Gem Show Haul

Today I went to my first gem and jewelry show which was a wholesale show so you had to have a business ID number. It was the first day of the show and I got there pretty much when they opened around 10:00 am. Wow, what an experience. All I can say is good thing I came early and good thing I came on the week day. I would hate to see how crowded it was on the weekend.

I have been preparing to go to this show for over a week, checking out the website and making a note of which vendors I wanted to make sure I stopped by. There were lots of booths of finished jewelry and tons of booths selling bead strands. I was more interested in the cab sellers, which was a small amount compared to the other seller types.

First I went around to all the booths to check out what they had available before heading back to them a second time to make purchases. I found two sellers who had some wonderful things. The first specialized in larimar and amber. I picked up these 4 amazing larimar stones. The size and color of these are absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to wrap them.

Then the second seller had a good selection of stones I was looking for which was rutilated quartz and rainbow moonstone. The moonstone all have a beautiful blue flash at the wearable angle.

They also had some beautiful tourmaline cabs that I couldn't resist, pricey but I picked up a nice ruby colored one and a darker blue/purple one. Dave also picked out the Ruby Zoisite piece that he thought was interesting looking. All of them are going to make stunning pieces.


All in all it was a great show and it will be back again in May so I am looking forward to doing it again.

New Stuff and Old Stuff Revamped

I have a spot on the Just Jewels showcase tomorrow on Etsy so I was busy trying to get two more pendants done tonight. I know alot of people say the showcase spots are a total waste but I try to do one Main showcase a month and all of them have given me quite a few hearts, views and even sales either that day or people that hearted me came back and bought something. As I said, I prefer the Main showcase spots but the Thursday that they came open (the same as the Just Jewels one) I forgot and this was the only one that had spots left when I finally remembered.

These are the latest two pendants, a larimar and a labradorite piece. The larimar is pure perfection for me. The frame turned out great, the bail is fantastic and the design even surpised me as it just fits. I don't draw out or plan out most of my designs, I just pick it up and start turning the wire. Don't get me wrong, I love my labradorite piece I just did but the larimar one was just natural. It was like I started it and I was done with it, just like that.


As for my "revamped" part of my title, that's probably a bit over stated. Close to when I first started my blog I posted some pictures of my first attempts at making glass beads. Well I've FINALLY gotten around to doing something with a few of the firsts ones I made. I've started making a bracelet with them. I love how it's turning out so far and the only thing I really have left to do is add some chain to make it adjustable and to figure out what I'm going to do about a clasp. I really want to make my own hook type clasp out of wire but clasps are far from my specialty. For now I'm happy with how it looks and will be looking for some ideas on what to do to finish this piece off.

Rain, Rain and More Rain...

It has been raining what seems like non-stop all week. It's nice because we need the rain but after about 4 days of it constantly I'm tired of it already. Apprently there's some front that was moving through that has stalled out so we're getting all of this rain from it.

When I first moved here after getting married it was the end of August. It rained every day at 4:00 for almost a month straight I think. You'd have beautiful weather in the morning and then it would get about 4:00 pm and it would be a downpour with high winds and whatever else. I used to kid my husband that if Florida was supposed to be the Sunshine State what gives?!

I have been busy lately working on different things. Practicing some glass techniques of which I'm waiting for some new glass and mandrels to come in today and tomorrow. I've also been working with my PMC clay some. Have a couple things done up that I'm anxious to get fired but Dave hasn't gotten a place in the garage done up yet. I think he's working on that today. I also did three new pendants this weekend and have been working on some clay earrings. All have been listed in my etsy shop.

Last night I worked up this wonderful piece of larimar I got in on Tuesday. I love the tie-dye effect that the crystals formed when this stone was created so, I'm really happy with how this one turned out. It will also be added to my shop shortly.

Forever Sick

I'm starting to wonder if I will EVER get better. I'm sure a trip to a doctor could get me straight in a matter of a couple of days but I hate being prescribed antibiotics when I feel I'm almost over something. Of course I've been thinking I'm almost over whatever I have for like 2 weeks now. I think part of the problem is I AM on the upswing and then the weather changes, a front moves through and the pollen count gets all screwy and it makes whatever I have worse. Yesterday I had a horrible earache. Luckily it subsided before having bed time but still, waiting for it to go away was not fun.

Since I haven't been feeling my normal self I still have this pendant in limbo.


I wrapped it on Sunday and it's been in this state ever since. Other than feeling crappy it's just that I'm not sure what design to give it. I've tried actually sitting down and drawing out designs before and that just doesn't work for me. Once I start bending the wire it just starts becoming what it does. Every time I've picked this particular piece up I just don't "feel" what I want to do with it. So for now it sits.

I also just ordered some more supplies today for a new project I'm totally excited about because it's something new for me but all the supplies won't be here for, like, 2 weeks. Bummer.

Yay!!!

Today has been both a good and bad day. The bad part first...

I seem to be suffering from some kind of sinus thing or a relapse of what I had a couple of weeks ago, I'm not sure which. Today I went to work and could NOT breath plus the sinus pressure was killing me. So I worked half day, came home and took something for all of that and rested for a bit. Also, Little G hasn't been sleeping so great the past two nights coughing and what not. I picked him up from school today and his nose is running like a fountain and he has a horrible cough.

Now for the good...

I sold one of my more expensive pendants today. It really was one of my favorites and I was sad but proud to have it sold. I know, that sounds so totally sappy but really, it was an absolutely beautiful larimar stone and I was thrilled with how it came out. Here is a picture of it.

Larimar pendants tend to be one of my better sellers so I try to have one or two in my store that are of a nice quality. It's ironic in some ways that this one sold because I made one up this weekend and posted it which I think turned out really nice.It was a beautiful day today so I took a bunch of pictures outside to update some of my listings.

So, even though today has had it's "eh" moments it's turning out to be not to bad of a day.