Treasures of the Earth Gem Show Haul!!!!

Stone Bead Strands and Facebook Marketplace - Great Deals!

I found the best deal on Facebook!

Facebook Marketplace is a new obsession and I have found some awesome deals, and even made a new friend :)

Wasting time in between jobs the other day, I stumbled upon a post of estate items, and in it were these 20 strands of stone beads!!!!!

There were a few pendants as well, but I wasn't as interested in them, and the post said bulk discount. I contacted her and asked if she would separate the pendants and the strands, and what her price was. She agreed and gave a tentative price, I followed up with $110 for all of it and she agreed!!!

That comes out to $5.50 per strand. 

Such a Deal!!!!

 Some of the strands are easily identified, lapis, fancy jasper, azurite, unakite, amethyst, picture jasper, etc. The strands are faceted, roundel and hesihi cut, just beautiful!

Other strands are a bit more difficult, is this really turquoise?

 These little faceted beauties I am fairly confident are emerald, but then again.......

Chrome diposide?

I did some poking online to compare some prices. 

The price strand on the lapis strand was $24, and I found them online between $5 and $24

The price tag on the maybe emerald strand was $16 and I found them online between $10 and $27

All and all, I am very happy with this find. 

Now I can't wait to get in the studio and make some awesome pieces!!

Where do you look for deals?

And remember, be peaceful and be kind!

I'll talk to you soon!

Tie Dye Powder Haul!

I am so excited!!

I am browsing Instagram the other day and I see a post from a local artist that is destashing. She is getting rid of a lot of her tie dye powders and a few other things. 

I sent her a message because I am extremely interested. 

I went to her house and she loaded up these three bags with powder tubs. 83 of them. Several of them were still sealed, and most of them had only one application used. The majority of them are the Dharma Trading Co. brand, which I am really familiar with. 

I am just giddy about this haul!!

I now have to go through them all, catalog them, and I am making a 'swatch' page with the names of each of the colors, and a little sample of what the color looks like on heavy water color paper. I can hang that on the wall, and at a glance have an idea of what the colors look like. It will help when putting together color combinations for new scarves and shirts. 

What a blessing this was, and I am just so grateful for it. 

I'll post some pics of the new scarves next week!!!

Thanks for stopping by, and remember - be peaceful, be kind it is important!!!

Rings & Things Bead Tour and Give Away Winner!

First let me say - YAY!! to Lisa of Pine Ridge Treasures! Your name was drawn for the give away from my blog! Can't wait to see what you do with the random goodness coming your way!


Yesterday before work - I stopped by the Rings & Things Bead Show in Durham.


So much goodness - I can't begin to tell you. I do a good amount of my shopping online, but what a treat to be able to see it all up close and in person


I love the bowls of candy placed strategically throughout the show - helps keep your stamina up while shopping!


Laurae checked me out - what a sweetie. I asked if I could take her picture and she said 'sure' then added 'just don't take a picture of me' I laft - and she was awesome enuff to play along!



I went to get just chain, but as you see, the temptations were just too great! I am in love with the dyed, matte finished agates! LOVE!!!



All this in 30 minutes - I was on a mission! Are they coming to your town? What would you buy?

July is here!

July is here and I need a vacation bad. I need the refueling kind of vacation, where I can unplug. Preferably a porch with a view of a mountain, with coffe in the morning, and wine in the evening . No t.v, mebbe a radio, a good book, and a deck of cards. I dont' want to visit, i don't want to site see, i want to unlax....

In my head on this vacation, I may go to town one nite for dinner. What would I wear? My mind immediatly thinks beads - what would i wear jewelry wise, and then my mind wanders over to beading, and then I start to pah-roose my favorite supply sites and I put this together.

I would use a 3 tier chain look of different styles of chains. I would use this one at 27"

Chain, Footage, Hammered Oval Cable (Silver Plated)



This one at 24"

Chain, Footage, Oval Curb, 8mm (Silver Plated)



This one at 21"

Chain, Footage, Curb, Link, 4.2mm (Silver Plated)



5 or so of these - I always use odd numbers




Oh and THESE!!

Bead, Glass, Tip-Drilled Teardrop, 9x6mm (Peridot Matte)



Then add these (oh LAWD I love these) randomly over the three tiers

Crystal Mix, Boardwalk Stroll, Limited Edition "Buyer's Choice" (Assorted)



Rings & Things became my 'vacation escape' this afternoon. I am gonna have to make an order I feel and make this dream come true :) Rings & Things is more than just a jewelry supply site. Their selection is incredible, and if you can't find your inspiration, try their project gallery, so many ideas. Right now they are having a contest, you should get in on it! From now till the end of July, they are having a contest for Product Review! It's easy, just go to www.rings-things.com and post a review of your favorite product. Don't have any Rings & Things products? Call their customer service and place an order, find out for yourself how great their products are! Ask for Bill. ;)

It's Monday and I am already draggin'

I got some things done over the weekend and feel good about my accomplishment. I am in awe at myself, how I have already lost two of the pieces somehow. I gathered everything up this morning to take some pics to document and the batteries were out on my camera.

So... I am hopin you made some great sales for mothers day and are needing to restock. Here is your monthly sampling of bead shows that may be in in your area for this month.

Happy Shopping!

