Monday, May 25, 2009

Even More Photos of our Store!

Here's another photo from 1 Stop Bead Shop's new store!

Our Gemstone wall - photo taken by Bonnie Elliott.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Another note from Lisa in the Czech Republic

Here's another note from Lisa, the owner of 1 Stop Bead Shop from the Czech Republic:

I've been missing you all! We are staying in a Pension which is a Czech word for apartment or bed and breakfast, but not in the typical sense of either one. Our room is much like a college dorm room - 2 twin beads on a board, w/ an eggshell mattress and a single sheet and coverlet (that was the style even in the Hilton in Prague - which was quite swank BTW).

There is a computer right outside our room, so it's not like at the Hilton where I had to be dressed to go up to the executive lounge to work on the computer. There are only 3 rooms on our floor which overlooks the beer sign for the resaurant below. It's modern and clean and bright and I really like it.

I love the Czech Republic. People are nice and so far I've felt quite safe.

The best shopping was yesterday when a dealer in vintage Czech beads (prior to WWII) brought Czech crystal and glass to us. I managed to snag a necklace that is exquisite. The Czech people only just came out of communism 20 years ago. So, this vintage guy was blown away by how much we all bought.

Tomorrow we get to go see how the beads are made. I'm taking the video camera.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hello from Lisa in the Czech Republic

Many of you know, the owner of 1 Stop Bead Shop, Lisa Busch, is in the Czech Republic. We recieved the following note from her yesterday.
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Having a great time! Flight was perfect (almost had to wait for 2nd flight in Frankfurt, Germany, but 3 guys took vouchers and a couple of us got on - thank goodness - I was so tired).
No jet lag to speak of - weird.

I had several people tell me I would love Prague.
They were soooo right.

But, we only had 2 days there! MUST come back. I think I could live here. It's so beautiful. Interestingly the countryside looks exactly like Ohio - pine, birch, oak, hills and flat farm lands. We saw a French country estate today - the Rhuen (sp?) family estate. It was called a castle. I've read enough history to know not a castle, but magical nonetheless.

Suddenly I was in all those books I've read. They were laughing at me, because I said I could see the nobility in their dresses, and the Three Musketeers arriving in the front by carriage and strolling the gardens. I was completely transported back in time! The best part was that one of the husbands with us is a trained musician who can play (I mean REALLY play) the organ. When the pipe organ was being described, one of our group volunteered him to play and the tour guide invited him to do it. Vagner (sp?) played this organ when he visited the family, and our friend played it for us in the chapel - on a Sunday - when I was missing church. On top of that, he play "How great Thou Art, and one of the store owners was a trained opera singer. I'm in a 17th century country nobility estate listing to "How Great Thou Art" on an organ once play by Vagner being sung by a trained operatic singer on a Sunday in the Czech Republic! WOW!!!!

Okay, so about beads. We saw our first beads today (if you don't count the Swarovski store - yes Robin I took pictures). We had the opportunity to buy vintage (prior to WWII) Czech glass CRYSTALS today. I bought enough to sell. Very once in a life-time. Tomorrow, we travel to 3 bead factories, where we will buy.

So, it's 11:00 here (5:00 pm your time. Lauren probably just finished singing her final concert). We have to be up at 8:00 (I know - WAAAA!)

I really miss you all.

-Lisa

Friday, May 8, 2009

Treasures of Toho Competition Semifinalist!



From Hannah Rosner:

I just heard from Lisa, owner of 1 Stop Bead Shop - we entered the Treaures of Toho competition with this piece.

She donated the seed beads, I designed and worked the piece.

Today, we found out that it was selected to be one of the 12 finalists in the contest! The piece will be shown at Bead and Button this year.

Come on by and say hello if you are planning on coming to the Bead and Button show. 1 Stop Bead Shop will be at Booth #1035. We will have TierraCast findings, lampwork glass beads, and kits!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

More Photos! 1 Stop Bead Shop

Here are more photos from 1 Stop Bead Shop's new store!
All photos were taken by Bonnie Elliott.

Our Czech Pressed Glass Beads


Our Swarovski Crystal Display case (we have both modern and vintage!)