Hidden Gems

While over at my mother's house the other day I went on back to my old room to snoop see if I'd left anything. :) My mom is overcoming pack-rat-itis and going through things to give to Goodwill and to sell at our neighborhood garage sale in June.

I found a nice sized basket to use to put Marshal's toys in (we're finally accumulating a nice amount) and some things she had to see and not give away but sell at the garage sale (some gorgeous tiny Japanese plates...like the kind they put soy sauce in for dipping...they are from our trip to Japan years ago)...and right before I was going to leave I spied a mostly empty clear storage container that had something bright and colorful in it. It almost looked like...BEADS!

And sure enough. VINTAGE beads no less. They were my great grandmothers (aka Granny) and while they probably have no monetary value, they do have memories attached. I can totally see my great grandma wearing these when they were strung. I've started going through them and finding the ones I think I can use in my own designs. There are some really beautiful ones in great condition.

There are some funky beaded earrings and then this set that looks like resin with lots of sparkles in it. She only wore clip earrings.

She was such a great lady. Living through the Great Depression (and what was so great about it again?) gave her some fascinating stories and funny quirks. I wish I could find my old high school report where I interviewed her and my two grandmas about their experiences. My Granny still had her grocery logs showing how much she paid for things like eggs and milk!!! Talk about a pack rat. We obviously come by it naturally.

Both her and my grandma (her daughter) talked about how sugar and marshmallows were rationed so it was always a treat to get them. And how they weren't allowed to turn lights on at night and if they drove they had to do it without lights or with the lights covered up except for a small slit.

They had Japanese neighbors who they used to trade food stuff with, but when WWII started they were afraid to eat anything their neighbors had - in case it was poisoned. I don't blame them, but it would have really sucked to be Japanese-American. One day they came and took the family to the intern camps (we had several in this area) and they never did come back - their land/home was sold. :(

My other grandma was a Rosie the Riveter with Boeing. Her husband at the time, my paternal grandfather, was in the Navy and she was home with two (I think...she had four total eventually) kids. She was essentially a single working mother.

I love history and it's amazing how something as simple as beads can link us back to our past.

Big Bead Sale at Jewelweaver

Jewelweaver is having a big year end clearance sale on everything. I've been a customer there for several years and their prices are very good, as is their quality. Read the descriptions - they're accurate so it's important to note if there are any flaws so you aren't disappointed.

Here's the sale details:

"We are offering a 7.5% discount on all orders over $50, and an additional 7.5% discount on top of the discount you would normally receive for all orders $100 and above. For example, if you place a $350 order, your discount would normally be 15%. For the duration of this sale, your discount for that same purchase would be 22.5%. Check the discount schedule on our home page for further details about how our system works."

I need more beads like I need a hole in my head...but I'm still going to browse. :)

An Expensive Trip

I spent a little more than I had planned at the gem and bead show on Saturday. But I didn't go completely over budget and I'll be able to pay everything off with existing savings, so that's a plus.

The show was VERY slow. From my own personal observation (parked pretty close) to the mutterings of the vendors things weren't going so well. Of course it was Saturday morning and they'd just opened. But I heard one vendor talking about previous years when there were hundreds lined up to get in, compared to this year when there were only 30 waiting for the doors to open.

I only spent money with two different vendors. There just wasn't that much that attracted my eyes. A lot of the same stuff, still too expensive for what it is, with the same vendors. I almost always buy from one particular vendor but their prices are too high and another vendor had even better quality product.

I spent way too much on pearls. I'm such a pearl fiend. It's not even the majority of my work but when I see pearls I lose my head. This particular vendor is so well organized...every strand is marked with a price and a code. If I ever need to get more I will know exactly what to ask for. And their products were 30% off the marked price...which is great since I was happy with the marked prices to begin with.

The various colors of pearls available made me swoon. I found some small near rounds that were almost black - I bought two different variations ... one with a green tint and the other with a blueish purple tint. But so dark that you really have to hold them up to the light to see the color underneath.

Then they had these incredible deep dark raspberry colored HUGE teardrop pearls that called my name. They're awesome. I showed my mom and she immediately started oooo'ing and aaaahhhh'ing. LOL

I seemed to gravitate towards the blues and reds this time though I did get some gorgeous smooth discs that are a golden peachy color.

I made a bracelet and a necklace this weekend with some of my new pearls and I did get photos taken, but not edited. I'll share soon.

Anyway, the only other vendor I spent money with was one selling lobster clasps and basic findings. Not all that exciting, but they seemed to have the best price of the show and I've bought from them before. I was nearly out of lobster clasps and had run out of vermeil head pins.

