10 Ten Tips for Smarter Shopping at a Bead Show

Are you heading to BeadFest in Philadelphia next weekend? I'm busy working on some last minute creations, can't wait to share them! You can find two of the Art Bead Scene contributors at the show this year. I'm so excited about returning to BeadFest. I'll be bringing tons of new work!

 Humblebeads booth 565

Fellow ABS team member Ashley Bonney from Summer Wind Art will be debuting at BeadFest this year. I can't wait to meet Ashley and shop for her beads!

Summer Wind Art - Booth 450B

Be sure to stop and visit William and Andrew from Allegory Gallery. We love having them as an Art Bead Scene sponsor. You'll always find something for your next project at their booth!

Allegory Gallery - Booth 451A

Walking into a big bead show like BeadFest can be overwhelming for newbies and old pros alike. Here are my top 10 tips for getting the most out of a bead show.

1. Check out the list of vendors and mark your must see booths. 

• Head to the booths with limited selections and one-of-a-kind items first for the best selection. 

• Artisan's Alley at BeadFest would be my first stop.

2. Get social before the show! 

• Check out the Facebook or Instagram accounts of your favorite vendors to see what they are bringing to the show. 

• Follow BeadFest on FB & Instagram to discover new vendors. 

3. Stop by Candie Cooper's Tailgate Party before the show opens for exclusive specials!

4. Save on non-bead expenses like the show entrance fee. Here is a coupon for you to print out.

5. Test drive specialty tools at the show to try them out! 

• Decide beforehand if you are going to budget for larger purchases like tools or if you'll go home and order them. 

• Take advantage of show specials  to save on larger purchases. 

6. Bring your sales tax license and take advantage of deeper discounts on beads you buy in larger quantities.

• Before the show print out your business info and sales tax number on mailing labels to speed up the check out process at wholesale vendors. 

• Don't have a sales tax license? Pair up with the friend to shop at booths that offer discounts on larger quantities. 

7. Take breaks during the show. You'll make better choices if you aren't worn out!

• Mix up shopping with visiting with friends. Check out demos and make & takes at the show to pace yourself. 

• Here is a list of $5 projects you can sign up for at the Beadalon Inspiration Playground. 

8. Shop for stones at the show. There is nothing like being able to pick out the perfect stands in person!

9. Before the show take a good look at your bead inventory. 

• Take photos of your current art bead collection to help you shop the show for coordinating beads. 

• Download a few color palettes or design challenges to use a shopping guide. Narrow down your choices while you shop for focal beads and coordinates so they are more likely to get used after you get home from the show!

10. Stock up on rare finds! If you find something you really love at the show, find out if you can purchase more online later. If not, stock up at the show. There is nothing worse than finding a great bead you love to use in your designs and not being able to get more after it's gone!

Inside the Studio with Michelle McCarthy of Firefly Design Studio

Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or

inspirations.  We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments!  As an

added incentive, we offer a prize each week to encourage you to participate.  The following week a winner is chosen at random from all eligible entries.  And here are the results from last week!

Congratulations to Erin S

She was number 21 out of 27 that was chosen by Random.org

Erin S has won a special focal bead, custom made by Julie Wong Sontag of Uglibeads, from her "boreal forest" series.  Please contact Julie to claim your prize!

I am a vendor in Artisan Alley at Bead Fest in Philadelphia next week.  So I have been creating ceramic beads, pendants, cabochons, bracelet toppers and earring pairs like a wild woman!  I do give myself lots of time to create and design fun new things for my display.  Because I have been vending there for 5 years now, I often get the "What's new?" question.  Well, I don't want to answer "nothing."  So about 6 weeks out from the show, I take slower selling designs out and introduce new things to my customers.  I enjoy that part.  I pay attention to trends in fashion and on etsy and Pinterest.  Plus, I have to dig it!  But, no matter how much time I think I have given myself, the "I'm running out of time panic" sets in.  That's where I am now.  But, I manage to get things done, even if I am firing my kiln the night before I leave for the show.  

I also sell my beads wholesale, and I have some wonderful businesses that sell my beads for me.  One is Cherry Tree Beads and I received an order for 192 beads three weeks ago.  Yes...I can do it!  This is what the order looked like before I wrapped it up for shipping

What a relief when that box went to the post office!  

