THIS WEEK'S SHERMANS AT AUCTION ON EBAY

I've been telling you for weeks now about Shermans being auctioned on eBay by other vendors and now it's my turn. Yes, I've caved in and have listed 9 of my lovely Shermans on that infamous auction site. I must confess: I'm terrified! Doing this could end up costing me a lot of money as I've never been one to acquire my Shermans cheaply i.e. lucky finds in a $20 box of costume jewelry at an estate or garage sale. Every piece of Sherman I own I have paid plenty for but the current market for costume jewelry is very depressed. And like any seller, there comes a time when you just have to unload if you're ever going to acquire new pieces or stay afloat financially. That time has come for me now and it's with trepidation that I offer you the lovely Shermans attached to the links supplied in this blog and on auction at ebay this week, ending on Sunday, July 5th.

The bidding on the fabulous older blue necklace/earring set shown at the top right currently stands at $89.88 and has a huge number of 'watchers'. You always wonder when you're selling on eBay how many of the "watchers" are genuinely interested buyers and how many are other vendors watching to see what you get LOL! I've certainly watched, but not purchased many pieces on ebay. That set above is well worth bidding on given its condition and gorgeous design. A very good set for new collectors to start with. Click the photo to learn more and bid.

If you follow this blog, you've seen the set on the left before. It's one of the most beautiful brooch sets I have and it features those rare and highly desirable faux alexandrite stones that turn this set from blue/green to mauve depending on the light. I've been totally stumped as to why this set hasn't sold from Ruby Lane as it's in exquisite condition and definitely one to add to your Sherman collection. Again, it has a ton of "watchers" at this point but only one bid so far. Don't let this one get away from you. I paid a small fortune for it. Wish me luck. I'd hate to just "give it away" on ebay! Click the photo for more details & to bid.

I know I'll hate myself for this but I've listed another of my faux alexandrites on ebay this week too. It's the incredible necklace shown on the right. What a beauty! 16 1/2" long, it's a combination of large purple and aurora borealis marquise stones and large round cut faux alexandrites that change from pretty blue to purple as the light changes. The rhodium-plate backing is still as shiny as the day it left the factory and the stones have superb glitter and clarity. A real knockout Sherman necklace in one of the most sought after stones. Place your bid by clicking on the photo on the right.




Probably the biggest risk I'm taking listing on ebay is with the Siam red bracelet and earring set shown on the left. Like all siam red Shermans, this one was expensive. Add to that the fact that we're looking at a siam red Sherman bracelet here, and well, again, if you've followed this blog, you know how high Sherman bracelets can go. But those that go so high are the wide cuff bracelets. This isn't one of those but it is 5 rows wide, 11/16" high, and has one of the other identifiable and sought after features in Sherman: japan backing i.e. the backing is black. Now I've coupled this bracelet with earrings but they are not original to the bracelet. The earrings are signed. The bracelet isn't. But the bracelet was acquired from a retired Toronto jeweler who sold lots of Sherman, many with orignal tags but no signature. He purchased his Shermans directly from the Sherman salesman who regularly visited his shop with new items. Without question, this is one of the pieces you should be bidding on this week at ebay. I tried for 2 years to find a Siam red Sherman bracelet I could afford and I still paid a lot for this one. It this doesn't reach my cost, I'll cry! But if you win it, you won't be sorry.


That's just 4 of the Sherman pieces I'm offering on ebay this week. If you slip over to see those, you'll find the others: 2 more bracelets (blue and aurora borealis), a pale topaz navette necklace that is utterly stunning, a pink/fuschia brooch set, and the outstanding aurora borealis swarovski crystal bead set on the right. Take advantage of my weakness in putting these lovely Shermans to auction on ebay. If you win any of my Shermans, you can be sure your are getting exactly what I described so read the descriptions carefully, link through to my Ruby Lane shop to look at the other photos and place your bids! Good luck!

OH BOY! NEVER THOUGHT I'D SEE THIS PRICE FOR THIS SHERMAN!!

In my last post, I told you about the milkglass and black bead Sherman that was being auctioned on ebay. Well that auction ended a couple of days back and I nearly fell through the floor when I saw the price it went for? Ready? How's $946.96 sound? Phew! I never would have dreamed it would fetch a dollar like that. Yes, it's unusual but ... well I'm speechless! Were you the winner? I didn't even watch the auction once it got over $400.

And now, in 3 hours or so, the other piece I mentioned in that same blog is finishing. It's the really pretty set with the unique design and it's sitting at $310 as I write. You can check what happened with it later by clicking on THIS LINK.



There was another rather unusual Sherman that went at auction yesterday for $149 (That's around $172 CAD since most Sherman buyers are Canadians) It's the one shown on the left.

I really liked this one and again it was unique in that it's both a brooch and a pendant. Don't think I've ever seen a Sherman brooch that does both.

You must be asking yourself at this point why I keep promoting Shermans for sale by other vendors when I have plenty of my own to sell. Well, I must confess, I'm wondering too and the more I watch what these Shermans are fetching on ebay, the more I think I either need to sell Shermans there or maybe ... run my own rock bottom price sale?

