My love for beads started as a child when I would walk along the bay searching for rocks and shells. I would feel the warmth of the sun on my back as I bent down to search for them in the sand. This was my favorite activity when I got home from school each day. By the time I went to college my box was filled to the brim with particles of sand and seaweed beneath the shells and rocks. To this day I am still in search of natural treasures whether it be a rock while taking a walk, beads at an antique show or some a fabulous piece of jewelry from various trips around the world, Greece being my favorite.

These days it is so hard to find natural turquoise round beads. I have been collecting beads for years and I did not know how rare they were until I began to sell them. Today the only thing that feels better than having warm turquoise beads around my neck is the feeling that I have something left in my wallet instead. If you find yourself dabbling in the bead trade as I have, you know this feeling all too well. Is it true that all the beads are on their way East? Can someone explain this to me?