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!

New Rosary Centers

With the Lent season in full swing, many customers have been asking about rosaries. If you're going to build a rosary, you'll need a rosary center. The rosary center in the middle (featuring the mother and child) is one we've had in stock for some time, but the other two are brand new. These new rosary centers both feature the Virgin Mary on the Miraculous Medal. The piece on the far left also features the message "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee" around the frame (in the tiniest print I've ever seen!). Prices for the rosary centers range from $8.70-$12.40 each and all are sterling silver. Also, if you are not sure exactly how to build a rosary, we have a new handout available to guide you!



More, more, more Chinese crystal

If you thought we had a nice supply of Chinese crystal before, this just might send you over the edge. And the best news is the price! Every strand shown here, regardless of size or shape, is only $4.65 each. At that price you can afford to go crystal crazy!

3mm bicones

Tiny and very usable, these make perfect spacers for your larger beads, or wire wrap them into a delicate chain.

4mm bicones

More bicones, in a slightly larger size. Those orange colors are really cheery and a big hit around here!

8x6mm Drops

Great for earrings or a fringe style necklace. They're drilled from top to bottom, which makes them extra easy to wire wrap.

6x4mm Ovals

Lastly, this is my favorite shape we've ever gotten. I love to sprinkle these faceted ovals in long, layered wrap style necklaces. I need at least one strand of each color!

Chunky, Gemmy Fun

Do you like large beads that are bold and beautiful enough to scream "here I am!"? Then this might just be your day.

Let's give you an idea of size because my idea of "chunky" might be a tad different than yours. The strand pictured above is the largest of the bunch, most strands will have beads as big as the smallest bead in this picture.

Amethyst in glowing purple tones and solid white quartz streaks. 

$14  per strand

Fluorite in all it's glorious colors. I love the double toned pieces, they really glow in the sunlight.

$10  per strand

Icy quartz! Enjoy all the beauty and none of the sub zero temperatures.

$18 per strand

Blue Lace Agate slices and chunks with beautiful sky blue tones.

$14 per strand

Amethyst again in more refined, evenly cut ovals. These pack a punch in the sparkle department!

$41 per strand

And, if you're not really interested in wearing them, why not do what I did and make a sun catcher to hang in the window? It's a fun project and (if you're really like me) your cats will also enjoy it.

It's Raining Gems...

...hallelujah! If you're in the neighborhood for drops, look no further! Whether you're looking for golden yellows, royal purples, or icy blues, we've got you covered. Explore your options...

Rutilated quartz (large drops) and fire opal (small, mixed drops).

Rutilated Quartz are $19-$46 each strand (and going FAST)

Fire Opal are $109

Aquamarine and Mixed Beryl strands.

Aquamarine strands $72-$92

Mixed Beryl strands $78-95

(mixed beryl refers to mixed strand that includes many colors of beryl including pink morganite, yellow heliodor and blue aquamarine)

Amethyst and Tanzanite

Amethyst cushion cut diamonds (top) $90-$96 per strand

Tanzanite drops (three middle strands) $42-73 per strand

Amethyst angle cut squares and rectangles (bottom two) $57-$92 per strand

Citrine!

Pointed drops (top three strands) $116-$136 per strand

Rounded tear drops (bottom three strands) $103-$148 per strand

Rounded tear drop shaped tourmaline strands $173-$229 per strand

Remember that more often than not we'll have these available in singles and you're always welcome to buy a half strand of anything over $10! With those options, you can really get what you want and feel good about not breaking the bank.

Primitive Finds

If you get our emails then you already know that the largest shipment of the year is in! This is the first of a series of entries that I'll post over the next week to show you some of the neat things we received. I'll try to cover everything...but there's soooo much you should just come in and visit.

Check out these new primitive finds...

We've had these fossil ammonites before in set pendants, but not in beads. Ammonites, for those not familiar, are an extinct group of marine invertebrate animals that are closely related to present day squid, cuttlefish and nautilus.

Full strands are $47 each, singles are also available

Petrified wood in two styles, large organic slices and large faceted drops. Petrified wood occurs when all the organic materials in the wood are replaced by minerals (most commonly silica).

Full strands of the organic slices are $28 (only two strands left!)

Full strands of the faceted drops are $29

Singles are available in both

Shark teeth are back! We've got two varieties this time. Large pieces are $10 each and small (with wire bails) are $1 each.

Banded agate in pendants and strands. The pendants are especially striking with very defined stripes and designs. Pendants are $6 each and full strands are $31 each.

Check out the size of these! I can already see the concern in your faces but fear not, these are not beads. These gorgeous decorative spheres are made of a type of Gypsum known as Selenite and have a beautiful cats eye effect. These turned out to be an instant employee favorite. At only $10 each, I'm sure they'll be gone soon.

