Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Play Money

I was lucky enough to get a sizeable sale in my Be Resinable shop this week...which means beady money to play with. Woo hoo!

In looking around at all the lovely possibilities out there (and my not-exactly-small stash of already-bought-beads at home), I found myself unable to make a decision on the best way to allocate the purchasing power. I know, I know, it's a TERRIBLE problem to have, but it did lead me to think about how I tend to make my purchases in isolation and only talk about them afterwards.

Which led me to think it'd be fun to see what is on YOUR "ultimate bead shopping" list. And yes, I promise not to go buy it. No, really. But I will go and look. ;-)

Are you holdin' out for a pricey set of lampwork beads? Or a stash of yummy stones? A new tool? Technique books? Or maybe you're savin' up all your pennies to attend a particular show?

So, here's the question: If you had $75 of beady play money and only 24 hours to decide, what would you do with it?

Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a prize. If your comment includes a link to beady goodness - you'll be entered twice. Winners to be announced Friday in the Bead Porn post.

Oh, and what is the prize, you ask? I haven't completely figured that out yet, but most likely some GREAT de-stashed beads and a pair of earrings...or something along those lines. DEFINITELY worth playing for (have you SEEN my stash???)

Okay, ready, set, GO!

KJ

P.S. Feel free to Facebook, Tweet, or Blog the contest iffen ya wants to.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

Since I am taking a metalsmithing class I would spend the $$ on sheet silver, maybe some wire as well

mairedodd said...

call me boring - but i would go for raw materials - more sheet metal and wire... and then some more patina colors from shannon... i think i have spent it rather quickly! (and i don't think you need the link to find shannon ... though i do use monsterslayer for my raw materials)

hello gorgeous said...

well, I've got a catch 22 at the mo...gotta sell to get beady cash....need beady cash to buy beads....stalemate! :o(

So, if I had this amount I would go after some gorgeous, colourful gemstones and ribbons and silver chain.....jazz up winter with a LOT of summer colour I think....make long line necklaces set off against roll neck/turtle neck sweaters...big and chunky....small and delicate designs....

Hmmmmm, please santa bring me a sale......

hugs

hello gorgeous xxx

TesoriTrovati said...

I want a tumbler. Here is one from Harbor Freight I have my eye on...
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?category=&q=tumbler
And some patinas from MissFickleMedia as well to play with.
Enjoy the day!
Erin

SummersStudio said...

Gemstones. I'm holding out for the birthstones of my children, myself, and my husband. Daughter and I are cheap (peridot and garnet). Son and hubby, not so much. I just don't have the money for good quality topaz and ruby. Oh there are a few just because gemstones on my list like emerald, black diamond (just little ones), iolite,....

Cynthia said...

Hmmmm...good question! It's tough, because $75 does not go as far as it used to! I'd like to splurge on some Green Girl stuff, or maybe Earthenwood, or Diane Hawkey.
Thanks for the chance to win what ever fabulousness you've arranged for us!!

chacha1 said...

If I had $75 beady cash and only 24 hours to decide how to spend it?? It would be a tossup between hoarding it for the next bead show (my oooh-shiny-treasures side) and spending it on good metal components (my practical side).

I, like someone else we know, have a vast array of beady supplies and yet often when construction begins, the exact right hardware is not at hand. Alas.

Beading Butterfly said...

I want this: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ORIGINAL-dichroic-glass-pendant-ABSTRACT-GARDEN-SRA-/220680888380?pt=AU_Self_Representing_Artists&hash=item33619b203c#ht_1407wt_1139

Unfortunately, any money that comes in for a while goes to bills instead of beads. :(

Kassie (beadingbutterfly.com)

Mary Newton Designs said...

I'd order sterling silver wire, I go through it sooooo fast! But I love seeing your purchases!

Mermaid Glass said...

I'd go for some heavy-gauge silver wire first. Then, blow the rest on some gorgeous ceramic beads. I can't seem to get enough of them!

MoonRae said...

My practical frugal side would buy supplies (wire and sheet,oh and I need some hard solder)my selfish splurging side would put it towards your Cotton Candy #1 bracelet....It's sooooo purty!!
~Sharon~

Unknown said...

I would spread the loot among my etsy favorites after making sure I bought the one thing I have really been wanting! You have shown that you can never have enough of your favorite beads but lets face it we all have that one frivolous thing we always want but never buy!

Hugs

lunedreams said...

