a while back Smiley hipped me to a bead store in Venice that was going out of business and selling all their beads for cheeeeeap. i posted more pics of me wearing them here and in an outfit post here. sadly they're closed now but i managed to make off with a good load.
i've always been a sucker for raw metal beads. these are 'Thai beads' in copper, brass and silver - all plated. i love how they come on the cotton twine. i've been meaning to make things with them for so long but haven't had the heart to un-bundle them! i wear them as necklaces, bracelets and sometimes as boot jewelry. i'll have to take pics with them on these boots…oooo.
if you want to get your own strands of raw Thai beads, i recommend checking your local bead store, Ebay or Etsy. search for 'Thai beads' or 'Bali beads' - Thai beads tend to be smoother while Bali beads are more ornate.
