CJS = 13lbs Added to My Carry-on Suitcase...

Several weeks ago, I happened to stumble across an email, to a link, to a blog, that talked about this warehouse in NYC.  A very special warehouse - that contained several thousand square feet, piled high with boxes upon boxes of jewelry findings.  Needless to say, my heart started racing and my palms became slick with sweat as my immediate thought was "must-go-now-before-everything-is-gone."

Luckily, hubby and I had been planning at trip to NYC (me tagging along on his business trip there).  So, within two-weeks of this online discovery, I was on a plane to NYC.  We flew in on a Friday and first thing Monday, I made my way to this wonderful place.

Located around Korea-town, on a street lined with endless, non-descript buildings, you just don't know what to expect of this place.  Taking an elevator to the second floor, the door opens and you're deposited into a pirate's cave.  I was given a brief, but helpful tour around the place, given a cardboard box and then set loose.

In my comfy t-shirt, black yoga pants and sturdy tennis shoes, I dug in.  There was a brief pause in the beginning, when in the metals room, I found myself overcome with a fit of OCD, trying to "organize" the chaos around me.  This place isn't meant to be a sterile, organized, fit-within-the-lines type of place. CJS is a warehouse where you need to work for your inspiration, a playground where you can let your imagination run wild with the possibilities.  You find what you find and you create from what you get.  I sweated, I bled, I moved boxes and boxes and I was in the happiest place on earth.

One view of the "metals" room.  Boxes were stacked waist high.  There were so many amazing findings to choose from. 

The "chain" room.  More chains than you can think of what to do with! 

The "natural substances" room.  Bone, shell, wood, minerals, etc.

CJS kindly provided super sturdy plastic bags for you to use.  They were a lifesaver when I was trying to pack all this stuff in my suitcase! 

Awesome little brass tear-drops. 

Tiny brass tubes!

Great for texturing or stamping.

For a secret mission in the works...

Pressed glass beads...  Love the vintage look and feel of it!

Gorgeous, vintage milk-glass beads.

Slippery snake chain.

To be used in another secret mission...

Loved this doo-dads.  Some of them will make lovely and special earrings!

Pics to come of what became of the loot!