Ephemerala
October 25-31, 2004
In This Installment:
** New Items
** Coming Soon
** Stone Fun Facts
** News & Stuff
** Fortnightly Sale
** Insider's Sale
** Last Week's Top Sellers
New Items
I had a visit from my family this week, and as my mom walked through the
warehouse looking at all the new stuff, asking, "Does this sell well? Is
this a good seller?" I realized that I answered "I don't have this listed yet"
WAY too many times! With the holidays coming up, I decided to put a huge
push into getting most (if not all) of my stuff listed in one way or another in
the next few weeks. Thus, look for LOTS of new items in coming
weeks! This week's offerings follow.
Bead of the Month Club!!
Several customers have been requesting this. Well, now it's
here! Three levels of membership to cover every budget. Depending on
your level, every month you will receive anywhere from three bags of
specially-chosen beads, to 10 bags of beads with pendants, findings, and beading
wire! The monthly prices range from $7 to $25, and shipping is included in
the price. PLEASE NOTE: This product is still in the semi-testing
stage. At a later date I may decide to raise the cost slightly.
However, if you purchase your Club Membership before any potential price hikes,
you will be LOCKED INTO your original price. So you'll have no need to
worry that I will charge you more OR reduce your monthly club
packet.
See details of all three membership levels here:
REMEMBER, Bead of the Month Club memberships make great gifts!
New Marbles
My new selling obsession is marbles. They sell like crazy, and I am
always on the lookout to replace the sold-out ones and find even more new
stones. I already can EASILY boast the largest selection of Stone Chip
Beads on the web; now my new goal is to have more varieties of Gemstone Marbles
than anyone else (and at better prices if I can help it!) I currently have
20 gemstone types, and am expecting another 15 or so in the next few
weeks. Today, look for the new marbles in Mookaite, Poppy Jasper,
Ivory Jasper, and Fancy Jasper. Also note that,
while most marbles are approximately 20mm, I have a separate section of 30mm
"Shooter" marbles at the bottom of the page. See them all here:
Break Your Own Geodes
What fun! These are very small hollow rocks with tiny crystals
inside. Place one in a sock, tap lightly with a hammer, and check out the
goodies! Kids totally love these. I saved out a dozen for my own
kids, and they are still begging for more. I also love to give them as
presents. Everyone I send them to--kids AND parents--think they are the
coolest gifts. PLEASE NOTE: Un-broken geodes can be unpredictable, so
this item is 100% guaranteed. If you get one that doesn't have crystals
inside (yeah, it can happen), send it back or send a picture of it, and we'll
replace it immediately free of charge. So you will never have to worry
about getting a dud!
Power Necklaces
Power Jewelry is so hot right now, and nothing is hotter than the new
necklaces. Same 8mm gemstone beads as Power Bracelets, but in a necklace
form that is adjustable from 16" to 32". I have just a few types available
right now, but if these get a good response, I can obtain more.
Chip Bead Bracelets
Why not? A handful of assorted gemstones in a ready-to-wear stretch
bracelet. Simple and straightforward.
Paua Shell Bracelets
Really cool silver bracelets in a variety of designs, all inlayed with
brilliant dyed Paua Shell fragments.
Hematite Beaded Necklaces
These are double-duty items. They are Hematite pendants in assorted
designs, and they are also a full 18" of Hematite short tube beads! You
can't get a better bead value anywhere, and a pendant too!
Cat's Eye Mini Eggs
This might be more of a seller around Easter-time, but hey, they would make
excellent stocking stuffers too! These are tiny (one inch) eggs made from
Fiber Optic Cat's Eye Glass in over a dozen different colors. Really
pretty and cute.
