The Vault Sale and $50 Giveaway

The giveaway has ended and winner will be announced shortly! Thanks to everyone for your participation!

Enter to win some beads! During the giveaway I am also having a 20% off storewide sale, so that $50 is worth so much more. The winner will be able to use their credit toward a purchase made during the contest. If you found this drawing thru my newsletter, great!

This sale and giveaway helps me clear out space for the new gemshow beads that will show up near the end of the month. Let me know if you have any special requests!

• Subscribe to the newsletter and click the giveaway button therein, subscribe>(one entry)
  

• Comment below WITH a link to one of your favorite listings (one entry, make sure I can contact you, don't leave an anonymous comment)

• Tweet about the giveaway use #LBVaultGiveaway and link to my blog> http://liciapots.blogspot.com/ (up to one entry daily)
  

• Tweet about the sale use #LBVGem Sale and a link to (or within) my store> http://www.etsy.com/shop/LiciaBeadsVault (up to one entry daily)
  

• Follow me on Facebook AND click the share button on a status update (one entry)

• Write about/link the contest in your blog leave the link in a comment below (one entry)

• Write about/link the sale in your blog leave the link in a comment below (one entry)
  

Follow the entry rules closely, they allow me to track your entries. Each entry will be assigned a number which will be chosen using random.org to determine the winner. Contest runs from now to December 3rd. The winner will be notified using one of their entry methods and receive a $50 credit to LiciaBeads Vault which can be used for purchases from Nov 2nd 2010 onward.
_________________________________________________
Employees and direct relatives of LiciaBeads are not eligible to enter. Entries are for LiciaBeads Vault only and do not apply to jewelry. Winner must (have) select(ed) their items from those in stock and "checkout" using an Etsy account. Invalid entries, anonymous or untraceable comments, or obvious spam will be deleted from the comments.

Stash up shots

I got some beads. The following are among the loverlies that I brought home to sort, and pair and take pretty pictures of for your purchasing and creating pleasure. The stash doesn't fit in the lightbox very well so these are not the best photos, but trust me, they sparkle!
Lots of requests for mystic quartz in all shapes and sizes, bring just that. Cubes, onions, hearts, pears, coins, cushions, and squares (and barrels and step faceted twists and rondelles).

Chalcedony, a favorite among many for their colors. I try and try to find the deep saturated ones but it's not easy. I got some hot pinks though!
Rutilated quartz, Tourmalinated quartz, peridot (in small and itty bitty), garnets, labradorite and topaz.

That's just a taste. I have lots of work ahead of me to sort the stash and get organized enough to sell. If you see something you "must have now", let me know and I will start the strand. I'll be doing more full strands for sale as well if you see something you need/want.

A loverly weekend to you all!

$50 Giveaway, Summer Sale, and gem show restock!

For those who are interested in all things beady, there are some wonderful things about to happen in my Jewelry and Gemstone Supply shop on Etsy. All the great details will be available in my Vault Newsletter!

I encourage you to subscribe for the best benefits, and you could win $50 worth of free beads!

Click here to subscribe!



Thanks!

20% off and free shipping for gemstone supplies!

The Spring Sale has also sprung at LiciaBeads Vault.

It's a good one too:
Get 20% off when you purchase 3 or more listings and shipping is free no matter how much you buy!

Go shopping for beads!


I am on my way to a gem show tomorrow and the sale will include the new finds as well so get in on those sparkly beads while they are fresh! I also just restocked on a bunch of pearls, perfect for those June bridal designs and brightly dyed for those offbeat brides who like things a little less traditional.

Don't tell me you didn't already know the Spring Sale was happening! If you want the best deals and advanced notice of the sales, you really should subscribe to my newsletter!

You asked for it!

Of course, I got more than you asked for just in case.

Big pristine lemon quartz perfectly faceted drops. Totally keeping one for myself.
More Rondelle Sonata in A stones for my most popular 20 of each in a rainbow of flavors.
Special requests for great rutilated quartz and large flasytastic labradorite. Onion shapes too!Wonderful smooth Prasiolite and garnet, micro faceted amethyst onions, and ah, my first London Blue Topaz.
Some larger rondelles and faceted shapes, yum!
AND! That's not even close to being all! Want something you see? Let me know and I get get to it faster for you... cvause you may just want to purchase it while I am having the August Sale!

