Rings & Things Show Review

Last weekend was the Rings & Things trunk show. I was thoroughly looking forward to this show, even though I just had a great shopping adventure a few weeks ago. I'm in a serious gathering mood as I gear up for a new round of projects for various publications and I'm working on some spring/summer jewelry to sell in my etsy shop again.

We arrived early to find a crowd already shopping! I had gone through the catalog the night before and made notes of things I wanted to look out for. And what was I looking for? The unusual - both in shape, color and new materials. Things that looked old or had a sense of history also caught my eye. I rounded out my collection with a few basic beads in colors that appealed to me and a nice hunk of gunmetal findings.

Some of my favorites from this group include green and blue shades of Kyanite and apatite.

Loving the lavender stick pearls, a gray-purple stone called imperial jasper and the pink dyed chalcedony.

Pyrite and brown lava beads were standouts for me at the show, love the primitive quality. And check out the smoky quartz daggers, just a little bit of awesomeness! I think I covered the entire rainbow during this shopping expedition!

So if you were wondering why I haven't been blogging, I've been locked away in my studio creating night and day!

I have a few more Bead Cruise posts to share with you and will try to get those written up this weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

Bead Cruise Classes

On the Bead Cruise on the days at sea we hold our classes. I taught the Calypso Cuff Bracelet and Sea Beads. We had a great time in both classes, I love teaching but I don't think I will be teaching again for a while. It's not the direction I want to take my business, I would rather focus on submitting for publications and writing books. That's teaching, in a way! The best part about teaching is spending a few hours with so many talented people.

Pictured above: my bracelet class, we enjoyed watching the view as the ocean passed us by.

Here Becky Lord is working diligently. She was determined to finish.

And my 3 star pupils: Sandy, Sherry and Sandy, they finished their bracelets in record time and sported them around the ship. Ah, I'm so proud of them!

On the last day at sea I taught how to make Sea Beads. You just can't help but have fun when the polymer clay gets pulled out. I loved seeing all the different beads everyone came up with, they worked so hard and made some wonderful sea beads. (Above are Becky's beads.)

I can't for the life of me remember who made these beads, but I love the "barnacley" looking ones so much!
Rosanne made a beautiful collection, talent must run in the family!

I have some new sea beads of my own to list in my shop, but today is Jesse's birthday so there are birthday meals, cake and spoiling to attend to now.

Bead Store Heaven

The day before the cruise about 20 from our group took a field trip to Turquoise Coyote in Ponchatoula. It's an unassuming store in a tiny little town. We thought we had died and gone to bead store heaven. We kept looking at the prices and asking each other, "Is this the right price?" You see, it's wholesale to the public and I mean wholesale. I would tell you of the deals we found, but there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth. All I can say is if you are ever in the area it would be worth driving one or two hours out of your way.

Above is one of the many cases filled with crystals, every color and style you could imagine.

I was particularly taken with the pearls and gemstones. There were many walls lined with treasures. I felt like a kid in a candy store, I can't remember the last time I was so excited about bead shopping!

Rosanne and I were the last two in the store. We are terrible enablers! Above is her tote filled with stones, bright and bold colors for Spring.

On the first night of the cruise we announced our design contest. Everyone had a week to make something with at least two items from our gift bags. This is one I whipped up for the challenge, just for fun of course! I used some yellow opal and blue lace agate from our shopping trip. Along with a pendant from Chinook Jewelry, a door charm from Mamacita Beadworks and a leaf from Vintaj.

Yes, I have new beads! They first went on the cruise and will soon be in my Etsy shop!

Like Lorelei, I have had to buy new bins for all my beads. But there is no end in sight, Rings & Things trunk show is this weekend and I have some serious shopping planned. Now, I'm off to make jewelry and use up some of these new beads!

Bead Star Revisited

My brain is still on vacation today, my head is rockin' along to imaginary waves. So I thought I'd share a little tidbit with you today while I regroup. Did you know that you can own my urchin necklace from the Bead Star contest? It's up on eBay right now in a charity auction for the American Heart Association. Bidding ends March 16th, so stop on by to see my necklace and the whole collection of items in the online auction. Bid now!

Hello Again!

I'm back from my latest adventure. I had such a great time. I loved seeing so many familiar faces and meeting such wonderful new beady friends. I enjoyed the pampering on the ship, days on the tropical islands and beading on the deck!

I'm not quite ready to face reality just yet, so today will be spent unpacking and chilling with my girls. In fact, this week I'm going to take it easy, it's Spring Break so there are children to entertain. Until tomorrow, happy creating!