We're already starting to work on our Pearls special issue (on newsstands in April 2010). I really love pearls, so this is one of my favorite special issues to design for. Right now, I'm in the early stages — finding supplies. It's not difficult to find quality pearls, but I'm on the hunt for unusual shapes and colors. Some options I've been considering:

• House of Gems: I just got some stars and flat teardrops. The teardrops are drilled end-to-end (instead of top drilled), so I'm excited about designing with them. White pearls are so classic and feminine.

• Lucky Gems also carries some interesting shapes (like cross pearls). I bought my supplies for the July cover project ("Pearlish figure") and design alternative from them, and I'm hoping to see them again at the next JANY show. (At the last show, vendors showed lots of pearls — sold in strands and as finished jewelry.)

• Pearlwear: for reasonably priced seed pearls and keshi pearls. They also carry quarter-sized coin pearls.

• RIngs & Things does cash-and-carry shows, and they'll be in town next week. At the last show I bought a multicolored strand of 16 mm round shell pearls in pale mauve and peach.

If you've got favorite pearl sources, let me know. I'm always looking for new places.