I would buy $75 worth of heavy gauge sterling wire. Like 12 and 14 gauge.

EmandaJ said...

Hi Kelly,
I'm a real bargain shopper and would probably click in on my favorite bead wholesalers: Fire Mountain Gems (http://www.firemountaingems.com) or the Brazos Collection (http://www.brazoscollection.com). Either that I would search etsy for orphan beads.

(I would LOVE to win some of your bead-p*rn de-stash)
Emanda
Artymezia@yahoo, etc., etc.

Artisan Clay said...

hmmmm.....
I have been into chain lately

http://www.primitivearthbeads.com/Order-By-Style_c_3376.html

got some great stuff from these guys at Bead Fest Philly and I WANT MORE!

Mel said...

Well, I would go for a disc cutter, so I could punch out my own stamping blanks. It's more than $75, but I could keep saving for a bit -- this one is the object of my slightly obsessive tool-coveting, because it has a 1" punch, too: http://www.beaducation.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1425

Unknown said...

oh, fun! I'd probably spend my extra cash here (and have, on occasion!).
This set in particular:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56844898/sunset-tears-boro-lampwork-set-sra

I have one that's similar to this and it's one of the most beautiful pieces of glass I've ever seen!

Michelle said...

Hmmmm...silver wire or sheet. But I'd really like to have the Kismet upper & lower case letter stamps. http://www.beaducation.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=101_170_171

Bead Happy!
Michelle

Susan Marling said...

I would order some of Kelly Wentzel's egg beads and spend some on sheet copper and silver. I thought about what someone else said - saving it for a bead show but it would probably burn a hole in my pocket!!

Tara P. said...

If I had some money rolling around in my pocket for beads, I would buy some gemstones - tourmaline, in particular. I would also buy sterling silver. At this point, with the cost of silver, it's out of my range, for the most part.

swopemelmel said...

Oh that's an easy one!!! I would so spend every penny of it on Humblebeads, especially the new winter stuff. Heather Powers is amazing.
Find her at humblebeads.com and click on her ETSY shop tab.

swopemelmel@aol.com

EB Bead and Metal Works, LLC said...

Ok, this is hard. I would buy beads from Juls, chain from MissFickleMedia, I would buy satin ribbon, a bag from Waterstone, ceramic pieces from Earthenwood, etc...I could go on and on. In regards to equipment I would love to purchase a torch and a rolling mill and some dapping blocks and letters. Like I said the list goes on and on.
Thanks for the chance to win.

Amy F said...

Oh, it was play money? Crap! I just spent $75 in lots of beady goodness, but since it would be 14 links at 8 vendors (I know you so get me right now) I'll go with the silver vote. silver wire. oh! and a tube cutting jig, which has been on my wishlist for-evah!

Paige said...

ooooh $75???

I'd start with these from JulsBeads:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/56228792/cherokee-wind

And then grab some stuff from miss fickle media:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55155806/ancient-verdigris-textured-patinated

http://www.etsy.com/listing/55163192/ocean-blue-hammered-brass-chain-medium?ref=v1_other_1

and THEN I'd head over to Gillianbeads on artfire, and buy these:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=663843

and these:

http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=223242

Susanm said...

Since I live in Canada, I hope this is in US $...

I would buy some of the gorgeous boro glass beads from Stoney Marie Designs (www.esty.com/shop/StoneyMarieDesigns0 and some of Jody Posey`s lovely ribbon (www.esty.con/shop/JodyPosey). If I had anything left of my $75 (lol), I would hop on over to Jennifer Heynen`s esty shop (Jennifer Jangles) and buy one of her new bead mix necklace kits.

mcclelland@sympatico.ca

Kell said...

It's so hard to pick because I'm in love with so many bead artists. However, here are some things that would be at the top of my list if I had $75 to spend on beads...

$40 for the Arabian Nights Lampwork bead set by Julsbeads: http://www.etsy.com/listing/58863928/arabian-nights-julsbeads-lampwork-beads

$14 for these lampwork headpins from Kelleysbeads: http://www.etsy.com/listing/57869761/smooth-sailing-lampwork-headpins

$16 for these lampwork headpins from Kelleysbeads: http://www.etsy.com/listing/57871958/mauvalicious-lampwork-headpins

I hope you enjoy the pretty pretty beads. Feel free to purchase them because I don't think I will be able to come up with the money to do so and would love to support them in any way I can (even if it is sending others to buy the beads I only wish I could buy)