Just arrived home and have only a few pics from the first two days of bead hunting to share.

First is a strand of brick red fancies from The Bead Shop in Laguna Beach, CA, where I stopped on my way to Tucson. Peggy Smith has a nice selection of Venetian trade beads, Kiffa, conus shell, and other collectible antiques. I have some pics of her store which I will post later.

Second is a "find" - a nice necklace with seven rare Venetian fancy beads from the African trade. I have one of these beads, in beat-up condition, so I was thrilled to find seven in very good to excellent shape on a newly composed necklace. Found at a booth in the Gem Mall Show in Tucson.