May 13 2009
Sacramento (McClellan), CA,
Lions Gate Hotel Sacramento 5640 Dudley Blvd.
McClellan, CA 95652

May 14 2009
San Mateo, CA
San Mateo Co. Event Center
Meeting Pavilion
1346 Saratoga Drive
San Mateo, CA 94403

May 15 2009
Orange County, CA
Holiday Inn Buena Park
7000 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620

May 15 - 17 2009
International Gem Jewelry Show
Chantilly, VA

May 15 - 17 2009
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (Bead Show)
Santa Monica, CA

May 16 - 17, 2009
Atlanta GA
Gwinnett Center - (Hall C)
6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Duluth, GA 30097

May 16 - 17 2009
Charleston / MT Pleasant, South Carolina
Omar Shriners Temple
176 Patriots Point
MT. Pleasant, South Carolina 29464 - coupons avail

May 17 2009
San Bernardino, CA
Hilton San Bernardino
The Inland Ballroom
285 E. Hospitality Lane
San Bernardino, CA 92408

May 19 2009
Phoenix Area, AZ
Holiday Inn & Suites
Superstition Ballroom
1600 S. Country Club Dr.
Mesa, AZ 85210

May 22-24, 2009
Donald E. Stephens
Convention Center
Rosemont, IL

May 29 - 31 2009
Connecticut Expo Center
Hartford, CT

Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV

May 30 - 31 2009
Nashville TN
Tennessee State Fairgrounds - (Banquet Hall)
500 Wedgewood Ave
Nashville, TN 37228

Houston Bead Market
All the Beads you Need
The Stafford Centre
10505 Cash Rd, Stafford, Texas 77477

Raleigh North Carolina
Amran Shriners
11101 Creedmoor Road
Raleigh, NC 27614 - coupons avail

Where do you get em?!?

Hey Kids!

It is time for the monthly 'schemere' of bead shows across the country!

Making jewelry is a great creative outlet and perfect to have on hand for those gift giving occasions. Who doesn't want to have something handmade, something created just for them by you.

You are tired of shopping in retail chains and frustated at the limitations of their selctions. You just can't seem to 'see' what is for sale at online catalogs, and you know the colors and shapes vary according to supply.

What do you?

Gem and mineral shows are your friend. They are priced better than retail chain. The choices are vast. You will see beads that you will never see in a retail chain. Most will sell to the public and do not require a resellers license.

Here is a list of bead shows that may be in your area.

Happy shopping!

Glass Craft & Bead Expo
April 1 - 5, 2009 - Las Vegas, NV - South Point Hotel & Casino

Gem Street USA
April 3 - 5, 2009 - Ann Arbor, MI - Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds

Down the street Bead Shows -
April 3 - 4, 2009, Charolotte, NC - Oasis Shriners - Coupons avail

Rings & Things Shows
April 4, 2009 - Mt. Vernon, WA - Best Western Cotton Tree Inn

Intergalactic Bead Shows
April 4 - 5, 2009, Orlando, FL - Central Florida Fairgrounds - Coupons avail

American Gem Expo & Bead Show
April 4 - 5, 2009 - Roswell, GA - Double Tree Hotel & Conference Center

The Bead Market
April 4 - 5, 2009 - Jacksonville, AR - Jacksonville Community Center

Rings & Things Shows
April 5, 2009 - Seattle, WA - Seattle Center

Rings & Things Shows
April 11, 2009 - Missoula, MT - Ruby's Inn & Convention Center

The Bead Mercantile
April 11 - 12, 2009 - Louisville, KY - Holiday Inn Airport

Rings & Things Shows
April 18, 2009 - Belevue, WA - Embassy Suites Bellevue

April 18 - 19, 2009, Greenville, SC - Carolina First Center - Coupons avail

Down The Street Bead Shows -
April 18 - 19, 2009, Havana, FL - Bead, Jewelry, Art, & Live Folk Music Extravaganza

Rings & Things Shows
April 19, 2009 - Portland, OR - Red Lion Hotel on the River

Suburban Bead Encounter
April 19, 2009 - Naperville, IL - Holiday Inn Select

Miami Best Bead Shows
April 24 - 26, 2009, Miami, FL - Miami Best Bead Shows - Coupons avail

Rings & Things Shows
April 26, 2009 - Minneapolis, MN - Hilton Minneapolis

Rings & Things Shows
April 28, 2009 - Green Bay, WI - Saumico Ale House

Rings & Things Shows
April 29, 2009 - Milwaukee, WI - Clarion Hotel Airport

Rings & Things Shows
April 30, 2009 - Chicago, IL - Comfort Suites, O'Hare Airport

It's like bubble gum

I am thrilled - THRILLED at the product I just received. I am not a fan of shopping on line for supplies. Let's face it, you can't hand pick all the time. There are very few places I trust to give me the quality I demand. Bottom line, my reputation is on the line as an artist, and I have to have the product that reflects that.

One of the places I do trust is Sedona Stones, where these beads came from.

I am making a piece to be donated to a no kill shelter auction in April. In my mind I am thinking bold, colorful, Tabby :) I did some poking around as I normally do, look for something unique and special.

I found these:

Autumn Medley Multi Color Magnesite Nugget Chips, approx 10-20mm 15-16 inch #R643

The picture does not do them justice. I put the nickle in there to give a size representation. They are so vivid and BIG and shiney and random in size! I can't wait to work with them.

I want to eat them - They remind me of bubble gum.