Home from Tucson

I had a great time in Tucson. Today I am unpacking and pricing all the stones and pearls I bought, and it is so much fun to see them all together!! When shopping over the course of 5 days, the stones stay in their respective bags, so until I get home, I don't get to see them side by side, and it is great to see how they fall into color families. Of course I don't go with a plan, but it usually turns out that I bring home things that really work well together, sometimes in the most wonderful ways!

I also got some SMOKIN' DEALS, which of course I will pass on to you, Fun Girls! And, as always, there were some of the most beautiful, expensive strands I just couldn't pass up. I can sit here and remember all the expensive strands I didn't buy as well, but there is a pile over there that is just too beautiful.

I bought a little bit of bone beads this year, usually a No-No for the vegetarian me. Perhaps since I am eating fish, my resistance to using dead animal parts in the jewelry is diminishing. I also bought some gold vermeil (gold over silver), which I also avoided in the past, so for you GOLD GIRLS, I will have a small selection. You get the look of solid gold at a fraction of the cost.

I finally found the pearls I used on one of my most popular earring designs, so they will be back again, and I think I will do them in 14kt gold as well.