Coming Soon
New Beads:
Kambaba Chip, Aragonite Chip, Muscovite Quartzite Chips, Purple Crazy Lace
Chips, Red Lip Chips, Chrysoprase Chips, Red Agate Nugget, Amethyst Points,
Smoky Quartz Teeth, Frosted Quartz Round, Fluorite Points, Amethyst
Nuggets
Soapstone Elephant Candleholders
Rainsticks in 3 sizes
Ocarinas (clay flutes)
"Fortune Cookie" Silk Purses
"Body Tattoo" Bindis
Silver Capped Point Pendants
Assorted Calibrated Gemstone Cabochons
New Marbles
(Including Moonstone, Labradorite, Garnet, and others)
Stone Fun Facts
Amber
A year ago, when I first obtained Amber Chip Beads and was startled at how
"plastic" they seemed, I did research on this gem and wrote an article for the
Newsletter about it. That article can be read here:
and it contains a lot of information that I won't repeat here. Still,
there is a lot to know about this wonderful gem...
** Most gemstones are comprised of minerals or rocks (which are a
combination of minerals). A mineral is described as a naturally occurring,
inorganic substance with a definite chemical composition and crystalline
structure. Amber, being organic in nature and without a specific chemical
composition, is NOT a mineral. This stone bridges the gap between the
plant and mineral kingdoms.
** Amber is the hardened resin of the sap of prehistoric trees that were
similar to today's pines and spruces. Many different types of trees
created today's Amber (some evergreen and others deciduous), and therefore Amber
can come in many colors and densities. The sap oozed out millions of years
ago, and hardened into Copal. Over many years, the Copal went through some
chemical changes to become the harder, more durable Amber. (Copal is often
used for incense today, and it is softer and more easily dissolved in certain
solvents.) Amber in which are found bits of insects, plants, and feathers
tend to be more highly valued, while the clearer Amber is less
sought-after.
** While we tend to think of Amber as yellow, orange, and brown, it comes
in over 250 distinct colors, each with its own defining name! It can come
in red, white, green, blue, black (a combination of other dark colors), and even
purple. The transparent reds and greens are the most valuable, followed by
the yellows and golds. Certain types of Amber fluoresce (glow under
ultraviolet light), but these samples are hard to come by. Amber is a poor
conductor of heat, and because of this, it always feels slightly warm to the
touch.
** Amber is a very soft gem (from 1-3 on Moh's scale), so it is easily
scratched. But it is also very brittle and will shatter if handled too
roughly. It has the lowest specific gravity of any gemstone, and will
float in salt water.
** The word "Amber" comes from the Arabic word anbar, which means
"ambergris," which is not Amber at all, but a substance from whales which was
used to make oils and perfumes. Apparently they got the two substances
confused at some point. The Greek word for this gemstone was
elektron, meaning "sun gold." The Greeks noticed that the stone
had an electrical attraction, and their word for it would eventually be the base
word for "electricity."
** Amber is one of the oldest gems known. It was used for early
medicinal purposes, and was thought to enhance the beauty of the wearer.
Crystal healers use it to draw out negative energies, dispel depression, and
promote physical, emotional, and spiritual health. It instills a feeling
of self-confidence and a more positive mental state. It helps the wearer
to find joy and humor, lightens the burdens of life, and promotes courage.
** Amber appears in Greek mythology. Phaëthon, son of the sun god
Helios, asked his father to allow him to drive the glowing chariot of the Sun
one day. The searing heat of the chariot grew to be too much for him to
handle, and the horses bolted, dropping him to earth, to land in a river and
never be found again. Phaëthon's sisters were so distraught that Zeus took
pity on them and changed them into trees. But they still wept, and their
golden tears became Amber.
** While fans of the movie Jurassic Park enjoy the idea of
dinosaur DNA being found in the blood of trapped mosquitoes, extracting dinosaur
DNA would be nearly impossible with the Amber specimens we have now. The
Jurassic period was 144 million years ago, and dinosaurs died out completely 65
million years ago, while the oldest Amber specimens are only 50 million years
old (and more often closer to 25 million years old).
