"...the most important reason ? OK, the only reason ? to brave Gasparilla crowds is not to celebrate our pretend pirate heritage. It is to grab, snatch, and generally horde beads that often cost less than a dime store jawbreaker."
The Krewe of Southern Sisterhood wouldn't want to disappoint parade goers, so Krewe parade participants need BEADS! The Krewe has designed our first trading bead for the 2007 parade season. This bead is unique in that it will be the only one with the year incorporated into the design. Stay tuned for more info!
as the Day Parade, two to three cases depending on how strong your arm is. Don't forget a bead belt or carrying bag or your neck might be pretty sore by the end of the parade. Where to Buy Beads?
Bead Barn by Features Costumes, 813-832-6620, 3015 W. Barcelona St., (Macdill, just before Bay to Bay) The Bead Barn will sell to us at Krewe prices, they will have a list of all our members so that all Sisters may stop in as they can. The Bead Barn sells the BELTS that you wear and hang all your throw beads from. They have a large supply and a full range of sizes. Sam's Club has carried beads for the last few parade seasons. They have a good selection of pearl beads, but the go quickly. On-Line www.emardigrasbeads.com several types of Magnolia beads www.beadsbythedozen.com : 1 type of Magnolia Bead There are other sources in the Tampa Bay area and on-line. Please let the Krewe know if you find a good, affordable source
Pearls symbolize beauty, purity and wealth. www.gia.org In the ever-changing world of hemlines and hairstyles versatility is everything when it comes to keeping au courant with today?s fashion trends. Stylemakers from Jackie Kennedy Onasis to Madonna, however, have always seemed to agree on one thing: the appeal of pearls. Sleek and modern with classical allure, pearls are hotter than ever this year, and fashion magazines such as Vogue and Town & Country, as well as the Neiman Marcus catalogue, are displaying sumptuous jewelry designs featuring pearls. While today?s designers are showing them with everything from couture to casual wear, pearls have attracted and intrigued us for centuries. Today we can enjoy a wonderful range of both natural and cultured pearls. Natural pearl growth occurs when a mollusk protects or soothes itself from an irritation. The irritant may be a parasite or other tiny invader. The layers of protection form what is called ?nacre,? and is what gives pearl its subtle beauty. Cultured pearls form in basically the same way, except that humans foster the irritation by placing a shell bead and/or a piece of mollusk tissue into the animal. When shopping for cultured pearls, look for a retailer who is recognized by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) as a Graduate Gemologist (G.G.) or an Accredited Jewelry Professional (A.J.P.). GIA is the internationally recognized nonprofit authority on diamonds, gemstones, and pearls. Keep GIA?s 7 Pearl Value Factors in mind:
than a smaller one.
while baroque pearls are irregular in shape.
refers to one or more translucent colors that overlie the bodycolor (like blush on a woman?s cheek). A third component of some pearls? color is orient. When present, it looks like a moving iridescence on or just below a pearl?s surface.
GIA uses the terms excellent, good, and fair to describe luster on cultured pearls.
and spots; the visibility of the irregularities will affect the cost. Very few pearls, however, are completely free of blemishes.
of the above factors.
in mind:
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Beads and Pearls