Monday, July 19, 2010

Indulgence

I love jewelry. "Good" jewelry which I am really lucky to have been  given by Mr. Chocolate, and then there's the stuff I make lol.  One thing I like about making jewelry (well about making anything) is that you can reinvent it once you get tired of it or if you're not happy with it or if it breaks, and then I don't feel guilty about making more of it than I can wear because I can always transform it into something else.

I consider myself a "stringer" more than a beader. I don't weave with beads or do things requiring knotting because I'm not precise or patient enough. I do have a really cool knotting tool that a friend of mine's wife created. I still need to play with it.

Anyway...babble babble, I usually get supplies at the big box stores...Michaels or JoAnn's , both of which have improved their beading sections in recent years. But a couple of times a year, I get to treat myself with trips to amazing suppliers. Here in my home state, we have Shipwreck Beads  which is overwhelming on your first visit. You know you're in trouble when they have a lounge area (aka "man chairs") , cafe, and espresso cart because you are going to need a break to sit and regroup!

My other more limited, but sheer indulgent pleasure is, Scottsdale Bead Supply which to me is like the Tiffany of bead stores, or the Callebaut of chocolate  I'm definitely on an allowance there because as the saying goes, you get what you pay for and their materials are all fine quality. I walk through the store and take my time in each section, making probably three or more laps around before narrowing down my choices and then another two or three more laps to decide what I want, I mean can afford.  Then I do things like get them home and am so paranoid to use the materials because "OMG what did I spend?" and then they sit in my stash which is kind of pointless isn't it? Like the tee shirts we're afraid to re-fashion because "you mean I have to cut them up" but which otherwise sit, unworn, in the closet? Yep.

So I put on my big girl panties and got out some of my treasures from my last trip to SBS and made a bracelet ( that I can wear on my next trip there which is coming up!):


Black onyx, another stone the name of which I couldn't remember but Mich in LA reminded me it's a jasper, Bali silver, smokey quartz and :

Silver, black onyx and mother of pearl inlay clasp. 
And...

And I've promised myself that if ( OK when ) I buy these special things, I'm not going to stash them away because they're too precious. Life it too short. Did you know stressed spelled backwards is desserts?

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11 comments:

Christine said...

Carol-I love the way your bracelet came out! I too, have one of those fabulous bead stores near me. I consider it such a treat to go in, wander around, and find some special beads.

the thrifty ba said...

i think you need to do a give away to your favorite followers and have that be the prize! seriously-im not that good with beads and stuff (even though i posted today about it), but i think it looks fantastic!

Michelle L. said...

Hahaha! You are describing me exactly. I ALWAYS get cold feet about using Xpen$ive jewelry components, because they are "too good" to use casually. Then they just sit in a drawer. Dumb!!! You are inspiring me to go find some of my boxed-up treasures and make jewels! I love yr bracelet, how everything harmonizes with that beautiful clasp. The other stone: could it be sesame jasper?

Fonda @Southern Scraps said...

Your bracelet is gorgeous!

Holly Lefevre said...

Beading is one thing I have shyed away from. This is GORGEOUS! I love those two big rounds beads. I bet I would spend a ton of cash at a bead store!

Rachel (Diary of a Recovering Chocoholic) said...

Gorgeous!

Em {Emerging Em} said...

Your bracelet turned out so well!

Terrell said...

I just love this piece!! Great job, missy!! I love the detail and the fact that you could wear it with sooo much! I wanted to invite you to enter my fab giveaway at FFD! Have a happy week!!
~Hugs - Terrell @ FrouFrouDecor~

Lori said...

WOWZA! This is really, really, spectacular! Now, you must.... WEAR IT! hee

Rose said...

love the braclet

Unknown said...

What a great bracelet! And no, I didn't realize that stressed was desserts backward! Haha, to cute. In my house, stressed spells Dr. Pepper hehe!
Thank you for sharing this with us at Anything Related!
{Rebekah}