Playing in the wire again, thinking about handing out beads

Gotta love filigree! It takes a while to actually make it from wire but man is it ever cool! I get a little excited over the beads and wire... So anyway, I always liked the look of that old fashioned lacy filigree that is meant to embellish a central focus. And we know (we do at my house) that is a good element in design to have "strong centers". I'll do a blog post about the elements of design later on. For now I am too overly excited and beady eyed.

It doesn't help that I am going to a gem show in a couple of weeks. Which is why I am having the BIG SALE in my Vault shop to make way for the new things. But my followers already know that and subscribe to the newsletter for the even better deals... right followers?

I was thinking about having another $50 gemstone bead giveaway too... good idea? Are you watching?

I'm also gardening. Well, when I have the time to actually garden at my house I am anyway. I was inspired by the peas. Neither of these projects are complete ( you know you have 10 started too!) but one of these days as the inspiration flows I am sure they will develop.

Have a great weekend!

Are you subscribed? You might wanna do that soon.

Get the LiciaBeads Vault newsletter!

I have a newsletter that I use to send out special notifications and details that those of you who are interested in my gemstone supply shop should totally subscribe to. I will not spam you (I don't care to and who has that kinda time?).

Just sign up and you will be notified of all the details and special events ahead of time, so you can prepare yourself.

I'm currently working out a way to do a referral program to make it worth your while to tell a friend too. Subscribe and I'll keep ya posted!

Thanks to everyone for their support in all things sparkly!

Diving in head first...

It's not something I have done before and it is my most "reckless" business risk. I feel fortunate and I am somewhat comfortable making it. So here goes, I got some (a lot of) gemstones and some pearls, the huge kind. Following is a sneak peak of part of the stock.

ENTER the giveaway! It ends soon, like tonight! The winner will get first pick of the new choices and will have plenty of time to use their $50 since there is a lot to list. Entries are closed.I did find some beautiful Peridot (a personal goal also), and it was not easy to find such clear stones. My plan before listing is to standardize the photography so that it all has the same lighting. I am still sorting and organizing things but do stay tuned. I will list the specially requested things first. If you want something, let me know, I may have it. It will take a lot of time to get everything up and if you are in need of something, please don't feel like you have to wait for me to list it. If you want it, ask, and I will get to it much faster.

I tried to get everything on the list, but alas I could not. Many stones have such a range of size and colors and variations I was not sure what people would be most interested in. This applies to agates, opals, tiger eyes, Malachites, etc. I did get some turquoise, but the beads themselves are rather basic cuts, although I did get some flower carved turquoise rounds. Jaspers, sadly were not as plentiful as I would have liked to see.

Anyway, I have things to do...
Thank you to everyone for the great comments and following my work.

Consider yourself warned.

This is your official notification of new stuff. I will be listing things soon and throughout the weekend. Click here to go to The Vault.

If you have not entered the drawing for $50 worth of your selection of gemstones, do it! Click for info, it's really easy to enter. Entries are closed.

I am reading and taking note of all the comments on what people would like to see. I am also looking forward to getting some more unusual items in the store. I am attending a show soon, and the income from this first batch of listings will be used to buy great new things there. My sister is great at digging up unique and unusual beads, so I am going to bribe her to come with me. (Not hard to do when I hand her cash and tell her to go hunt down great things.)

Quality control-
I photograph each item you will receive, which is a little different than many bead sellers. I do this because it is something I expect to be done for me. I also will let you know the gauge of wire that fits in the holes. There is no real standard for gemstone grading, but I will do my best to provide an accurate "grade" for the individual listings.

As I go along, I do end up with lower quality stones and stones with blemishes that I have set aside. If anyone is interested in them I would be willing to photo them and list them at a discount.

Comments, questions, things you would like to see in the future... Please let me know, this kind of info is greatly appreciated!

Thank you everyone for your support!

Beads with worlds inside...

Gotta love the ones that seem to give you a peek into a whole other world... These are Oregon Opal (Opal Butte Opals) from West Coast Mining. They are rare, and I am keeping that bead, so don't ask for it kay ;) I do sell a faceted strand in my shop and look forward to finding more great beads at the local gem shows starting up soon.