*Numinosity*: chinese coins

Monday, March 7, 2011

200th Post Giveaway!

A *Numinosity* bead

It's been quite a whirlwind this last month with travel and guests

and now I have a few moments to catch up!

I'd like to have a little giveaway to celebrate this milestone.

There were a few things that I did accomplish this last month in

between all the hubbub.

I got my new website up www.numinositybeads.com

and have been in the process of beefing up my Etsy shops after a year's break.

I'm liking the "circles" concept and it seems to be helping me connect and reach folks with similar tastes and I've been able to link up with some of my blog friend's shops that way too.

For the first time ever I've sold some items immediately upon posting which is quite encouraging indeed!

Have a look on my sidebar for the links if you wish. I have one for my beads and jewelry and another for vintage.

Of course my giveaway has to include some of my recent finds~

Asian postal ephemera

and the ancient Chinese coins

One of my collages

and some soft handmade Dim Sum coasters

The drawing will take place in the evening of Sunday March 13th.

All you need to do is comment on this post.

For extra chances, blog about it or put it on your side bar (one or the other)

or become a follower

and send me a separate comment letting me know that you have done so.

If you are already a follower just send me another comment even though I know that you are

so it will make it easier for me to use the random number generator!

Thanks for joining me on my blog journey. It's been so much fun.

XOXO, Kim

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Sunken Treasure ~ Gem Show and Tell

We went on our yearly foray to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show this year, vowing to spend less than previous years which is quite a feat for my husband and myself seeing that we moved to Arizona to be closer to the show. Warmth is another reason after so many winters in Alaska although you wouldn't know that this week with our subfreezing temperatures and frozen pipes galore.

I've got quite a stash of beads and things from previous shows and I actually brought a list with me this time to avoid too many impulse buys but I do allow for some because what would the fun be in that?

I think if there's an unusual enough find I should jump on it.

I found a booth at the Grant Inn (we were informed that the show would be having it's last year there)

They had an amazing strand of ancient Chinese coins dating from between the 1650's to 1800's.

The man said that they were found in a shipwreck by Indonesia.

When I was a little girl I had found some old Chinese coins in my grandfather's attic. I was so enchanted by them that I had even written a poem about them.

They've since disappeared so I just had to make a deal and buy up a lot of these coins for my work and resale. I hope to be putting them up in my online shop soon. I'll be selling them for $1 a piece. If you have any interest in them now, let me know.

( and I'll include some in my 200th post giveaway which is just around the corner so stay tuned!

Some of my other finds at the gem show were some lampwork supplies. I got a button mandrel to try out along with some puffy mandrels for hollow beads. I picked up a dapping set at the Beaducation booth along with a steel bench block.

I wanted to find some briolettes for making earrings and was happy to find some smaller strands so that I could get and assortment.

Peruvian chalcedony briolettes

Carnelian

Smoky quartz

Green onyx

I really was attracted to the pyrite strands I found, both faceted and teardrop shaped.

And I was happy to find these charms and components that were made up of brass copper and pewter which will go with the more shabby silk pieces I've been designing.