I estimate that I was at the show for around 2 hours, maybe a little less. It just didn't take long to go through everything...It seems like there were fewer vendors than before.

So then I headed to the mall and talk about opposite...I could not find a parking space. And the place was packed.

Do you think hobby jewelers are discontinuing their hobby and therefore sales are slowing at bead shows? Or are those who sell their jewelery stopping as well?

Big Sale at the Earth Bazaar

Up to 85% off their entire inventory.

Have fun.

Calling All Bead Makers

I'm a member of an e-mail list called Help a Reporter Out (I highly recommend signing up) and today brings a query for bead makers! I just had to share with those who make beads and read my blog (thank you by the way).

21) Summary: Beadmakers

Category: Lifestyle & Entertainment

Name: Cyndi L

Email: [I don't want her to get spam so contact me through my blog or website and I'll forward you her e-mail]

Title: editor

Media Outlet/Publication: b5Media.com blogging network

Anonymous? No

Specific Geographic Region? No

Region:

Deadline: 5:00 PM EASTERN - November 30

Query:

"I would like to hear from people who create beads, either from
lampworked or fused glass, polymer clay, metal, stone, or other
unique materials. I'm looking for those artists who would like to
share an artist statement of one to two paragraphs, and up to three
images (72dpi res) of their work, along with a link to their site.
www.jewelryandbeading.com is a blog with a very large readership.
The majority of the reader make handmade beaded jewelry, and they
are always looking for new sources of high quality artist beads. "

I'd love to see some of the very talented bead makers that I know get some PR.

Is It Monday Yet?

What a weekend! On Saturday Hubby and I went out and bought an Elliptical Machine at Costco (it was $100 cheaper than the one listed online!) and spent the day cleaning out the garage (because not even a bike would fit in there) to make space and then putting the dang thing together.

Shockingly...no fights! We had a pretty good time together and it really did take both of us. Of course he did most of the manual stuff but I still had to use the Allen Wrench a couple of times. =)

Of course, while we were in the garage, we decided to leave the door open so the dogs could come in and see us. They like to know what's going on and where we are at all times. Especially Trooper.

The problem is that the cats "live" in the garage right now. That may seem very mean to some but trust me...they are much safer there. And Saturday just proved that. Trooper was pretty good most of the afternoon and he would listen to me when I said "leave it" if he got too close to one of the kitties. Mischief (grey kitty) enjoyed himself in the house I know that. He misses being inside and both kitties are craving people attention.

So we're almost done putting the machine together and I decided to brush Jazmyn (black kitty) because she's looking a little ratty - and she enjoys it. As I'm brushing, Trooper decides to investigate ... and so you have me with Jazmyn at my feet and Trooper in front of me. In less than 5 seconds I am screaming at the top of my lungs at him because his jaws have opened and clamped around kitty.

Thank God I have good reflexes. Trooper got a bit of a smack on his butt and Jazmyn was FREAKED the heck out. Even after banishing the dogs from the garage she wouldn't come anywhere near me for more than an hour. Poor girl.

THEN...when I was trying to get Mischief to go back to his garage home - he wasn't exactly cooperating. In trying to put him in and close the door he snuck back! The stinker. He has a death wish. Because Trooper took off after him at full speed and CRASH!!! Hall table knocks over and one of my tea cups shatters.

Much more screaming ensues. Daddy gets involved. Trooper ends up in the spare room on the other side of the shattered glass so of course daddy has to live 85 pound monster and carry him over the glass into the living room where he is "grounded" on the couch and not allowed to get up until I get things picked up and the cat back in the garage.

Those poor cats cannot wait for their grandma to move down here and adopt them in her new apartment.

I'm not mad at Trooper. It's in his nature. He is a hunter and a very good one. I have seen him literally grab a bird out of the air and snap its neck in less than 5 seconds. In front of me as I'm trying to pull him in the house. We had to move the bird feeders away from the deck.

It's so hard to stay mad at a dog with a face like his though.


Oh, and I'm now officially broke! I went to a bead and gem show up in Seattle and spent my retirement. LOL =) But Holy Cow! The things I got are seriously amazing and drool worthy. I'll try to take some photos to make ya'll jealous. I got pearls that are huge and TDF. Golden Rutillated Quartz (one of my addictions). Moss Amethyst (rare, and stunning). I wish I had a couple more days to play and design new things. *sigh* It's almost Monday.

Grandpa's Retirement Fund

I know I come by my obsessive need to purchase things honestly. And it apparently didn't just come from my mother...my grandmother and great grandmother were pretty good at hoarding things too.

