Question:
Where have you found the finest grade pearls and highest karat gold beads at
the best prices? I have done a lot of searching, but want to make sure I am
not missing any good sites.
Answer:
-I dunno about the gold karat beads; whenever I've found high grade pearls to
buy, they have been in person at bead shows. No matter what the seller
says on eBay or any other auction/web site, and no matter how good a picture
they show - let me tell you, I've been burned quite a few times buying
pearls online. There's nothing like real life when buying pearls.
-Which are the best bead shows? I haven't been to one yet, but I want to go.
-Oh goodness... there are so many bead shows, but for me, locale is the "best
bead show". There are bead shows in Florida and California and man,
just about everywhere, but if it's 1,000 miles away, it's not the best.
I live in Northern Illinois so I've gone to a few bead shows in Chicago, IL
and also to the bead show in March in Madison, WI; but my all time favorite
is the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It's HUGE! You cannot,
I repeat, cannot make it through the whole show unless you stay at a nearby
hotel and attend for 2-3 days.
So base the "best bead show" on where you are and how easy it is to get
there.
