Sunday, January 31, 2010

It's gem show time!

The wave of gem-mineral-fossil-bead shows hit Tucson this weekend. When I drove home from belly dance class Thursday night, I saw tents all over the place. One vendor even looked like he was doing business at 10:40pm, but I suspect he was probably just chatting with fellow vendors after a late evening of setting-up.

I'm actually taking a more low-key approach to gem show this year. I haven't even touched a lot of what I purchased last year, and right now I'm a lot more interested in investing my spare cash into belly dance costumes and accessories than in more random beads. As such, I decided to completely skip Gem Mall this year. I may come to regret this if I have a sudden rush of crystal bracelet sales, but oh well. If I have a sudden rush, I can afford to restock from a slightly more expensive mail-order source.

But that's not to say that I'm skipping the shows entirely! I'm just being more judicious in what I purchase. Today I went to To Bead True Blue, because I wanted to get the new Green Girl designs before they sold out. After chatting with Andrew and Greg and getting what I came for, I browsed the rest of the show, where the only thing I purchased was an $8 boxwood netsuke for Chris. I was tempted by some unusual jingly rings, but I'm not buying any jinglies until after I've been paid for my Best Bead job.

While at the show, I ran into frequent blog commenter Jolene, of Funky Monkey Girls! She recognized me from my profile picture and introduced herself and her Mom. This encounter reminded me that I really need to stop being so anti-social, it's silly for me to live in the same city as someone and only see them at gem show!

I'm going to try to make daily updates during the show, for those friends who are living vicariously through me, but it may be hard. My schedule for the rest of the week:
Monday: Gym, grocery shopping, finish "Luna Fae" necklace, string three packages of crystals, do laundry.
Tuesday: Show set-up starts at 10am. Beadwork magazine party afterwards.
Wednesday: Working Best Bead Show, 10am-8pm. Oh, how I hate Wednesdays! Afterwards, gaming at my place, finish "Luna Fae" if I failed on Monday.
Thursday: Work Best Bead, take off early at 5 to go to dance class in Tempe.
Friday: Work as usual, followed by Swarovski party. Probably grab food on the way home, if last year's party is any indication.
Saturday: Work, then awesome dinner!
Sunday: Show closes at 5, possibly stay for tear-down.
Monday again: Run over to To Bead True Blue, except it's called Tucson Bead Show, and hope that Christi Friesen has a bead left with my name on it. Possibly also hit "metaphysical row" in search of jinglies. Technically I should also go to the gym, and go grocery shopping -- any bets on whether that actually happens?

10 comments:

  1. Have fun, AJ! Oh, and take photos, too, if you get the chance.

    In place of the gym you could always do the "Belly Dance 10."

    Please give Mark, Betcey, Star, Nikia, Beki, & Shawn some big squeezy hugs from me.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It was so cool to bump into you and your husband;) It will be fun to get together and talk about beading, belly dancing (I really wanna learn it) and all sort of sci fi/fantasy stuff:)

    Funky Monkey Girl,
    Jolene

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think you're getting enough exercise without the gym!

    (Now they're saying 2" snow tomorrow night.)

    ReplyDelete
  4. what an exciting week! i am drooling just thinking of the sparklies :D

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hugs shall be delivered, SaraBeth! And I think the Belly Dance 10 is just what I need. I didn't even go to the gym today, no time.

    Jolene, we should definitely get together, maybe towards the end of this month!

    Marilee, unfortunately I'll not really be exercising, except for during set-up. The rest of the time will just be lots of standing up and helping customers.

    Julie, I wish you were here! You'd love gem show. Soooo many mermaid focals, for one thing ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sounds like a plan:) Just let me know. I am going to MarsCon on March 4 and will be back here March 8 I believe.

    Jolene

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm in Tucson for the shows. which booth are you working in?

    Joann

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jolene, I'll get a hold of you after the show and try to set something up :)

    Joann, I'm working at Beyond Beadery -- we're set up in the dance studio at Best Bead Show. I hope I'll see you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. AJ, go to MarsCon! It's a great convention!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Marilee, I'd love to! But I think the budget would have something to say about that... something like "No" :(

    ReplyDelete