I buy nearly all of my materials online - I have a few trusted suppliers where I know that the gems/ beads are good so I'm unlikely to get something shockingly awful. I went to a rock and bead show earlier this year as I had to get some rough rocks to my tame lapidarist for cutting, lots to tempt me but I am quite picky so limited myself to the unusual or more expensive stuff where I would want to see it first before parting with money. My biggest problem is that when I'm planning holidays I tend to work in a business angle - a trip to Italy last year resulted in a day trip to the glass workshops in Murano, a trip to New Zealand earlier this year had us stopping off in Hokitika to get jade - I'm planning my way round the world one gem at a time. If the other half has an issue with this (and carrying the stuff back in the suitcase) he hasn't let on and he still lets me plan the trips 