Well before I resort to eBay, that's what I'm doing. In fact, right now in OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE, we're running a "SPRING INTO SUMMER SALE" and everything in the shop is open to offers, including all my Shermans! Because of other pressures in my life and domestic scene, I'm on the point of getting out of vintage costume jewelry altogether. So I'm willing to listen to any offer on my Shermans or other vintage jewelry: if what you offer me is at least what I paid for it, I'll accept your offer. How's that sound? I'm not kidding. So what do you have to lose by making me an offer? You won't offend me if you're well below what I paid. That'll just prove I overpaid. Mind you, looking at what those Shermans are selling for on ebay, I have trouble understanding how that happened.

Anyway, bottom line is MAKE ME AN OFFER. If you offer me at least what it cost me to buy that Sherman, it's yours. I'd rather try this than take my chances on ebay. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know why LOL!

So slip over to OUR SHOP AT RUBY LANE now and type SHERMAN into our search box. It'll bring up all the Shermans I currently have listed, like the highly collectible Bracelet/earring set shown below. Make me an offer and you might be the happy owner of this knockout set!


NOTE: I have never charged super high prices for any of my Shermans. Many, in fact, are already priced close to cost. But there's room to move on others. So give it a shot and grab yourself a Sherman at a bargain price!

SOME UNUSUAL SHERMAN SETS ON EBAY THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE!

I've been horribly busy on the domestic front these past 2 weeks and have had little time for blogging. I apologize to my followers but home first, business second.

Anyway, I'm stealing a moment to apprise you of some lovely pickings on eBay right now that are worth your attention. I just found the gorgeous set on the right. What a fabulous design! I've not seen a Sherman like this and I predict this one will fetch a very high dollar because of its uniqueness.

However, that said, there is one issue: a missing stone and unfortunately it's in that central drop on the necklace. What a pity. But if you can find a replacement, you're laughing. I'd definitely go for this one if I were able to repair it. Mind you, I wish the seller had stated the color. I can't tell if it's clear Swarovski crystals or light green or aquamarine ... . I'll ask her a question and maybe she'll be able to clear that up for us. Color, as you know, can make a big difference to the final price, but a design like this will still make this an attractive purchase to collectors. Click on the photo to go directly to the auction page and learn more. Finishes June 24th.

The unusual set on the left is already way up there in the bids i.e. it's already at $255 and still has over 3 days to go. The seller tells us it's in excellent condition and the stones are a combination of milk glass, black onyx and dark smoky crystals. Personally, I like milk glass but it has never been a big seller for me. But then, this is a "SHERMAN" and that can make all the difference between liking and not liking milk glass stones. Again, if you want to know more about this one or want to bid on it, just click on the photo on the left to go to the auction page.

I don't know ... do you think I need my head examined for promoting other people's Shermans when I have so many of my own waiting for a buyer? Maybe it's time for me to put my Shermans on Ebay too, though honestly, I hate to do that. It's risky: a seller can end up getting less than she paid when something goes to auction and I've been burned once too often. Alternately, if the piece is really one that collectors want, eBay prices can go sky high. Hmmm.... what to do?

Well while I have you and I'm busy promoting other's wares, I nearly forgot to tell you that I too have a gorgeous set just added to MY SHOP AT RUBY LANE. It's the one shown below:


No, it's design isn't as rare as that one at the top, but this one is in superb condition with no missing stones, all pieces are signed "Sherman", and it's in that color that collectors want: fuschia! Those lovely dangling earrings are also a popular feature. I'm asking $395 USD but I'm always receptive to offers. In fact, I'd be interested in hearing your offers on any of my Shermans and the other designer vintage costume jewelry currently available from MY SHOP AT RUBY LANE. As long as your offer isn't under what I paid for it, I might just accept it. You see, I'd rather sell it to you for less than risk it on eBay. So why not slip over, take a closer look at all my Shermans, and make me an offer I can't refuse? Are you up to the challenge? I'm waiting!

2009 Bead Dreams. Christmas Eve

Necklace Christmas Eve, the finalist of the 2009 Bead Dreams contest and exhibit. I made the base of the necklace using netting stitch of my own design, I used for that vintage Italian bugle beads and seed beads. All elements were made separately: golden three-dimensional flowers with red petals in the center, and golden fringes with red beads and Swarovski crystals. I decided not to create a special clasp for the necklace, I used two ribbons of matching gold and red colors to add some more festive accent.


Here is a closeup of Christmas Eve. Materials: Toho seed beads 11/0, Delica seed beads 11/0 and 15/0; vintage Italian bugle beads size 2, Swarovski crystals, pearls size 3 and 5, ribbons. Techniques: peyote, netting, coral, right angle weave stitches, embroidery.

That's my second Bead Dreams final in a row, I'm so excited and happy!

Convergence Exhibit - B&B Show

Another video by Sara Hardin. This one is on the Convergence Exhibit, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers' juried exhibition project.

2009 Bead Dreams Blue Ribbons

Sara Hardin from Phoenix, Arizona, has posted a video on 2009 Bead Dreams Blue Ribbons.



Congratulations to all winners!