Archive for February, 2009

Get the edge at Rings & Things ’09 bead shows

Friday, February 13th, 2009

If you’re buying from Rings & Things, you’re already in the know.  We have groovy stock, grand variety and we provide great honest info to back it all up.  We also go the extra mile, or several thousand miles, to give you a competitive edge.

The season is about to begin for Rings & Things’ BeadTour 2009!  We’ll be coming to your area at least once between March and November.  This is your chance to use your insider connection with us and stock up on great new stock that isn’t in our catalog.

That’s right, we’ll bring literally tons of new beads and findings to our bead shows, to help you grow your business.  There will be so much of this “cash & carry” stock that I can’t possibly describe it all!  But I won’t tease you either (much)–here’s a photo album of some neat beads we’re bringing your way.

Serpentine and agate beads (Rings & Things BeadTour '09)

Serpentine and agate beads (Rings & Things BeadTour '09)

Quartz, onyx, and nephrite beads (Rings & Things BeadTour '09)

Quartz, onyx, and nephrite beads (Rings & Things BeadTour '09)

Purple, light blue, and green magnesite beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

Purple, light blue, and green magnesite beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

White petal-shaped, lavender/dark-blue/garnet potato, and chocolate keshi freshwater pearls from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

White petal-shaped, lavender/dark-blue/garnet potato, and chocolate keshi freshwater pearls from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

Dyed light/brown/black/red mother-of-pearl beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

Dyed light/brown/black/red mother-of-pearl beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

Bluish and greenish aquamarine, and dyed aquamarine crackle agate, beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

Bluish and greenish aquamarine, and dyed aquamarine crackle agate, beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '09

Can’t get enough eye candy?  Pictures of popular items from our recent Fall ’08 bead shows will give you an idea how quickly we rotate cool new beads into stock.  (Warning: I took most of these, so they’re not as pro as Val’s photos above.) :)

Wood jasper beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Wood jasper beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Paua shell beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Paua shell beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Dragon's-blood jasper beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Dragon's-blood jasper beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Double-drilled mixed gemstone beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Double-drilled mixed gemstone beads from Rings & Things BeadTour '08

Have a favorite find from a past Rings & Things bead show?  Want to suggest a new bead?  Leave a comment!

Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
*At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
*You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.

*At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

Multi-purposing your creations: add value for your customers!

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Another way to grow your business: Multi-purposing.

Big word.  Simple meaning: Plan at least some of your jewelry pieces so that they can be used in more than one way by your customer.

noeasybeadsnoeasybeads @Rings_Things I would use a pin bar with a bail. To be worn as a pin or a pendant on the cable.  [Visual aid:]

Have you multi-purposed any of your creations lately? Share ideas with fellow artisans by leaving a note below!

Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
*At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
*You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.

*At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

Next month’s birthstones: aquamarine, bloodstone, & jasper

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Planning ahead for March birthstone jewelry?  Our crystal ball (actually a book we sell) says you can use aquamarine or bloodstone.  Some folks use jasper too!

The zodiac says March is the month when most Pisces are born (February 20-March 20).  Since Pisces is “the fish”, the hue of aquamarine (literally “sea water”) is a great color theme to use in birthday jewelry for these folks.  Enjoy the organic feel of gemstone chip beads,

or make a more regular design by lining up some smooth round beads.

Perhaps better for quick-tempered Aries (March 21-April 19) would be bloodstone.  An intriguing thing about this gemstone is how variable the colors can be, since it’s a combination of dark green with deep red in various proportions.  Check out these 8mm rounds to get an impression of the color range:

And sometimes you’ll find this stone much more on the green end of things, like these 12mm rounds.

Jasper is a whole world unto itself.  There are so many varieties in such a phenomenal range of hues–it’s worth browsing our catalog to absorb them.  A couple of my favorites will give you an idea what I mean.  There are fancy-jasper faceted diamond-shaped beads:

Another variety is leopardskin jasper, shown here in 8mm rounds:

Yet another type is ocean jasper.  How about these tip-drilled puffed marquise beads?

And don’t forget to browse for color matches.  We always have hundreds of styles, including aquamarine-colored glass beads!

Have a March birthstone-inspired jewelry tip?  Share it here by Replying in the comments section!

Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:
*At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.
*You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.

*At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

Contest: Rings & Things goodie-pack lottery

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Here’s another great idea that came from talking with one of our readers.  (In this case, thanks go to @Rockcreekcreate on Twitter!)

Exciting news: every month, we’re going to hold a lottery right here on the Rings & Things blog. Here’s how it will work:

  • At the beginning of each month, I’ll announce a new lottery.  (That’s what I’m doing right now, hint hint.)
  • You enter by leaving Replies, also known as blog comments.  Comment on any post(s) this month.
  • At the end of the month, I’ll randomly draw 2 names to receive surprise goodie packs!

These packs will include a themed selection of Rings & Things stock.  Of course I can’t tell you now what they’ll contain, but an example might be a bunch of items for making bracelets, or maybe a variety of beads in ocean colors.  You never know. :)

Leave your replies here to be entered in our Feb. 28 drawing!