Beads, Their Addicting Qualities & Shopping

 My personal addiction (I truly believe it qualifies) came about slowly.  While living in Portland Oregon in the 1990's I would wander into a particular store.  The overwhelming amount of colors, shapes, tools, findings (ear wires, wire, clasps), stones and  glass paralyzed me.  The person working in that store I must say, intimidated me, I didn't even want to ask for help!

When I moved to Hungary I needed something to do.  During my visits home I decided to check out my hometown's bead store.  What a difference!  I soon became friends with the owner and she patiently helped me.  Those first steps were with stretchy cord and seed beads.  Each trip back to Hungary would find my suitcase weighted down with my latest stash.  Six years later when I moved back to Oregon, I was amazed when the boxes arrived how much I had really transported one trip at a time!

My first trip to Tuscon (which is considered the pinnacle of bead shopping) was incredible.  Think about what one bead store contains....now think about a football field sized tent, completely filled with tables, each piled high with strands and bags of beads.....sigh....it's heaven.  Here's a view from the parking lot.  This is at the Gem Mall location, and it's only a small slice of the whole pie.

In order to gain entrance, you must have shown proof of your business and you get a badge and lanyard.
Once you're in, here's a small example of what you'd see.

Comfortable shoes, a rolling bag to carry your purchases, a bottle of water, handi wipes (beads are dirty!) and LOTS of stamina are required.  When I'm there, or at any larger scale bead show, I'm in the zone.  I don't pay much attention to normal needs such as food or water and I don't sit down.  At the end of the day you return to your hotel and start organizing.  You need to make sure of what each strand cost, get it labeled, then into shipping boxes.  During the day when you're shopping, you can almost forget what you've bought 3 hours ago so it's really fun to see everything again.

In order to go thru all of this, it really does require a passion, a love and a slight addiction to those beautiful amazing fascinating beads.  I do believe that love comes through in my designs.  I need to design, it makes me happy.  That happiness increases when I hear a customer tell me how excited they are to wear their Jewelry by Day piece!

Happy Trails,
Michelle