This is a first for my blog – I have never covered this show before…mostly the location is pretty far from the rest of the shows AND I am really not much of a beadgirl. \u00a0 So – that being said, when I got a note that one of my original Twitter friends was showing there I decided it was time to check it out!<\/span>
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\nWhile this show is a little out of the way…they provide shuttle service so it is an easy destination…and it was PACKED! \u00a0My roomate, Ann Marie of Heart’s Desire Jewelry<\/a>, needed to stop at Saki Silver so we made a trip out.<\/span>
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\nThere are lots of great vendors at this show…in my limited time there, these are the ones that stood out for me!<\/span>
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\nJust inside the lobby was a Bay Area gem bead dealer, Best Bead Shop, that Ann Marie knew…he has some really fine and unusual beads in pyrite, moss agate, included quartz (many varieties). \u00a0Beautiful quality and above and beyond that Sanjay and Amy Margaret are delightful to deal with. \u00a0I love to shop where the workers are having fun! \u00a0(note: they are listed at the show as Rocky’s Designs)<\/span>
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\nNext stop <\/span>Saki Silver <\/a><\/span>– I really wanted to get you a shot of this room – and just as we were leaving it cleared out enough to see just how extensive the array of clasps, beadcaps and findings is from this company.\u00a0<\/span>
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\nIf you want Silver from Saki you had to go to this venue because their booth at Best Bead only handles Copper, Brass and Shibuichi. \u00a0Meeting a wholesale minimum at this shop isn’t hard to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Last but not least – my girl Heather…long long ago (;-p) at the advent of Twitter there really weren’t a lot of jewelry folks using the platform and you had time to get to know each other. \u00a0Heather Parker DiSimone is @BeadinPath on Twitter, her shop The Beadin Path<\/a> in Freeport, Maine specializes in Vintage – Metals and Acrylic. \u00a0<\/span>
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\nWhen I walked into her room she was giving a great demo of the new\u00a0 Riveting & Piercing Tool<\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>b<\/span>y<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Crafted Findings. <\/em>What a fabulous tool – as a Metalsmith I will solder a join just to not have the struggle of riveting, but this tool really simplifies the process, from piercing the hole to adding the rivet. \u00a0I will be posting more on this tool on the<\/span> Daily Jewel<\/a>.<\/span><\/span>
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All week I have been searching for the latest <\/span>Pantone Pink – Honeysuckle<\/a><\/span> – have you seen it? found a great tray of vintage acrylic beads at The Beadin Path for you!<\/span>
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\nSpeaking of Twitter – if you haven’t checked out the Twitter Hub for the Tucson Gem Show – you should!<\/b><\/i><\/span>
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