Let's Go Bead Shopping

I took a much-needed trip yesterday two hours down the road to pick up my friend Cindy Wimmer of Sweetbead Studio and head to an enormous bead show.  I honestly didn't need to buy anything, but I really needed the girl-time and a diversion in the shape of a bead show was just too hard to resist.

My own stash of larimar.

I take it back.  I did need one bead.  Over the summer, I'd made Zack a necklace with an Ojime bead featuring a pair of turtles.  Ojime beads are intricately hand-carved boxwood beads from Japan, and I picked the turtle bead because Zack really wanted a real turtle but that just wasn't going to happen.


Unfortunately, the necklace met its demise when Zack took it off, was holding it while in the school bathroom, and dropped it in an automatic flush toilet.  He was devastated when he got home -- "Mom, that was so special to me!" so I waited for this show to hand-pick another one.  Here it is.

I got him a little turtle ornament for the tree to go in the box with the necklace, too -- I think he'll like that.

Cindy and I did a LOT of ooohing and aaaahing over things but mostly spent time talking and walking and catching up.  She introduced me to a COOL vendor who sells geodes, both held together with a rubber band AND uncracked, perfect for the boys.  I snagged one for Zack to open on his birthday.

While standing in line at a vendor stand, my eye started wandering and lit upon a lovely fat strand of glass pearls.  I'm used to seeing these 16mm pearls in the traditional round shape, but these?  Jelly beans.  The ultimate impulse buy.  (Note to self -- when standing in line, keep those eyes FORWARD, m'k?)

There's a Turkish silver vendor I never miss -- White Cloud.  Their silver is always more expensive than traditional Bali silver but they have pieces I don't see everywhere else, so to me, it's worth it.  But folks?  This is 27.00 of silver.

To put size into perspective, the rectangles are 20mm tall.  

Here are two tips when buying silver (and click here to see the live silver price, to keep you gasping).  One, check the beads carefully to make sure there's no damage to the design.  Two, check to make sure both holes are HOLES.  Nothing worse than coming home only to find out that one hole is filled in with silver.  And is that hole going to be big enough for the wire you want to put through it?


OK.  Last thing to show you.  I'd seen this sort of pendant this spring at BeadFest, but finally bought one.  This is a bonded piece of amazonite and Red Creek Jasper.

Are these two natural gemstones?  Yes.  Did they naturally occur attached together?  No.  Do I care?  Heck no.  I just love the look.  You can do some cool things with gemstones.  Just look up "red creek jasper intarsia" and you'll see some amazing picture frame-style pendants.

My two-hour drive home alone was good -- I alternately cranked music or turned it completely off.  I came home, took a long soak, and skipped dinner in lieu of going to bed early with a book.  I had a complete escapist day, and honestly?  I think everyone needs one now and then, don't you?

Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and writes the blog An Artist's Year Off.  She's also a contributor to Art Bead Scene.