pugdog
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Aug 24, 2006, 2:59 AM
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African Beads!
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Our favorite African vendors stopped by this week, and we have some GREAT items.
They suprised us, so we had far less cash on hand than we would have liked. We did get some of the pounded metal beads in copper, silver and brass (only a few strands, so HURRY!).
We also got some really great stone and glass beads you'll have to see to appreciate. Awesome, and definitely African.
We also got a few strands of some very, very interesting "vintage" style glass "rings", like miniature bangles. These are about 3/4" glass rings that are incredibly unique and interesting. They were expensive, so we only have two mixed strands, but we are willing to sell small quantities while they last.
This is the real stuff, and you can see it in the beads.
We begged them to come back again before the holidays, and to give us some warning when they do so we can get the word out to you. You need to see their stuff. The prices range from $8-10 a strand to over $100 a strand, and that means "group buys" (where several people split a strand) are possible, *IF* you can see the items. It's worse than a kid in a candy store! Their selection is the most unique among all our vendors. The bead sizes range from tiny (3-4mm) to 2-3" in size. They carry bone, clay, gemstone, metal and glass beads.
While they do have some standard items, and some higher-end slower moving items, in general the selection is different every time they come in.
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Beads, good beads, are always limited-availability items. Unless they are machine made and made from synthetic materials, the sources of both stone, glass, and craftsmanship is very limited. When you see a great cut or color of gemstones, BUY IT, because you probably won't see it again. Nature does not give up Her treasures on demand, and even when She does, the distributors may not cut the style, shape or size of the beads from it that you want.
While we do stock production glass beads (Miyuki, Czech glass, etc), our main goal is higher grade gemstones and unique hand-carved or hand-made items in glass, bone, clay and other materials. We try hard to offer a selection of items that is NOT available in catalogs, along with the standard fillers, go-withs, and spacers that are needed to complete a project.
Many of these items are one of a kind, or 3 or 4 strands at the most. We get them in, someone sees them, and they are gone forever. Usually, we don't even get to announce the items have arrived before they are gone.
We do get new items several times a week, and most are in very limited quantity. If you don't stop by often, or at least regularly, you will miss out on some of the prettiest, most awesome, and unique items we carry.
Why don't we get more of them in if they are so great? Because there *ISN'T* any more of it! That's the naure of Nature.
Our regulars see our piles of beads go up and down on the counters and desks. These beads never even make it up on the walls! We are always opening boxes, sorting strands, and packaging up odd beads. (We have hundreds of new beads from recent Bead Exchanges -- small quantities of odd, unusual, and stunning stuff.)
Those catalog shots of stores with hundreds or even thousands of beads hanging from the walls and racks are really pretty -- but they are CATALOG SHOTS. That means, those beads are often in everyone's catalogs. And, you can order those beads from the catalogs -- usually. What makes your stuff stand out is finding beads that are more unique. By definition, there are not a lot of those around. Those are the beads that come and go so fast, sometimes we think we are imagining they were ever in our shop. Those beads rarely make it into the photos, since they go so fast people will get upset when they see them in an ad, and they are *NOT* available any more.
My point? Don't wait for the beads to come to you, you need to get out and look for them.
Stop by often to see what's new. Stay tuned for vendors showing up -- and come out to see them! Let us know what you are working on and what styles/things you need or like so we can keep our eyes out for them.
Beading is fun. Enjoy it :)
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
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