Working Tuesday: Gem and Jewelry Show December 2010

Well my friends, it's that time again: Gem and Jewelry Show December 2010. The safest path is to avoid the show altogether as there are WAY too many tempting things if you love all things jewelry like me. Unfortunately, I didn't heed my head and followed my heart to the show. I also took my husband who is a TERRIBLE influence ("Just get both of them!").

I did manage to largely control myself, but I found a couple noteworthy things. The best, by far, were these mother of pearl medallions that the seller (I think) said were "razor" cut, but I'm pretty sure he meant laser cut. I only got one strand as they were rather pricey, but he had some that looked like snowflakes and some that had roses cut out of them - in both large and small sizes.

The trend this year seems to be going toward crystals. I saw TONS of crystals all over the show. I also found some interesting shell looking items that reminded me of the beach.

I was looking for glass pearls for an order that's pending, but wasn't able to find any. I told my husband that I was tripping over them two years ago, and couldn't find any good quality REAL pearls. The opposite is true today. There was a huge variety of pearls in different shapes and sized - including really good quality freshwater pearls for very reasonable prices.

That's the report on the Gem and Jewelry Show... and now we return to our regular programming....

Inspiration Thursday! Stampington & Company magazines

It's inspiration Thursday again and this week I want to make sure all my creative readers are aware of a collection of magazines I always love thumbing through. They're published by Stampington & Company, and includes a variety of titles.

I tend to be drawn more to the jewelry and clothing lines, which are published under the name Belle Armoire Jewelry or Belle Armoire Art to Wear. I've found the clothing issues at my local Hancock Fabrics, but I'd bet you could pick them up at Jo Ann Fabrics too. The jewelry magazine I've found at Barnes and Noble as well as Jo Ann Fabrics.

Each issue has at least one, but usually many projects that inspire my creativity. They also have step by step instructions on how to make the featured projects - with photos! And if you're looking for supplies, they often include their sources in the articles too. If you've ever tried to track down an obscure supply, you'll understand how invaluable that can be!


If that's not your cup of tea, you can always pick up the scrapbooking, doll making, journaling, handbag, wedding or stamping magazines. OR you can look at another of my favorite Stampington publications: Where Women Create.





Since combining houses with my hubby, I've had to consolidate my supplies and my work area has gotten considerably smaller... stupid man furniture.... Wait. What? Did I say that aloud? What? Oh yeah... I dream about having a space of my own where I can store my supplies in an organized and accessible manner. It's a place where I can lay out my beads, or lace, or whatever and LEAVE them there without worrying Corgi girl is going to jump on it or hubby is going to be upset that it's still there three days later when I am finally able to get back to a project. Sound familiar?

Well Where Women Create is the place for you to dream - at least it's where I dream. Live on a house boat? Well, there's an issue with a woman who does and how SHE deals with lack of space. Have a lovely light filled room you can paint in soothing colors with space for lovely patterned boxes of supplies? Well imagine that, there's a woman who does. My favorite, however, is the woman who collects stuff like I collect stuff: in little tins and cigar boxes and irregularly shaped cabinets. As much as I want the clean sunshine filled room, I'm sure I'll always be the back room collector. It's just who I am.

The point is, there's inspiration enough for everyone looking through these lovely publications. Just thumbing through the layouts is a soothing exercise for me - and can be for you too!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go dream about my future studio....

Shiny...Pretty... or what I did at the Gem and Jewelry Show

If you couldn't tell from my prior post, the G&J show is one of the highlights of my season. I love to see the trends - what stones, what colors, what styles - that, in my experience, often show up in stores soon thereafter.

This trip, I heard "the onion briolette" was an upcoming trend. I'm increasingly seeing this cut, but it was interesting to hear from the point of view of the sellers that they saw this as a trend.

Generally, I pick up colors and styles that appeal to me - not necessarily because I have a piece in mind or that it's trending, but just because I like it and think it interesting. As a result, I've amassed quite a palette of colors, textures and cuts to work with once I sit down to create. Setting a budget is essential (unless you're independently wealthy) because it's very easy to get carried away. I usually go over my budget, but I know when I hit that threshold it really has to be fantastic to get me to go beyond!

This trip I did pretty well. I stayed within $20 of the budget I set. I was pleased with the treasures I found. I was mainly looking for 4mm and 6mm beads to integrate into my button pendant necklaces. I want to make those more interesting. I was also looking for briolettes in pinks, purples and greens, but didn't find anything as large as I would like. (Thus, my onion briolette conversation!) And I'm always on the lookout for pearls for wedding jewelry.

I found a pretty little acorn cast in silver that I'm still creating around in my head. There were some lovely coral colored cloisonne flowers and some Tibetan looking beads with red glass cabochons. I also found some beautiful carved coral flowers that offer many possibilities.

My FAVORITE find, however, was a strand of pink amethyst onion briolettes. The fact that they were pink amethyst was fun enough, but what made them extraordinary was the aurora borealis coating (AB) that's been fired onto them. It really gives them interesting texture and I'm thinking of combining them with keshi pearls to bring out that lovely array of color. That's assuming I can ever bring myself to pay for the quality of pearls they deserve!

So anyway, more fun options and a wonderful time with a new friend. You can't beat that!

Gem and Jewelry Show

This weekend is the International Gem and Jewelry Show! Can you tell I'm excited? A friend of mine introduced this show to me a couple years ago and I've been smitten ever since.

The show comes to the Dulles Expo Center several times a year and I try to make time to go when they're in town. You can find just about anything jewelry at the show. Are you a beader? There are hundreds of bead vendors, findings vendors and an incredible vendor that sells just about any tool you'll need. Like antique jewelry? You'll find an amazing collection of vendors with jewels that will make you hyperventilate. Like contemporary jewelry or looking for loose gems? You'll find that too.

I don't often see plique au jour jewelry, but I've seen it here. I'm able to get better buys on my gemstone beads when shopping here - and that's not even mentioning the fact that you can see and touch the beads before you buy them. My favorite vendor, however, is Efim Gilin (http://www.efimgilin.com/).

He and his wife are usually at the front of the hall and they carry the most magnificent jewelry! They'll let you hold jewelry that you might find in a museum and they'll talk with you about the craftsmanship if you show an interest. When it was time for my now husband to look for an engagement ring, we went to Efim - and boy did we find a beauty. They have pieces from a couple hundred dollars into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. And they have always been incredibly patient with my questions and requests to look at pieces I'll never be able to afford. They're just wonderful!

So if you're in DC this weekend, and you want to find a treasure, I'd suggest the International Gem and Jewelry Show at the Dulles Expo Center. If you're not in DC, you can find their touring schedule (they travel across the US all year long) here: http://intergem.com/

And if you DO go to the show, stop by and say hello to Efim. And tell him I sent you!