Spotlight

Reasons to Buy More Beads updated!
1. Baggies and tubes of beads tightly packed in various containers make an excellent insulation for the home.
2. Buying beads keeps our economy going. It is our patriotic duty to support bead stores.
3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.
4. Because they are on sale.
5. At any moment the employees of a bead factory might go on strike and limit the availability.
6. We are participating in a contest. The one with the most beads wins.
7. A bead keeps without refrigeration, you don't have to cook it to enjoy it, you never have to feed it, change it or walk it.
8. We need extra weight in the trunk of our cars for traction on icy or muddy roads. You never know when the weather might change.
9. Because we are worth it.
10. Like dust, containers of beads are good for protecting previously empty spaces in the house, such as ironing boards, dining room tables or any other horizontal surface.
11. If the BIG earthquake comes, all the bead stores might be swallowed into the ground and never seen again.
12. Stress from dealing with the "Bead Control Officer" (spouse) makes us do it.
13. Buying beads is not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes us feel good.
14. We have to buy beads before our husband retires and goes with us on all our shopping expeditions.
15. A bead purchase a day helps us work rest and play.
16. Beads are a proven aphrodisiac.
17. While shopping for beads you don't have to worry if they'll fit, or how big they will make your hips look.
18. Beads don't argue, or get crabby.
19. Beads get better with age, like women and wine.
20. You need never go near Loehmann's dressing room to buy beads.

When will we stop buying beads????? That's #21...you'll have to go to Suzanne Cooper's websites to find out. Thanks, Suzanne!
www.suzannecooper.com
www.love2bead.com

This is not an April Fool's joke:
The South Pacific nation of Papua New Guinea has created a currency exchange where traditional shell money can be turned in for cash, and vice versa. A "fathom" of strung shells can be turned in for about a dollar in cash. The government is also letting people pay their taxes, school tuition, fines and fees with shell money.

We hope to find out what kind of shells are being used. We have plenty of cowrie shells at Rings & Things, and wouldn't want to be accused of being the Enron of shell money laundering.

Thanks to the San Antonio Bead & Ornament Society for digging this story up in the Wall Street Journal. It's in their April 2002 newsletter.

FIVE KIDS, AND SPARE TIME!
Rings & Things customer Lisa Colby, of Des Moines, Iowa is a devoted mother of 5 young children, and somehow finds the spare time to run a family-oriented craft jewelry business! It's called Multiple Treasures, and here's a picture of the newest treasure, a watch made with one part from another company...everything else comes from R&T. Check out Lisa's website at www.multiple-treasures.20m.com for more color pictures of her inspired jewelry.
Heres the picture

AND WOULD YOU BELIEVE I EVEN HAD ORANGE NYMO!
Amy M. has been working at Rings & Things for 5 years, and making jewelry for even longer. In the fall of 2001, her professionalism paid off, in the form of first prize in the Orange Ya Glad Challenge. Facing the assignment of designing something beautiful with orange beads (don't try this at home!), Amy created this masterpiece, titled "And Would You Believe I Even Had Orange Nymo!" The judges' panel was unanimous: "Flawless execution!" (For more of this story, and to see other entries, visit our customer ZiZZy ZaZa Beads at www.zizbead.com/orange_ya_glad.htm.) We urge all of our customers to join us in congratulating Amy on winning the Orange Goblet Prize!
Amy's masterpiece

"OH, CHRISTMAS BUSH..."
Actually, make that "Deck the Bushes' Christmas tree!" Pamela Wynn, owner of Paper Tole Originals in Florida, created this fine ornament which was selected to decorate the holiday tree in the White House in December 2001. It depicts one of the oldest churches in the country, Old Christ Church in Pensacola, Florida. Pamela says she photo-transferred an image of the church onto Sculpey(TM) Premo polymer clay from Rings & Things, then formed it onto a glass ornament bulb, and finished it off with R&T's Swarovski(TM) crystals around the top. (Pamela, who's been a Rings & Things customer since 1992, can be reached at PO Box 6474, Gulf Breeze, FL, 32561-6478.) Congratulations, Pamela!
Pamela Wynn's ornament