BrittanyMakes

Happy Monday! I was a busy busy bee this weekend – took a trip to the airport to send my BF off to India for work (yikes!), celebrated my Dad's 50th birthday party yesterday (happy birthday dad!), and finished up a couple old projects that I had put on the back burner during the holidays.  Somehow I found time to hit up the local gem show to restock my jewelry supplies that have dwindled down to nearly nothing the last few months. 

(I took all photos with an iPhone, so please pardon the quality)

Let's talk jewelry supplies.  There are many ways to stock up on jewelry supplies – you could go to a local bead shop, order supplies from an online retailer, order from auction sites like eBay, or attend a wholesale gem faire. 

Each venue has it's perks and drawbacks.  Local shops generally charge higher prices and have limited inventory, but you're able to "get it now".  With online retailers and eBay, you have to pay for shipping and you're unable to get the tangible experience – touch the item or view the stone or gem in real light.  Also, online retailers & eBay both have a much larger inventory and selection to choose from. 

My preferred method of stocking up on jewelry supplies is to attend a gem faire.  You have a selection of hundreds of vendors to choose from all under one roof.  Some vendors sell similar items, like pearls and crystals, others sell unique and one of a kind items like gold or copper dipped leaves.  You're more than likely to find the best prices at a gem faire, but it definitely takes a few dedicated hours to get through the entire show floor, which can be exhausting.

The Sonoma County Gem Faire is a scaled down version of the Bay Area show.  My aunt and I were in dire need of supplies and we couldn't wait until April for the Bay Area show.  I snapped a few pictures of the various vendors to give you an idea of what you'll find at a gem show…

Tables and tables of beads, glass, stones, shells…

…in all shapes and sizes.  You could literally spend an hour at one table looking over the selection.  Some vendors may have the same item, but priced differently, so be careful where you spend your money first!

Wire & chain up the yin-yang!

There may be multiple chain vendors at a show, but my aunt and I always find at least one who's selection is far better than the rest.  We were at this table for 45 minutes, I'm not kidding.  It might be safe to say we have a thing for chain….

Jewelry & Rings

You can actually buy finished jewelry and rings at the show.  The selection usually isn't my taste, but as you can see form this photo, some vendors are serious about their jewelry.

Vermeil gems

One of the latest trends, which I LOVE and wish I knew more about on how to recreate, is vermeil dipped or cradled gems. You can buy vermeil gems loose, like these above, or on chain (not pictured).  These stones above are encased in a thin strip of gold.  Unfortunately, they are not cheap.  I promised myself, the next show I attend I'm going to budget some funds specifically for some vermeil dipped beads. 

Now for the more unique items…

Gold dipped shark teeth!

Flower pendants

Silver, copper & vermeil dipped leaf pendants

Natural stones, mineral rocks, & crystals

It's easy to get overwhelmed at these shows since there's so much to choose from.  I try to stick to a list of items I need and a list of colors or shapes of new items I want to find, and it usually helps from going over budget.

So, what did I score at the show yesterday?

Some bright, bold stones…

some faceted crystals…

Some geometric shaped stones…

Some pearls, of course…

And an assortment of jump rings, wire, crimp beads, toggles, filigree pieces, and some killer figure-eight gold chain…

I can't wait to get started!

Shopping for jewelry supplies can be overwhelming, especially if you don't know what to look out for.  It can also be difficult when you don't know what you need, where to go, or what to buy and if the price is right.  If you're looking into making jewelry, and you need quick advice, don't hesitate to email me with questions! I can certainly point you in the right direction.