R&T does a nice little road show!

[Luann Udell]

I was really stretched for time this week, and almost decided to skip the Rings 'n' Things road show this fall.  It's a two-hour drive and I had lots of delays on the way.

But I made it and I'm so glad I did!

I really thought I had everything I needed for the next few months, but I found some very pretty bead strands and a few unusual items I hadn't seen before, including some dyed...Zambian aquamarine??  (I was walking around with it in my studio while talking on the phone and now I can't find it.)     and a single strand of sapphire blue keishi pearls--it's hard to find a really true blue freshwater pearl, and these are lovely.

Michelle recognized my name and helped me sign in properly--I managed to lose my paperwork (invitation and sales tax ID) on my way from the parking lot to the bead room!  (Er...if anyone saying they were me bought hundreds of dollars' worth of Swarovsky and Chinese glass beads, THAT WASN'T ME!!!!)   

I'd already spent way too much on African trade beads this month on the BCN forum, so I had to sadly bypass that table....   

There were items in every price range, and in every size/shape/color imaginable.  If you get a chance to check out this little show, I guarantee it will be worth your while--and more fun that a barrel full of fish sticks.   

[Polly]

Thanks Luann!

The dyed Zambian aquamarine is a pretty teal-tinted blue, similar to some other teal-y blues that we've admired together (from opposite sides of the country), so I bet you correctly remembered that strand's name.

Colored freshwater pearls are a great item to get at shows, because you can pick out the exact color you want. They vary a lot from batch to batch, in both color and shape (as anyone who has ordered them by mail has surely noticed!). We've been adding keishi pearls to our regular-stock line too, but have some more unusual varieties and hard-to-find colors at our bead shows.

Oooh, I just saw this picture of pretty aqua blue beads on your blog.  (Yes! Now I have added as many links to this posting, as you have emoticons above!)