Just a Peek

Here is a peek at what I hope to work on next.

I found these Chrysocolla beads on a rare visit with my old college roommate in Wisconsin. She took me to this wonderful little bead “store” that turned out to be the spare bedroom of an older couple that made their living travelling from show to show, and selling out of their house to those “in the know.” Who would have thought I’d travel 1,000 miles and end up in the back room of an old Victorian house combing through strands of beads!

I fell in love with the colors of these beads and knew they were worth buying. Chrysocolla shows off captivating blue and green patterns in shades similar to turquoise and lapis lazuli. I decided the best way to use them would be a simple necklace (and maybe bracelet and earrings?) with ornate silver beads. Did I mention I’m in LOVE with these beads? I’ll be sure to post the results when I get the pieces finished. A special thanks goes out to my friend, Kim, for bringing me to this exclusive bead “store” that only the locals know!

The Story Behind It

I may make this a semi-regular feature on my blog. Today I will tell you the story behind one of the pieces in my Etsy shop. You see, by the time I finish a piece of jewelry, it already has certain memories and associations attached to it. Today's story is about this Zebra Stone bracelet, which represents friendship to me:
This bracelet brings to mind a wonderful trip I made to visit my high school best friend in Sacramento. I love visiting her because she welcomes me with open arms and encourages me to remember all the silly things from our childhood. We also get to do girly things, like get pedicures and go to bead shops!

In the downtown bead shop she took me to, I found a kind of shangi la. Three tables full of loose bead strands on sale! I sorted through every single strand and my friend didn't complain (she's not a beader). I walked out with 13 strands, including the ones I used in this bracelet. It's a good thing beads are small and lightweight since I was flying home!

I have such warm memories from that visit and spending the day with my friend. She's known me longer than anyone but my siblings, and I know she'll always be there. She just celebrated a birthday, so Happy Birthday, friend!