Welcome to TurtleBear's Store!

I hope that your visit here will be a pleasant experience!

BEFORE ORDERING PLEASE READ THE  HOW TO ORDER  AND THE STORE POLICIES PAGES IN THE STORE LINKS IN THE LEFT HAND COLUMN.  

 AND NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE SITE, YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE THEM.

 I would like share the origin of my name, TurtleBear's Canines & Collectibles, with you.  Over the years I have felt a close kinship with many animals, in particular bears, turtles, and dogs.  TurtleBear refers to my spirit animals that have joined to guide me through life and become the turtle-shelled bear you see above.

The canine part of my name comes from a very important aspect of my life, which I share with many dogs.  My husband and I have our pack which right now consists of 3 dogs.  And periodically, we have a puppy for about a year since I have been volunteer puppy raiser for three service dog organizations.  I am also a registered therapy dog team and one of our dogs is part of that team with me.  If you click on the link above, you can find out more about the service dog puppies, therapy dogs, and the rest of our Pack that have been, are part of my life. 

For fun, check out all of the Store Links listed on the left hand side as I have asked a particular canine to help with each page. 

One of the service puppies I raised was Joy, a golden retriever born in CA to the Loving Paws Assistance Dog program.  Joy, like many of the puppies that are raised with the possibility of becoming a service dog, did not want to be a service dog.  After returning her to CA for Advanced Training she became very depressed and would not eat, work, play, etc.  The trainers tried many things to help her adjust but it was clear she was homesick and they decided to release Joy from the program.  The puppy raiser for a released dog gets to have the pup back if they so desire otherwise the pup is sold to someone waiting for one of the released dogs.  I wanted Joy back and with the help of Angel Flight Joy returned to Montana in January 2001.  Now she is my constant companion, a registered therapy dog and is great at helping me pick out old trade beads!  Thus, the canine part of my name refers to the many dogs in my life who are our a constant part of our Pack or are temporary residents as puppies in training.

This picture was taken in February 2008.  It is my Joysie, with a few of my old trade beads (some of her favorites!), representing the Canines & Collectibles part of my business name. 

Click on Joy to see her up close.   

     The Collectibles part of my name (although many of my canine friends, including Joy would argue that they are indeed collectibles!) consists of the items in this store and in my ebay store TurtleBear's Trade Bead Store. 

The majority of my inventory consists of old glass beads made mostly in Europe in the last 500 years.  I have used the popular term 'trade bead' even though some of the beads I carry may not have actually been used for trade.  But they are still old, collectible beads.

I have the store separated into several categories which should make it easier for you to find the kind of items you want to look at.  Just click on a category and it will take you to the pages of the items listed.  There is also a Search box above; just enter a word(s) and click on GO to find a particular item.  If you are looking for something you cannot find, please email me as I may have it on hand but just not in the store yet as I have much inventory waiting to be added to the store.

I have a set price for each item; however, if you would like to make an offer on an item, I will consider it.

With all of my loose beads, I will pick the best of what remains in the lot for you.  If there are only a few beads left, I will try to post a new picture of the remaining bead but if I forget, please ask to see what is left of a particular lot snce usually not all of the beads are of the quality, depending on their age, origin, manufacturing process, etc.