www.knittingwithbeads.net as she has all these items and if she is out of stock she will get them in for you.