Just a Reminder...

           Tomorrow!              
         Saturday, January 26^th
               from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

     Accents Beads
        Presents:

 
TEACHER TRUNK SHOW
10:00-1:00pm
Come meet and greet our teachers!  Learn about the classes they teach.   Jewelry will be available for sale directly from our teachers!  Teachers accept cash and checks.
 
Then, join us for a
RAFFLE TO BENEFIT YOUR LOCAL BEAD SOCITIES
1:00-2:00pm
We will be joined by the Baltimore Bead Society, the Bead Society of Greater Washington, and the Northern Virginia Bead Society. Proceeds from the raffle ticket sales will go to the Bead Society of your choice!

Then, what you've all been waiting for...
ACCENTS BEADS' 2nd ANNUAL  BEAD SWAP
2:00-4:00pm

Bring your old beads, past favorites, and leftover beads from holiday presents and trade them for new treasures!!!    
Tickets for Swap:  $5.00 presale, $6.00 at the door
Price Includes: 1 raffle ticket & light refreshments

                   "One woman's trash is another woman's treasure!"

Buy My Bead Swap Ticket Now

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1.  What does swap mean?  At this bead swap, NO MONEY is to change hands.  You bring your beads and trade them for different beads that other participants bring.

2.  What beads can I bring to swap?  You can bring any beads that you wish to swap.  The better the beads, the better the Swap.  Most people are looking for stone beads, fresh water pearls, pendant beads, silver beads, unusual beads, lampwork beads, etc.  You may also bring finished necklaces that can be cut apart to make into new pieces.  However, we suggest you refrain from bringing in plastic and children's beads.  If you just think what you would want to swap for or find, and bring comparable things, you should be ok.  It is best if you know what type of beads you have, as fellow beaders will ask, but you may not know, and that is ok too! 

3.  Can I bring individual beads?  Yes, of course.  Your last bead might make a wonderful centerpiece for another artist's new necklace. 

4.  Do I have to check my purse?  You're going to run out of lockers!  It will be easiest if you leave your purse locked up securely in your car, or at home.  The lockers in the main lobby will be reserved for customers shopping on the day of the Swap.  If you are attending the Swap, you may bring your purse with you into the Swap area; however, you will be asked to check it in with Lori behind the Swarovski crystal counter if you will be shopping in the store. 

5.  How do I bring my beads to the Swap without a purse?  We suggest that you bring a gallon Ziploc bag full of your treasures to swap.  Or, try a shopping bag with handles.  Remember,  you're going to need something to carry your new treasures home, too! 

6.  What do I do when I get there?   You will walk through the store to the back near the restrooms and the Swarovski crystal counter.  You will then pass through the double doors into the "Swap" room.  The teachers will have their displays set up on the left hand side.  To get into the Swap, you will walk by the three booths for the local Bead Societies which will be on the right side.  At the end, you will come to a table where you can check in and get your hand stamped.  If you have already paid for your ticket, your name will be on a list.  If you need to pay, please bring $6.00 cash with you. 

7.  What happens after I check in?   After you have your hand stamped showing that you've paid your entry fee to get into the Swap, you will be given a tray and 2 name tags.  One of the name tags goes on your tray, and one needs to be visible on your shirt/blouse.  At this point, you may display all of your beads to swap on your tray in any arrangement you choose.  

8.  I've displayed my beads, now what?   At this point, you can walk around to other trays and pick out items of interest to you.  If you find something on a tray, you may either call out to find that person, or walk around and find them.  You will then take them to your tray and see if they would like to swap with you.  Remember, no money is to change hands.  While you don't need to know the exact cost of every bead you have, you may want to have a rough idea.  (But sometimes, if you are trading for a bead you really, really want, it doesn't matter).  You may elect to stay with your tray if you prefer, or you may elect to walk around.  Don't worry, other beaders will find you! 

9.  Someone wants to trade me for a bead, but I don't want any of their beads.  What should I do?   This may happen to any of us.  If it does happen, you are not required to swap with someone just because they want something of yours.  You can elect to do one of many things.  You could involve a third party (or even fourth or fifth).  You could have that person check back with you in 30 minutes to see if you still have the items, and then swap then.  You could opt to just give the person the item.  Remember, you could be in their shoes too - wanting a bead(s) on someone else's tray when she doesn't want anything on yours.  Remember, this is a good-hearted, fun event, and these are your fellow beaders...  You can earn some good beading karma! 

10.  Four people want to trade me for the same bead, who do I swap with?   Well, this is your lucky day!  You may elect to trade with whomever you wish, and hey, if they ante up, you can trade for anything you want, most likely worth more than the bead you wish to trade in the first place!  If you have a "package" or strand of this item, you might elect to divide it 4 ways.  

11.  What's the scoop on the raffle tickets?    As part of your ticket purchase, you will be given 1 gray raffle ticket when you check in.  You may place this ticket in any raffle jar of your choice.  Additional raffle tickets may be purchased directly from the Bead Society of your choice.  Each Bead Society will have a table with 10-12 items ready to raffle.  These items include classes ($50 gift certificate to any class of your choice at Accents Beads), Colorway Kits (valued at $65) - a wonderful collection of color-coordinating seed beads, memberships, finished jewelry, strands of beads, and more. 

Baltimore Bead Society - Green Table - Green Raffle Tickets

Bead Society of Greater Washington - Blue Table - Blue Raffle Tickets

Northern Virginia Bead Society - Red Table - Red Raffle Tickets

If you would like to try to win the raffle for an item on the Red Table - you would buy a ticket ($1.00 each - CASH ONLY) from the Northern Virginia Bead Society and put it in the jar in front of the item you wish to win.  You may buy as many tickets as you like.  All ticket sales will go directly to the Bead Society from which you purchased the ticket. 

12.  How many dollar bills ($1.00) should I bring with me?    We suggest at least 100, no really, 20 would be more reasonable.  But, there are going to be some really great prizes to raffle for - so bring as many as you can.  Be considerate, Accents will not be able to make change for larger bills, and the Bead Societies may run out of singles.  And, the proceeds go directly to supporting your local bead societies!

 13.  What time will the raffle winners be announced, and do I need to be present?    Raffle ticket sales will stop at 1:00pm, and we will begin announcing the winners of the raffle items at 1:00pm.  You do not need to be present to win, but your ticket must be legibly marked with your name, phone number, and email.  If your name is illegible (and you aren't present to recognize your handwriting), your raffle will be forfeited, and another winner will be drawn.  

14.  Will you be open late?    Yes, Accents Beads will be open until 5:30pm on Saturday, January 26th so that you can shop after the Swap for new beads to match your new treasures, as we realize many of you are traveling quite a distance! 

15.  Where should I park?    We are anticipating a large turnout for this event.  We suggest carpooling if possible.  All of our spots will be open, along with all of the others in our lot EXCEPT CAROUSEL CONSIGNMENTS, as they are also open on Saturdays.  There is also street parking available, as well as parking in the lot just north of ours, and also in the Staples lot up the street.  Please do not park in front of Gold's Gym - use the parking spaces to the north that run perpendicular to theirs.  Again, carpooling is best.  And, of course you could make arrangements to be dropped off and picked up later.  Or -- if your beads aren't too heavy and the weather is nice -- you could take the metro to White Flint (on the Red Line) and walk to the shop.

16.  Will there be food?   We will have a small sampling of snack foods, along with water and soda available.  If you need something more substantial, please eat a good lunch before coming to this event, or bring a small snack with you.  Please refrain from bringing "messy" or "sticky" items.