Some pics of the The Bead Shop in Laguna Beach, CA. I think the owners are looking for a buyer for the store so they can retire - maybe your bead dream come true?

There was a good selection of trade beads and other interesting items, in strand and singles. Worth checking out if you are in the LA area!

These pictures are just a small sampling of the merchandise.

Peggy has several wall cases of interesting small groups and singles - note the Venetian tabular beads, etc in this one. Also some trays of single trade beads. I did not get a picture of them, but she also had 3 or 4 strands of conus shell beads which I had never seen for sale before - these had the 1 1/4" or so long cylinders combined with disk shapes on the same strand.

Next stop on the trip to Tucson was Beads, Crystal & More in Encinitas.

A decent selection of trade beads strands were found, along with a large number of trays of singles. The singles were mostly millefiori beads, and offered the opportunity to buy small numbers of them without having to purchase an entire strand. Pictured are several pairs of some more unusual milles that were available that I purchased.

Phil and Valerie have a pretty good selection of trade bead strands.

Trade beads were also used for decorations around the store - the end racks featured some gigantic Chinese chevrons and equally gigantic brass beads.

As I shopped around the Tucson venues, I picked up interesting spacers, clasps, and other beads that I thought may go well with antique beads.

Wood beads attracted my attention and I bought a few-
Here are a short strand of black wood bicone beads from Bali (Gem Mall seller - Lou Zeldis) and a wenge wood prayer bead strand from the Middle East (Gem Mall seller Nofert). The seller of the wenge wood strand pronounced it "vengay" but the Wikipedia article on the wood says "wengay".

Some accessory beads I picked up -
Fancy newly-made brass beads (Silk Road Treasures at the Grant Inn show), a strand of brass heishi (Earth Door/Sky Door at the Pueblo show) and brass hook clasps (Kamol at the Gem Mall).

A lot of walking endurance is required to get around these shows and see as much as possible. There also can be a fair distance to walk from the place you park just to get to the venue. If you plan to go, I suggest you train your feet by walking 2 miles a day for a month before the trip!

As I shopped around the Tucson venues, I picked up interesting spacers, clasps, and other beads that I thought may go well with antique beads.

Wood beads attracted my attention and I bought a few-
Here are a short strand of black wood bicone beads from Bali (Gem Mall seller - Lou Zeldis) and a wenge wood prayer bead strand from the Middle East (Gem Mall seller Nofert). The seller of the wenge wood strand pronounced it "vengay" but the Wikipedia article on the wood says "wengay".

Some accessory beads I picked up -
Fancy newly-made brass beads (Silk Road Treasures at the Grant Inn show), a strand of brass heishi (Earth Door/Sky Door at the Pueblo show) and brass hook clasps (Kamol at the Gem Mall).

A lot of walking endurance is required to get around these shows and see as much as possible. There also can be a fair distance to walk from the place you park just to get to the venue. If you plan to go, I suggest you train your feet by walking 2 miles a day for a month before the trip!

Of course, I go to Tucson to see the staggering quantity and selection of trade beads, mostly concentrated with the vendors in African Village and Gem Mall.

Here are two strands that I added to my collection on this trip:

A nice strand of mixed fancies (too bad about the damaged tab, but otherwise good beads) from Bully Jawara, and a strand of a speo chevrons, longitudinally laid cane cylinders, a few Akoso powder glass beads, and other fancies, from Saibo Tunkara. Both have tables at Gem Mall.

Finding trade bead singles to pick through is difficult at Tucson. Nearly all vendors are selling strands. Some exceptions were Tika, at the Howard Johnson venue, and Thomas Stricker (TASART on BCN) who had several trays, including this one, to choose from.

Thanks to Frederick who took this picture for me.

I need to see that INCREDIBLE strand that you picked up!!!

Please show us.

Not wanting to brag but this was a major purchase and I'm very, very happy I found this gorgeous selection of large, rare beads.

What a great condition these big beads are in!
My personal favorite would have to be what looks like crumble based millefiori bead (middle of the three loops, at 8 o clock)
Not seen any like it. If you get around to close ups, that's one I' love to see.

Wow! Just beautiful!

Did you guys see the morfia bead on the strand? This forum is great because there are always beads out there that many of us can only dream of getting a hold of for our own collections!!!!

Or does Matt have to ask? LOL! Matt told me about this incredible strand and your other posts didn't seem to have the strand that he was talking about. I see what you were talking about Matt! And that's for encouraging Rosanna to post.
Rosanna, you are not bragging but are sharing eye candy that we love to see. Bring it on!!! I would love to see some close ups...especially those blue beads with red, black and white designs and the morphia and the red millefioris and...
Great buy-thanks for sharing

My flight to Tucson tomorrow morning was canceled :( Oh I am sooooo bummed!

So wonderful to celebrate my birthday each year for the past 40 at the Tucson Gem and mineral and Bead Shows! I could not think of a more enjoyable way to celebrate my life, my passion for both stones and beads. My dear wife Valeri accompanies me each year as she is my present. This was her 24th year, she's only missed one...when we had adopted a kitten rescued from the wildfires, who needed her more than I. This was another great show...we acquired 50 boxes of minerals for our shop - Appophylite, Ruby in Zoesite, Amethyst, Citrine, Rutilated Quartz, Kyanite, Moonstone, Pyrite and more. Of course we scored some wonderful beads and other treasures too. We just missed Rosanna and Fred at our store and hope they enjoyed seeing our collection. In Tucson we saw Joyce (Thank you for my gift!), Matt, Bassem...many of our African friends who regularly visit our shop. I didn't take too many pictures...but here are a few images to share the enjoyment of the Tucson show experience. It's the most work I do and the most fun I have in the business. and, it's my birthday party! Tucson sunrise and sunsets are often beautiful....

We missed seeing Floor (sorry to hear of your injured ankle) and the great get together dinner. Sorry but we were swamped with our oldest friends wanting to see us at breakfast or dinners. Although we now go to buy mainly for the store...a few birthday goodies always come home with me too! This Chrysoprase Eagle, carved by my friend is one treat.

A really nice beaded Bamileke King's chair....

Like these Bodoms.....