gemstone shopping can be brutal.
feeling the post-thanksgiving bloat, i decided to pass on the shopping rush today and come up with some new designs using some of my newly purchased gemstones as inspiration. the gem show was in town last weekend, and while i usually go with a list of basics i need for existing designs that sell well, and with sketches of new ideas and the stone types i think would work well, i also like to look for new cuts and colors that will inspire new designs. this is always riskier since i have been known to walk away with a great set of stones, but then have a hard time figuring out a design that will work well with the stone and work well with the general design direction of
my line, since i really don't want a line with designs that are all over the place and not cohesive. needless to say, when going to replenish basics, purchase for new sketch ideas and purchase for new inspiration, i don't make it out cheaply, which can bring upon a whole new set of uneasiness--the question of "will i be able to sell this?!"
shopping for gemstones results in a whole sea of emotions in the course of a few hours. i will outline in order:
1. bewilderment. hundreds of vendors, tens of thousands of stones. where to start? this gets easier over time after you develop a list of favorite vendors. i have about 3 go-to vendors. good vendors are ones who offer fair prices (this doesn't mean cheap) for stones that are of good quality and every stone can be used (i can't stand when i buy a strand and only 3/4 of the strand is usable--the drill holes are too small; the hole is at a fracture point; there is a large gash in a stone, etc.). some vendors are notorious for offering what seems like great pricing, but you learn it isn't that great when you can only use 1/2 of the strand.
2. confusion when you see that the vendors' prices are all over the map for essentially the same products.
3. excitement and inspiration when thinking of all the great things you could do with some of the finds.
4. determination and cunning. never leave paying the marked price. be ready to negotiate. also, be ready to walk when you don't get the price you want; someone else will have the same item and will give you the price you want (as long as you are being reasonable).
5. feelings of exhilaration after getting pricing you want.
6. feelings of anxiety from wondering if anyone will want to buy the designs you make with the stones.
7. fatigue. both physical and mental. it is a long day.
8. regret. this happens the day after when you kick yourself for leaving behind something that you really wanted. regret for spending too much. regret for not getting enough of a certain stone. this usually happens when you enter all the things you did buy into your inventory database.
9. acceptance. accepting how much you spent. accepting the fact that there is a small chance that it won't sell. accepting that you left behind something that you really wanted.
10. creativity. it is time to turn those stones into art.
then you do it all over again in 3 months when the next show is in town. if you have established relationships with some of the vendors, you can order from them via email or phone if you need items sooner. while i do that when needed with some of the vendors i trust, it definitely isn't as fun as going to the shows and seeing everything in person.
here are four of my favorite purchases from last weekend's show.
smooth aquamarine in soft organic shapes.
smooth gold rutilated quartz briolettes.
pink amethyst (i don't even know the name of the cut, but it reminds me of a disco ball).
same cut, but in smokey quartz.
i can't wait to work with them.
