working, working

I’ve gotten a few things done the past few days – since my show last weekend was rained out, I stayed at home and got some new pieces made. Unfortunately, the weather was so bad I wasnt, able to photograph anything until today (you can see the new pieces on flickr).  I also have some design ideas rumbling around in the back of my head – I may need to do some research this weekend at Intergem ( I received a bunch of free passes!). I’m also looking for one or two more holiday shows, since I have some free time on my hands, so I need to come up with some holiday designs. It’s hard for me to think of designs and using specific colors, but I have some pretty green onyx beads I bought last year and lots of pearls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a couple of the new designs!

feeling accomplished

I got a lot of stuff done tonight, since it’s too cold to go anywhere. I cataloged the majority of the new beads I got at Intergem this weekend, I photographed the new beads and photographed the new designs I made last night. Hopefully I can keep up the momentum – I need to post some new items to etsy.

freshwater coin pearls, crystal quartz & moonstone earrings

pink amethyst & blue topaz briolettes

fun at Intergem

Yesterday, my friend Judy of Juma Jewelry and I were waiting at the door in time for the opening of Intergem’s spring show. We headed immediately for the wholesale room, to visit our favorite vendors: Sanjay of Shri Impex and Helena of Pearl Concepts. We both walked away with items we needed – small rondelles in various colors, briolettes in mystic quartz and pink amethyst and center-drilled freshwater coin pearls, as well as some things we just wanted – London blue topaz small rondelles, aquamarine briolettes, and for me, my first Tahitian pearl. We also discovered some new vendors, S. I. Gems and Beads, where I got micro-faceted, deep honey colored citrine rondelles and from Divinity Imports, smooth London blue topaz briolettes of incredible size and clarity. I think I can safely say that we had a good day.

Swiss blue topaz smooth briolettes and pink amethyst faceted teardrops

  

moss aquamarine and mystic quartz briolettes

new design

Last night, I was going to make some earrings to go into the etsy shop. I was tidying my workspace, and while I was putting away some silver beads, I came across these beautiful brushed sterling curved tubes I bought from Singaraja Imports at the last Bead Fest. Immediately, a new design popped into my head and I spent the evening constructing a really cool bracelet of mauve freshwater pearls with red sapphires, citrine, pink mystic topaz and pink amethyst. I was very happy with how it turned out, so happy that I just had to wear it to work today… I made another bracelet in blue pearls tonight, with some touches of aquamarine, blue sapphire briolettes, citrine and peridot – photos to come. However, here is a shot I took in San Francisco a few years ago, on a film (gasp!) camera. It’s one of my favorite shots…

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

p.s. – 14 days to Intergem!

I was sooo bad today…

at Intergem – I told myself I was doing a quick in and out out the convention center and I started off with good intentions, but then I found my friends at Vettri Gems and they always have an awesome budget bin, so I have to work my way through it thoroughly. I found some pretty multi-color sapphire tiny faceted coins, dark purple amethyst onion brios, small smooth whiskey quartz brios. Then I discovered the higher end gems, and they had some great smooth briolettes – I’ve been looking for some for months.

smooth brios and pink amethyst shields and sapphires

 

The highlight of my Vettri Gems spree were the humongous pink amethyst shield briolettes – I’ve never seen this shape before.

pink amethyst brios

After forcing myself away, I made my way to my favorite pearl vendors – Pearl Concepts. My friend Helena greeted me warmly and helped my pick out some amazing colors and some new shapes in pearls.

fall colors from Pearl Connection

unique & pretty pearls

 

Helena found a great strand of pearls that perfectly match a chalcedony drusy pendant I found today – and I found my favorite top drilled coins and keshi and found the colors I want to work with for fall designs.

Just as I was ready to leave I made a new friend: Ankit at Gem House USA, who had some unique beads, and was very knowledgeable to boot.

rondelles

 

shapes

 

Gem House had loads of awesome rondelle beads in all different sizes – bi-lemon quartz, pink and blue topaz, green amethyst and green kyanite. Besides the rondelles, there were some briolettes of moss aquamarine, moss amethyst and tiny multi-colored spinel. The most interesting beads today were:

mystic green quartz concave cut

none of the pictures I took show these beautiful beads to advantage.

After today, I am on a bead moratorium – no new beads until I make something from each bead I bought today! Stay tuned for pics of the work – no time today, tomorrow I’ll be at the Chester County Restaurant Festival, on North High Street in downtown West Chester, so come hang out if you’re in town.