Please see other Stone Fun Facts
here:
News and Stuff
Re-Tooling of Cabochons and Finished Jewelry
Pages
Two pages on my online site have a slightly new look. The Cabochons
page has been expanded to include the Cab Grab Bags as well as a consolidated
listing for ALL of my Freeform Cabs (instead of those being listed
individually). This will also be the place for my upcoming 13"18mm
cabs.
The other re-decorated page is the Finished Jewelry page, which used to
show only our beaded necklaces, and now contains all the bits of random finished
jewelry found all over the site, including the Lapis Globe Pendants, Perfume
Bottles, and Stud Earrings, among others. Now all the finished jewelry is
in one easy-to-find place.
Changes to Tourmaline
There are two changes in our Tourmaline Chip Beads. First off, I have
re-named the Watermelon Tourmaline to Rainbow Tourmaline. Yes, the
predominant colors were pink and green, but there is so much other stuff in
there that I can't really sell it as Watermelon. In the future, I may try
mixing equal parts of pink and green and market THAT as Watermelon. The
second change is very exciting. Anyone who has gotten these chips from me
knows how incredibly tiny they are. Well, I just got a new shipment, and
these look great! They are nice and large--about 1/4", which would put
them in the "medium" category--and are of a great color. Furthermore, they
weren't any more expensive than the tiny ones, so I can sell them for the same
amount! Now, to sell-out of the smaller ones (of which I only have a few
remaining), I am combining the smaller packets into groups of 100 and giving you
the choice when you buy. Choose 100 tiny ones or 50 big ones. Check
them out!
Log-In on Online Site
I have implemented a new log-in feature on my online site, so those who
like to return for repeat purchases won't have to type in their shipping
information over and over. You will simply choose a username and password,
and then use that to store your information for future purposes. Hopefully
this will make ordering a little easier.
Fortnightly Sale
Half Price Double Pyramids!
I really like Double Pyramid Pendants, but most people don't even know they
exist, so I am going to promote them for this week's sale. All Double
Pyramids will be half price, which makes them just $1.50 each. All sorts
of stones to choose from, but supplies are limited and once they are gone, there
are no more. Act quickly!
Or see a larger selection on Ephemerala Online:
Half Price Double Pyramids Sale is good through October 31,
2004.
Penny Sale
Every two weeks, I hide a new special offer somewhere on my online
site. This listing will offer a certain product for ONE CENT, with any
purchase of $10.00 or more. The item and its location will change every
two weeks, so be sure to look often. Simply go to my online store site:
and browse until you find the hidden listing. Add it to your cart,
along with the rest of your $10+ order, and it will be included for just a
penny. Happy Hunting!
(Recent keen-eyed customers got a TUMBLED POLISHED GEMSTONE for a
penny. What will you be able to get this week?)
Insider's Special
2-for-1 Aventurine Stuff
Perfectly simple: Buy anything made out of Aventurine (Red, Blue, Green,
Yellow, Ruby, etc.) this week, and I'll include an identical or similar
Aventurine item. This applies to beads, bracelets, bottles, rings, and
pendants. No limit, knock yourself out! All I ask is that you make a
little note of your special status so I will know to double your order.
2-for-1 Aventurine Offer is good through October 31,
2004.
Last Week's Top Sellers
(You know you want to be just like everyone
else!)
1. Twig Pencils
2. Mini Gem Chips
3. Abalone Chip Beads
4. Sugilite Chip Beads
5. Moonstone Chip Beads
6. Opal Chip Beads
7. Amber Chip Beads
8. Blue Lace Agate Chip Beads
9. Rose Quartz Chip Beads
10. Jade Chip Beads
That's it for this issue. Talk to you
again in a week.
--Suzanne Dallapè
eBay User ID:
ephemerala
Visit my online stores:
Please pass my store site to anyone you think might be
interested!
Feedback
-- 3 334
Positive transactions so far...
If you wish to un-subscribe to this list, drop me a quick
e-mail.
|
