African Beads Part Two: Wedding beads, Discs and More

Continuing from yesterday with our African bead shipment....

Wedding beads!

These beads were made in Czechoslovakia and traded into West Africa. The larger pieces were made between 1880 and 1930, while the smaller pieces were made between 1930-1950. We've had the larger wedding beads before, but those sweet smaller pieces are a new treat! I can confidently say that those little guys are every one's favorite from this shipment (and f.y.i., they're going FAST). An entire strand runs you $109 (both sizes) while singles are $1.50 each for the large, and $0.65 each for the small.

Next we've got coconut and vinyl disc heshis. That's right, I said vinyl disc and coconut. If you're like me, you're going to need at least three of each. Seriously, these are such cool skinny spacers. Every strand is wildly different from the other and at $11 per strand...you know you need some (or three).

Lastly, we've got rustic silver tone base metal barrels (pre-strung into prayer malas) and two shapes of bone. The metal barrels are $22 per strand and the bone are $13 per strand.

Unfortunately, that's the end of our African shipment of bead happiness. Fortunately, we've got another shipment of bead happiness on it's way here. Stay tuned for some sparkly goodness to grace this page very soon....

New African Beads Part One: Recycled Glass

 Summer is officially...somewhere. Definitely not here in Old Town just yet. This June Gloom seems content to live up to it's name and hang around until the very end of the season. Well, outside our door that is. Because inside we're bringing you some new beads to get you ready for the San Diego summer right around the corner....

Recycled glass is back! In new bright colors, a variety of sizes and a few new shapes. Recycled glass is exactly that, beads made from crushed, discarded glass bottles that would have otherwise been dumped into a landfill. That makes these beads enviromentally friendly and very "green".

Don't you want to just dive right in? Being from the coast, I've always had a particular fondness for blue and sea green shades (especially that teal and seafoam on the far right). These have a pretty big hole, which means you can make pretty big knots, using pretty big fiber. And that makes me pretty happy.

I really, really love all these new colors that came in this shipment. The rounds (shown here and the first two pictures) vary in price from $13-19 per strand.

Not to mention the new shapes! These "tulip shapes" are a sweet, slighted fluted, ridged flower-ish shape. They vary (based on size) in price from $7-10 per strand.

These donut shaped beads remind me of red lifesavers (the best kind of lifesavers). These are $11 per strand.

Don't need a whole strand? As always, we've got singles! Come visit us and banish that June Gloom away with our taste of summer!

New Freshwater Pearls

A box packed full of new nugget shaped pearls arrived yesterday in an array of temping colors. I'm a huge fan of the nugget shaped pearls. Not only do they come in a large variety of colors and sizes, but the price is also really low (like $4-9 per strand low). Translation? Fabulous, impressive, inexpensive, multi-strand necklaces/bracelets/wraps. It's just up to you to decide which color speaks to you. Whether you prefer...

...tropical jewel tones...

...misty shades of grey and white...

...mossy greens, warm tangerines, sandy golds...

...or spectacular tablets in white and peach. Honestly, these are pretty darn spectacular. The luster is amazing on every single pearl, on every single strand. The size and "chunky-ness" varies from strand to strand which makes me (and probably you) love them even more. Most of these pearls are priced between $4-9 per stand...except for those spectacular tabs (those will run you $38 per strand).

Rare Antique Faceted Coral

While digging through our ancient coral collection, I stumbled upon this spellbinding faceted strand. And by spellbinding, I mean my knees got weak with excitement and I grabbed the side of the table to stay up right.

These salmon pink beads were carved sometime before the 18th century and are covered in time worn facets that sparkle ever so slightly. The coral itself is nearly flawless...most have practically no blemishes at all.

We will be taking these off the strand and selling them as singles. Imagine the earring possibilities. Or maybe just one dangling from a chain. Or maybe a whole bracelet? Don't let me limit you...come in and build your own dream piece!