New Semiprecious Briolettes

I just got in an order of semiprecious briolette gemstones in a variety of styles, shapes and stones.  Most of these I will match into pairs and sell by the pair.  As we are getting our finished jewelry line and our Odyssey Creations line ready for shows, I may not get these posted until December, but will try to get some on sooner.  I am very excited about not only working with these myself, but also with including them to my Odyssey Cache customers!  It's a step in the direction of increased quality while still being affordable.  Stones include smokey quartz, ruby fluorite, spotted chalcedony, lots of amethyst in different shapes, citrine, aventurine and more.  Stay posted! 

New metal findings

I will have some newer metal findings coming soon to www.OdysseyCache.Etsy.com, including some sterling silver and gold fill.  Most of what you will find on my site is small quantities for those that just want enough to do their project or make one bracelet or pair of earrings.  Larger quantities are often available as well though.  Here is a pair of earrings made from some of the new beads and findings in my shop.

New Products coming

The Paua shell pendants have been so popular, I have ordered some more styles so keep posted.  I don't have pictures of the new ones yet, but here are some of the old ones.  I am also contemplating putting some Bali 925 Sterling Silver earrings wires and links on the site.  I am always looking for new stuff, so keep posted!   Barb Z

Acrylic Beaded Fringe compared to Glass Beaded Fringe

I have many people ask if the beaded fringe carried in my shop at www.OdysseyCache.Etsy.com are glass or acrylic.  I have been purchasing and using beaded fringe for well over 10 years now and have in my personal stock probably 200 types of beaded fringe.  If anyone is telling you their teardrop beaded fringe is glass and they are charging less than $50 a foot, they are mistaken.  I have never seen 100% glass beaded fringe yet unless it is all seed beads. I think they use acrylic on teardrop fringe as otherwise it would be entirely too breakable and fragile.  

If you have priced Czech glass teardrops or briolletes, you will find that they are between $.50 and $1.00 per bead.  Celestial crystal beads are about the same and Swarovski will run between $.75 and $2.00 at most shops per teardrop or briollete.   Thus, glass beaded fringe would have to be hand made and would probably cost about $25 to $35 per foot just to make.  Swarovski would be more like $75 to $150 per foot.  So, to those looking to purchase glass or crystal beaded fringe, I wish you the best, but you would likely have better luck buying the beads and making it yourself than you would finding it. 

Most acrylic beads have shine and luster much like glass.  Acrylic is a very hardened, high quality plastic.  Teardrop ends also provide weight for even distribution and hanging of the beaded fringe.  The better quality the acrylic beads, the better it hangs.  Plastic beads or beaded fringe without heavier beads on the bottom will often have a more uneven look to the way they hang.  I have certainly found many very nice quality beaded fringe types in acrylic and glass seed beads.

I make Victorian ornaments using beaded fringe (see picture).  I put Swarovski crystals on the ornaments themselves by hand, but when asked if the beaded fringe is Swarovski, I always answer, "If it were, the price tag would have another 0 on the end of it."  Someday I will make an ornament with all hand made Swarovski beaded fringe that I will make myself.  When I do, it will indeed another 0 on the end of the price (or I will just keep it).

Happy days and thanks for stopping in!

Love Summer

I love summer, and need to do some gardening today before it hits 94 degrees, but I know that summer means that fall is just around the corner!  Fall also means shows for me as we have 3 of them in November and October and it is all I can do working full time at my regular job and about 30-40 weeks on my Etsy businesses to get  products ready.  I still haven't made all the fun summer shell necklaces I wanted to make and here I need to be thinking about fall stuff.  Conflicted!  Love the summer shell collections I put together for Odyssey Cache, but have some great beads for fall - check out these new Harvest Stone Jasper Beads and 4mm Italian Onyx Beads just posted on Odyssey Cache - got to use some before they all sell!   Guess I better get busy!. 

New Beads!

I am in the process of posting a bunch of new cloisonne beads to the site.  I just finished loading lots of new shell beads which are so fun for summer projects.  I also have some new semiprecious stone to get on and more fun stuff coming.  I am in great anticipation of some custom made high quality beaded fringe that is coming in this next week.  I needed some pearl long beaded fringe for some custom wedding projects and a deep red teardrop fringe for another custom wedding order as well.  Can't wait to get it and see it!  I will be listing it online as I had to order by 20 yard and 50 yard lots which is way more than I will ever use.