 This is a tray of green ware or non fired ceramic cabochons and a few beads.  These go into the kiln for the first firing at 1920 degrees to turn them into bisque.  Then they look like this:

 This is how I produce for a show.  I get out the glaze color and lay whatever beads I want to paint that color by the jar.  It is faster and produces a nice assortment of bead designs and colors in my display.  I use wood skewers to hold the bead while I am glazing and stick the skewer in the wood holder to dry.  It keeps the bead and my fingers neat!

My husband hung these shelves in my studio for my show trays to sit on.  I can see what trays are low or what colors I need to fill in the display with.  The top shelf is too high to easily see, so I put random stuff up there.  Don't we fill up every inch of space in our studio?

This is a fun owl bracelet that will be part of my jewelry sample display at the show.  I made some more owls to put in my bracelet topper tray so people can take them home with them.

 These are still green ware, but I have plenty of time to finish them, right?  Lol  Thank you for reading about my show prep and please visit me in booth 550A if you are going to the show. 

So my question to you is, Do you work well under pressure and deadlines, or do you prefer a more easy going approach?  Leave your comment below and next week someone will win a $20 gift certificate to my etsy shop, www.fireflydesignstudio.etsy.com

Bead & Button Scoop

This year when I was hunting at the Bead & Button show I noticed some trends I thought I'd share with you.

First up - faux sea glass!  Now, we know these are simply etched glass beads that achieve that sand-washed look, but I'm not snob.  I love the faux as much as the real stuff and with several booths featuring these beads I'm not alone.  You'll find they are the perfect fit for your summer inspired creations.  You can find these online at Znet Shows Inc.

Love this trend - Hill Tribe Silver designs in warm copper and with a price that will warm your heart!  The Bead Goes On offered a great collection of classic Hill Tribe designs and beautiful floral pieces.  I had to go back for a round two before the show was over.

I was super excited when my booth helpers brought these large hole pearls to my attention.  They are perfect for wire bangles and using with cord.  So wish I would have picked up a few handfuls of these.   I will have to get back to you on the resource - why didn't they put a business card in my bag! 

Now this booth had me mesmerized! Gemstones everywhere, but not just any gemstones - these were heat-treated to give them an AB finish.  I had never seen anything like them and have to thank fellow ABS editor Erin Prais-Hintz for dragging me back to this booth.  It scared me, I could have spent a small fortunate on these stones with the magical finish. Leslie D'Souza from Beads Direct Online creates these beautiful finishes in his studio.  He and his wife are lovely vendors and I highly recommend shopping with them both online or at a show.

Fibers where everywhere - sari silk, hand-spun yarns, ribbons and linen were all flying out of the booths.  I stocked up on a sampler of colorful waxed linen from Royalwood Ltd.   Another big trend I spotted over and over were colorful leather cords in all sizes.

And my big splurge of the show was stocking up on Swellegant paint.  I won't go into all the details, but basically it's a paint with metal mixed with a binder.  As the metal dries you paint on the patina.  After you have you patina, there is a collection of dyes to use to add more color choices.  My wheels are spinning.  You can paint anything from clay, to plastic to metal to create these awesome patinas.  I will send you over to B'Sue Boutiques, one of our awesome sponsors this month, to get the skinny on this new paint.  I picked up lots of inexpensive pewter pieces to patina and will give an update later this month.

What did you find at Bead & Button that you'd like to share with our readers?  Any trends that caught your attention?

Bead Show Shopping Tips

Humblebeads - booth 1212

As I prepare for the Bead & Button show, I have bead shopping and my bead budget on my mind.  Some years I have gone through the show and spent all my money in one aisle. Other years I had a well mapped out plan.  Most of my time I wander aimlessly buying whatever catches my eye as I suffer from stimulation overload.

So you hear "have a budget" all the time and that's easy enough - total cash on hand with credit available, add in first born, plan to eat crackers & oatmeal for 3 days, sleep 6 to a hotel room and there you go!  But a budget is more than a number - to get the most out of those dollars, you need a plan!

