I finally found a bead shop close to me today (after searching for 2yrs!). They had really GOOD prices on some things, and really BAD prices on others; luckily, the expensive stuff was so ridiculously high, it was obvious;o) I got out of there only spending $40, and I have used all but three of the beads already (the three were the most amazing big faceted red coral things--still don't know what I will do with them, but couldn't pass 'em up at $0.45 a piece!:o)
They sell Swarovskis for nine cents a piece, which is about what I can find them for online (after shipping)....this is better for me, though, because the cheaper online crystal places require a license. This place sells wholesale to the public (just the crystals, not other beads), and discounts
30% when you buy more than a gross! I'm so stoked:o)Now, a question: I bought a gross of bicones to make some of those RAW bracelets I saw selling at Nordstrom for $180. I've never done RAW before, but it looks easy enough. I just want to know, is the one-needle method faster than the two-needle method, or vice versa? Or is it a personal thing (different for different people)? And how many beads does it take to make one? Will a gross be enough? I got 4mm bicones, because that's what the Nordstrom bracelet used;o)
Oh! I've got one more! Why are there so many different kinds of Jasper? Are they all real, or like jade (meaning a lot of jade is dyed other-stone)? I couldn't figure it out, because some jasper was really expensive, and some was really cheap (I got cool zebra jasper for only eight cents per bead:o).