Beads of Paradise

On my lunch break today I dragged Mark to a bead store I had been meaning to check out for a while now.

Located in Union Square (New York City), the store is great for avid bead or antique collectors. However, it's not so fitting for those of us who just want to get our hands "dirty" looking for just the right component. In fact, you can't touch about 95 percent of the beads there as they are displayed behind glass.

Now, I totally understand why Beads of Paradise would want to showcase their items in this manner; many of the bead strands, findings, jewelry and even figurines they carry are a century or more old and worth quite a pretty penny.

I even saw Chinese trade beads in the window there from between 500 and 200 b.c.-- pretty fascinating for an archaeology-inspired nerd like me.

The store was a decent size for New York city bead stores, and all of the (oooh shiny) bead strands or tiny bowls of beads in its numerous glasses were extremely well organized. I'm sure had I asked for assistance I would have easily been able to get a handle on what I wanted to see, but I wasn't really going there to buy, more to "windowshop."

Bottom line: This place is great if you are looking for a certain item to add to your collection, or a even a unique and rare bead to start one, but if you just need your basic gems and components, stick to your local store where the items are more tangible and easier to study.

Vintage Costume Sandor Jewelry

I found this piece at one of my favorite local haunts and was about to repurpose it into some earrings when I had a stroke of "Why don't I see if it's signed?"


Turns out, this bracelet is from the Sandor line, which was started by Sandor Goldberger in the 1930s. The company closed in the 1970s. Even better, Sandor's enameled jewelry is highly collectible, as are those with floral themes-- most often, his flower pins.

Yay for unexpected vintage finds.

New boots

For the first time in a long while, I actually didn't mind anticipating a rainy day. Why, you ask? Because I'm wearing a darling pair of ankle-height, kitten heel boots! Add their baby blue hue to the mix, and I'd say that's definitely cause for a casual attitude towards the rain.

I don't have a pic of them as yet, but I will!

Also, I have been meaning to post a review of the Renegade Craft Fair in BK, which took place this past weekend; so as soon as I have the time I will do so. For now it's just a quick hello and...

A resolution: no more beads until I make some more sales.

After paying some larger-than-usual bills, I've realized I've been spending way too much to justify on this part of my life. OK, OK, it's justified by the fact that some of them will be used in projects and sold, others will be given in gifts and some are too darn pretty to pass up (see the blue, vintage Czech beads in a post below)!

I've been thinking about setting up another Etsy shop just to destash all of the extras I don't use, although I have simultaneously been thinking of collecting beads just for the sake of doing so. Vintage beads can be so beautiful in and of themselves (I have to post a pic of the Swarovski pear-shaped crystals I found; they're stunning).

The thing is, I don't have room in my tiny apartment for all of the collecting/crafting I would like to do.

I've also taken to collecting whole vintage jewelry pieces. My oh my!

Anyway, just this quick hello for now, expect shop updates soon.

Best,

Rachel

p.s. I saw a brown-and-cream-colored pigeon yesterday, and it was actually really beautiful. Its colors reminded me of a vintage fabric scheme...

The Crazy Chihuahua

This morning on my way to work I was approached by a flying chihuahua. I know I don't officially "wake up" until the clock hits double digits, but I was actually not dreaming. Walking by the corner store near the subway, I see this cute little puppy on a leash, sitting on a ramp that leads into a store; and as I glance over-- she is suddenly in the air. At first I was like woah, she's gonna get pulled back like some sort of ridiculous yo-yo puppy! It happened too quickly for me to react and get near her or anything, and she actually-- get this-- jumped so hard she broke free of her harness. All of a sudden there is a puzzled puppy staring up from my feet at an equally puzzled me. There was no barking or vicious lunging; I think she just wanted a hug or something.

I pointed for her to go back so she wouldn't run away and she actually headed in the direction of the store, just as her owner came out proclaiming "Sandy! You're crazy! What? Did I take too long [in the store]?"

So yeah, that's how my day started. Oddly enough, this was not the first time I've had a strange Astorian animal encounter.

The other week I saw a blue and gold macaw drinking a Snapple. Actually, he was guzzling it. I'm a total parrot freak, and it's kinda hard not to notice something so random, so I went over to inspect. The parrot was so sweet, unfortunately his owner [a.k.a. the Snapple holder] was not. I was all "Yay parrot!" and he was very I'm going to sit here and ignore you. The cute parrot let me pet him, though, so I was happy.

Uh yeah. Other than this news, I had a great week in San Francisco last week. I picked up an insanely large amount of vintage beads at this store in Berkley, vintage jewelry and some grammar and a jewelry book. Berkley was totally beautiful, San Fran was fun as always and Napa was pretty but uber boring.



Highlight, we saw the Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill!


Yay conures!

Vintage Czech

The fuzz

Einstein, 14, Quaker Parrot (myiopsitta monachus).

a.k.a., The Fuzzmuffin.

Did I mention I'm a bird lover? This little guy is my bebe.

Here's my other bebe, they hang out.

This one's mine...

I was so excited to find this vintage, lucite pear the other day. I'm totally keeping this necklace! The good news is, I may be able to get more fruits and share. They're large, which with goes with today's fashion of long necklaces with a giant focal piece to compliment those blousy/dress tops.

I also have clear, lucite apples, which are about 1 inch.


This brown pear is about 2 inches.