Apparently grandma wanted to open a jewelry shop - grandpa would cut and grind the stones and she would set them. And she bought a LOT of stuff. I went down to grandpa's on Saturday. We didn't get to grind or polish any stones (the darn things won't stick to the dop sticks still!) I did get to go through some of his supplies. And boy is he drowning in supplies!

www.flickr.com

Casto Creations' Supplies_0208 photoset

I have more photos to take of all the goodies I brought home. There are some interesting base metal necklaces that have unique patterns of chain. Some of the supplies I can use and will keep a few for myself but for the most part I'm selling them and giving the money to Grandpa. I figure it's part of his retirement fund. :)

I'll be researching to figure out how to price them and posting them in my Etsy gemstone shop. But if you see something you would like made into a necklace or ring let me know! :)

You know you need more beads.

Continuing to go through my bead stash is sometimes a fun project but it makes me a little sad to see how many beads I have that I will just never get to use. I have SO many!

And I've started updating my Etsy Gemstone shop with new offerings - some of which are very cool and unique (if I do say so myself). I was so inspired when I bought some of these pieces but now my mind goes blank when I look at them. Except that they are so beautiful! It is very hard to let some of these go. Like this fossilized wood pendant. I absolutely adore these (I have a couple) but can't think of what to do with them. My mind completely blanks. And they are too lovely to keep hidden away in my supply drawers.


Not everything has made it to my Etsy shop yet so if you're interested in anything you see in my latest Flickr folder let me know. I'll try to get it posted right away. Most items have 4 pictures, one of which has a small description of the item, and if it is posted in Etsy it says "POSTED".

I also started creating findings of Fine Silver for people to enjoy - I love fusing and sometimes if I don't feel like actually making jewelry I find that it's relaxing to just sit and fuse or melt metal. :) I know, it's weird, but it's cheaper than therapy. So I decided to start offering some of these findings for sale as well.



So far they are all fine silver but I may experiment with 14k gold and sterling one of these days. Maybe.

In the interest of getting rid of AS MANY beads as I possibly can - if you spend $25 I will send along extra beads for free! No extra shipping cost or anything. And they won't be crappy plastic beads. Uh huh. Depending on what you buy I'll send along something complimentary from my stash of unphotographed beads that I would otherwise sell. PLEASE, pretty please with sugar on top, mention this when you check out...because I guarantee you that I will forget in my excitement to get your order ready to ship.


Oh...and any Swarovski Crystal fans? I've broken down and started going through my huge stash. *sigh* I adore crystal but I rarely use it in my work any longer. I'm also adding some gorgeous faceted teardrop CZs that I bought ages ago but haven't managed to work with yet. They are so beautiful and I know someone out there will be inspired by them.

I feel like shopping in my own store...maybe I should just keep some of these. *grin*

Bead Lover's Heaven

Want some nice beads at a crazy good price? WITH excellent customer service?

Go shop with the Jewelweaver.

Starting tonight at midnight (guessing that's West coast time since they are in California) they are having the biggest sale I've ever seen them have.

A huge clearance section 20-50% off their already great prices. PLUS their regular discounting system is given a boost...normally you don't get 5% off until you've hit $100 in your shopping cart. But with their sale, spend just $50 and get 5% off...spend $100 and get 10% off...and so on. That's ON TOP of the clearance prices.

SWEET!

Not that I need anymore beads. *grin*

Pretty Beads

I have so many beads - it really isn't even funny. I mean, seriously...I could practically open up an entire store just with the beads I have now. It's kind of pathetic. Selling them on Etsy has been good because I know that designers are going to actually use these poor lonely beads! I am unnaturally attached to these inanimate objects.

Plus, it helps fund my metal and wire purchases. I'm really low on thicker wire but because our roof started leaking (can you believe that!!! As if we needed one more thing to go wrong the roof starts to leak on Friday. Grrrr!) I can't justify buying more unless I sell a lot more supplies.

So I'm pimping my supplies here again. I really do have some neat beads...ones that I hate letting go of, but realistically know that I'll never use because there are only so many hours in a day. Aren't they pretty?!?!

I'm seriously tempted to keep this round Carnelian stone set in sterling silver. It's heavy duty and gorgeous.

And these Apatite nuggets are stunning...deep blue color. Apatite is not a cheap stone so I don't even know if these will sell...if not, I guess I'll just have to keep them. Bummer. :)

The latest batch that I'm going to start adding to my Etsy shop are now in my Flickr account - it's the third batch of photos I've taken this month already. And I haven't even gotten around to posting all of the other ones. Looking at the photos makes me want to keep them. But I have to be strong. *sigh*

Anyone want some??? It'll help fund a doggy surgery and roof repair. :)