Moving Onto Our Second Day and An Unexpected Phone Call/Video Call From a Dear Friend

Today is the second day of our "Inventory Reduction Sale". Yesterday went really well, the customers were spaced out well, so we were able to really help those who needed help, and we sold a great deal of product to very happy crafters. A total win/win. 

Black Friday turned out to be a very good sales day 
for us, with customers spaced out just enough to be able 
to really assist them. 

In the latter part of the morning, I heard my cell phone "ding" and took a quick glance at the screen. My friend Shruti from India had posted something, and since I wasn't with a customer that moment, I responded right away. She then put herself on video and we had a nice video chat for about five minutes or so. What a TREAT! I got to wave "Hi" to her mother too, but just seeing Shruti and chatting with her for a little bit. Well, it totally brightened my day so much. 

I was hoping to share a photo or two of Shruti and her 
lovely watercolors, or the mosaic wall that she did in 
her house, or any number of other photos I've seen of her 
in the past. But everything is on Instagram, and almost 
impossible for me to snag and share. *sigh* I tried. 

Shruti and I have been friends for more than a decade, probably closer to two decades. We first met each other at a conference - I don't recall if it was Bead & Button Show or one of the PMC Conferences that I attended. But we chatted and exchanged information, and she was my roomie for the PMC Conference in Indiana one year. It was FABULOUS. We had SO much fun. Towards the end of the conference, I "kidnapped" her and we drove to a nearby town with a Dick Blick art store. We both went a bit crazy in there buying all types of materials. 

I think Shruti and I had met before the 2012 conference, 
but I also know we were both there. As was Holly, 
the teacher for this class, and other friends with whom 
I'm still in touch. The ability of modern tech to 
link us all, despite distance and time, has been one 
of the truly wonderful things about living when we 
have. This linkage would have been much more 
difficult without computers, phones and Facebook. 

We waved good-bye after the conference, but stayed in touch. She traveled - all over the world. Vacations in the far north where she rode a sled down a glacier, and other trips here and there. Whenever she came to the US, she usually would give me a call. We always exchange holiday cards, and her cards are ones that I always save. She's put mosaic onto her walls, taught a bunch of art classes, she works with color and shape in ways totally different than I do, and we complement each other. I'm very fortunate in my friends, and Shruti is high on my "friends list". What a joy it was to chat for a short time. And to actually be able to see her ... what a PLUS! 

Today we'll be selling stone, bone and larger glass beads 
(anything larger than seed bead size, so 2mm on up). It 
usually brings in a totally different group of people than our 
seed bead sale does. But every one of them is SO creative. 
I just love that about my customers. So many ways in which 
they use our products. 

So what happened on your Friday? LOL I hope it was as nice as mine was. Now I'm moving into my Saturday sale - beads that are NOT seed beads are the focus for today - lots of pressed glass shaped beads, as well as the Swarovski crystals. And then this year's major "Inventory Reduction Sale" will be over and we can assess whether or not it was a success. I know I totally collapsed after dinner last night. I suspect it will be the same tonight. Have an excellent Saturday and weekend, I'll be back on Monday. And, if you haven't voted for my story on LJ Idol, I'd appreciate your vote. Check yesterday's post for the link. Slava Ukraini.