See you soon!

Ancient Tibetan Mosaic Coral

     This is truly an exciting event. We received a "new" collection of ancient Tibetan mosaic coral over the weekend straight from the owner's personal collection. These are of spectacular quality and sent all the employees into a frenzy. Personally, I found it necessary to wear the two strands almost all day.

     Mosaic Coral has a wonderful history. Coral, being a material that was obtained in the Mediterranean Sea far away from the Himalayas, was so greatly prized by the Tibetans that they attempted to make use of every piece. Mosaic coral is a way of making use of every scrap of this precious material. Beginning with irregular shapes of fine pieces of coral, they filled in the gaps with a wax and pitch mixture called lakh and other coral bits. The result is a beautifully unique composite bead. Most of these were made around the mid 19th century, but some can be much older.

Here are the two full strands draped on a neck. The color isn't total accurate in this picture, but you just had to see the way the two strands laid when worn. Delicious.

Here's a much more accurate example of their pink/salmon color.

And check this out, 3 repaired beads! Repaired ancient beads are very sought after and quite special. I love the repaired beads because it's obvious how special they were to the previous owners. Such care was taken to bind these pieces back together, whether it was with wire or strips of metal or with lakh.

The Mosaic coral ranges in price from $2.80-$9.00 per gram ($9 per gram is what is shown in these pictures). Sold by the single bead or build your own strand!

Base Metal Chains

Check out these fabulous new base metal chains! A great substitute for sterling silver and gold, these chains give a hip antique look to your designs. Above are the finer chains we got in, but we also received some heavier designs as well. These come in 3 colors, antique brass, antique copper and gunmetal. Prices range from $1.30-$4.85 per foot. Drop by and see the rest!

Does your favorite beader have everything?

Pliers range from $51- $59 each

In any profession or hobby, a great tool can make a world of difference. Beading is no different. If you've got a beader in your life that seems to have everything, a Lindstrom tool might be the ticket to their holiday happiness. In fact, that's what I received a few years ago for Christmas and I can't begin to express how much I love, love, love them! They're unbelievably durable, precise, and feel comfortable in my hands (even after hours upon hours of use). If you had to just pick one, I highly recommend the round nose. Nothing compares to the fine tip on this plier. With this tool you can make the tiniest wire wraps without worrying about eventually warping your tool. They are pricey, but think of it this way . . . our store set, that we use all day, everyday, is over 12 years old! Truly a great gift.

New Sterling Silver Chains

     Christmas seems to be coming early here at the store! We've gotten so many fun new things over the past two weeks. The latest is this collection of decorative sterling silver chains that just came in this morning.
     My very favorite (and most of the girls here share the same opinion) is the second chain from the right . . . a fabulous "sunburst" link spaced out by a section of small round links. I would love to see this oxidised!

Prices range from $3.90-$7.75 per foot

New Gold Vermeil

This has been a very busy week for us . . . first the large Chinese crystal shipment and now our gold vermeil order has also arrived. You may have wondered from time to time, where does all of our gold come from? We send out our own collections of sterling silver findings, charms and beads to a plating company where they coat the pieces with a thick layer of 24kt yellow gold. We request a much thicker coating than is usually done, leaving us with pieces that will last much, much longer . . .

. . . cones for every multistrand need . . .

. . . clasps in a variety of styles . . .

. . . including GIANT speciality multistrand clasps . . .

. . . antique Hindu amulets that look absolutely amazing in gold . . .

. . . beads, beads and more beads . . .

. . . and of course, some fun charms and crosses.

Prices vary, come in and play!

Chinese Crystal Galore!

The wait is finally over! Our largest shipment of Chinese crystal arrived this weekend and there's so much to see. Chinese crystal is very similar to Swarovski. With a much more affordable price and the same glittery glitz you can mix and match without feeling restricted.

Let's start with my favorite, 4mm rondelles. The metallics look so sweet in this tiny shape. I instantly thought earrings!

$4.65 per strand

Some 4mm rounds, same sweet small size as the rondelles above.

$4.65 per strand

Lot's and lots of 6mm rondelles in a variety of metallics, mixes, special coatings and opaques.

$4.65 per strand

Back by popular demand, "red velvet" in 3 sizes of rondelles. This beautiful red is slightly opaque with a slight clear crystal glow on the outer edges. These have been flying out the door and we completely sold out within a week during our last shipment (beautiful color for Christmas!). If you think this is something you might be interested in I urge you to act fast.

$4.65-$6.30 per strand

This is just a small sampling of what came in . . . I didn't even cover the 8mm rondelles and rounds. We've got over ten trays full of strands for you to explore so stop by soon!