I have been to more than a hundred beadshows as the tradeshow manager at Nina Designs and I have collected amazing jewelry findings and beads in my travels. The ladies in the office always ask me where and how I find my goodies, so I have decided to share some tips to finding unexpected delights.
- Scan every booth as you walk up and down the aisles. There are hundreds of new products at every show, so give each booth a good look before passing it by. Ask the vendors about new products or which products have been popular. Nina Designs isn’t the only company that realizes having new designs is important to customers who want to stay on top of the trends.
- Ask vendors for their recommendations. If you like their product, it probably means you trust their taste. I am always happy to recommend my favorite vendors.
- As you scan the booths, also pay attention to your experiences with the vendors. I prefer to develop relationships with vendors who are friendly and knowledgeable about their products. Having a relationship with your vendors can be really beneficial. Not only will they be helpful and courteous, but they will listen to your suggestions, bring special products just for you, and possibly even give you better discounts – this is especially true if you are buying stones.
An Awesome Street Vendor in Tucson
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Unique treasures, inspirational silver pendants and relationship building marked this year’s Tucson trade show. Every year we look forward to Tucson as a place rich with inspiration and opportunities to swap all things jewelry and we are never disappointed. We come home brimming with fresh creative energy and all kinds of ideas to implement throughout the year.
A tattoo of P22 on a dedicated beadaholic
One of the highlights of Tucson is the opportunity to meet our customers in person and put a face to a voice. We have the chance to brainstorm and collaborate with our friends and customers, to suggest new styles to compliment existing collections, and to admire the beautiful jewelry made with our components.
This year we had a special treat: a tattoo of our P22 pendant! With tattoos that celebrate and honor her creative and artistic journey, Kriss added this one after purchasing the pendant more than 12 years ago. This tattoo definitely raises the bar in our beadaholic circle!
Thanks to everyone that dropped by our Tucson booth to say hello. We are blessed with the best customers ever! Your positive feedback and continued support is truly appreciated.
Shopping for silver beads and gemstones in Tucson is an experience like no other and it helps to be prepared. This will be my 7th trip to Tucson and after years of learning the hard way, I have compiled some tips to make your trip more productive and fun.
- I highly recommend you check out my earlier blog post titled Bead Show Survival Guide. Make sure you pay special attention to tips # 1, 3, and 5. Having your documents in order, your feet cozy and your energy levels stable will definitely make your shopping days more pleasant.
- Plan for all kinds of weather in Tucson. It is usually chilly, but there often are days with full sun and days that are blustery and rainy. Pack an umbrella, a waterproof tote, and a raincoat.
- You will need good shoes. I cannot emphasize this enough. I have ruined at least 3 pairs over the years walking through muddy gravel to get from the parking lots to the main entrance of the shows. If your weatherproof shoes aren’t very comfy, bring an extra pair to change into once you get inside.
We Love Dansko Shoes
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It is time to get ready for the busy fall and holiday seasons by stocking up on jewelry supplies at your local bead show. Since I spend about a third of my year at bead shows I thought I would put together a survival guide to help you navigate your way through those long hard shopping days.
1. Wear comfy shoes – the floors are usually cement and being on your feet all day is hard. I like to have a second pair with me to change into half way through the day, or for your ride home. You would be surprised at how much this helps.
2. Layer your clothes. It can start out chilly in the morning, but by the time the afternoon rolls around and the lights have been on all day, most busy shoppers are breaking a sweat.
3. Food and water – Show food is terrible. Sure a hot dog will seem like a good idea when you have been shopping for 5 hours, but if you just plan ahead and bring a sandwich, some nuts and dried fruit, and a bottle of water, you will be much happier. I always go to the grocery store in the morning to stock up on pre-made sandwiches and snacks and plenty of water.
Nina Designs in Tucson 2008
To read the rest of our handy bead shopping tips, click below.
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Inspired by miniature hedgehog figurines unearthed from Egyptian tombs, these new hedgehog silver charms are adorable! This past fall, Nina and I were at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Many years ago when Nina was just starting her jewelry findings company, she would go to the Met and sketch clasps on display from ancient Greece and Rome. These sketches were the inspiration the Balinese silversmiths used to make some of the first clasps in the Nina Designs collection.
On our recent visit, it was the tiny Egyptian hedgehog figurines that captured my fancy. Further research reveals that in Egyptian mythology, hedgehogs were protective talismans as they attacked “bad” animals such as snakes. They could survive in the desert, lending them further protective qualities.
In Celtic lore, the hedgehog is a symbol of rejuvenation and spring. When the hedgehog is happy and safe, its needles are relaxed. When frightened, the animal turns into a prickly ball, teaching us to be less defensive in order to enjoy and appreciate life more.
These little hedgehogs are darling and will be available towards the end of September.
When relaxed, the hedgehog is soft and touchable.
So adorable, these little hedgehog charms will be available in late September.
Our Silver Charms are intrepid travelers, exploring the great unknown with a true spirit of adventure. Follow along as our Lion Silver Charm cuts a path through dense bamboo, our Turtle Silver Charm hitches a ride on a monster tortoise and our Koi Silver Charms skim across a lily pond.There are other images from my trip to Bali that I hope to translate into silver someday: the graceful herons, the large comedic toads and my favorties, gaggles of quacking ducks that forage in the rice fields. It isn’t hard to find inspiration in such a beautiful place! Where do you find your inspiration?
Our Silver Charms have taken a sea faring turn in recent months. From seashell charms to mermaid charms, from starfish silver charms to octopus charms, we seem to be sinking deeper into the sea theme with every new creation. With so many ocean charms swimming through the office, I could not resist the urge to see how our lovely sea creatures would look in a natural habitat. On a recent trip to Point Lobos, I settled our silver charms into tide pools and snapped as many photos as I could. The hermit crabs didn’t seem to mind and the charms looked as if they had been living in the water all along. It is a good thing my patient husband likes to meditate because I couldn’t tear myself away until my pants got soaked by the incoming tide!