1. Research Tools. If you are planning on adding new tools, do a little research before the show and visit booths that sell them.  You can grab them in your hands, in some cases you can see a demonstration or give it a test drive.  This is the time to ask the experts questions and get some insider tips on using on a certain tool.  Decide beforehand if you will actually buy the tool there, have it shipped home or order it online when you get back.

Golem Design Studio - Booth 111

2. Take stock of your bead boxes before you go.  What do you really need?  Most of us would probably say, nothing really, but I want everything!  I'm low on clasps, bugle beads, small faceted stones.  Those are on my list. 


3. Make a Plan.  Do you have focal beads that have been sitting in your bead box forever - snap a pic of it or bring it along to find some accents.  Smart shopping is a combination of pairing up what you already have with great finds.  I've had shoppers arrive at my booth with a strand of beads, looking for the perfect focal.  One year my friend Erin shopped with a series of paintings she had printed out and was on the hunt for beads to match the color schemes. 

Julie Nordine - Booth 1134

4. Window shop before the show.  Visit websites, Facebook pages and subscribe to mailing lists of your favorite bead artists and shops that will be at the show - they often send out coupons or special deals.  You can also get a sneak peek of new work. 

5. First things first - visit your favorite bead artists at the start of the show.  They are more likely to sell out of the beads you really have your heart set on! 

Lisa Peters Art - Booth 1213 & 1215

6.  Is it in your budget to buy larger quantities?  Some vendors offer wholesale or discounts for larger orders.  If you are creating a series of designs for upcoming events, this could be a smart move.
 
7. Plan for the unexpected surprise - add a little cushion in your budget for new found items. 

8. If you have a lot of art beads in your stash, be on the lookout of spacers and accent beads from your favorite artists, you'll find the perfect match for those focals.  Add in just a few stones or glass beads and some chain for quick and easy designs.

Earthenwood Studio - Booth 1127

 9. Buy the unusual - now is not the time to stock up on headpins.  (Unless you stumble upon the deal of the century for them!) Look for art beads, stones and new items that you can't find easily at home or online.  

10. Do you have past Bead & Button purchases haunting you, deals you picked up that have sat in your bead box?  Don't let them take up mental space and keep you from buying beads that will bring more inspiration into your studio.  Either pull them out and whip up some simple designs to sell in the next two weeks or have a destash sale and send them along to a new home.  Not only will be feel less guilty about those past purchases, you'll have some extra cash in your pocket for new beads!  Win, win my friends.

Green Girl Studios, Booth 1203 & 1205

Hot Links:

Bead & Button Show
Exhibitor List

Lori Anderson shared a great post with tips for shopping at a bead show.

Disclaimer: Budget - who am I kidding?  Do you see those photos above???  And that's just what I KNOW is going to be there.  I'll be in trouble the moment I walk in the door. 

Bead & Button Recap

2011 Bead & Button Show is an art bead paradise!  Some of the top beadmakers in the country and beyond displayed their wares.  I wish I could visit every booth and beadmaker - but there are just so many.  Thankful there is a printed program to visit the ones online that I missed.  Here were a few of my favorites this year:

Kerri Fuhr is always on my list to visit.  Her amazing beads are a sight to behold and even more amazing in person.  This year she had these little birds perched and ready to sing - love them.  She also has a new line of butterfly pendants.  Visit Kerri's website at http://www.kerrifuhr.com/.

Stephanie Ann Designs shares a booth with Kerri, so of course you have to see what's new with Stephanie!  Stephanie's work has a very beachy theme with tide pools of glass starfish, handblown glass beads and matte glass disk beads that remind me of beach glass.

Polymer clay artist Pam Wynn had a beautiful range of earthy beads and an exciting line up of new brighter colors.  She also offers pendants from her daughter, Heather Wynn.  You can find Pam's beads in her Etsy shop and Heather's work in her Etsy shop.

I had the pleasure of meeting Heidi, the designer behind Lillly Pilly.  It's so nice to meet the people behind the creations.  Heidi and her helper Jodi create all the work from Lilly Pilly, which features engraved shell pendants in intricate designs inspired from nature. They are offering two new collections of metal sheets, one collection is embossed and patina brass and copper.  The other collection is printed aluminium in geometric patterns.  Both can be used to create pendants and bead caps.  Check out their work at http://www.lillypillydesigns.com/.

I love Julie Nordine's work, you'll find her under the business name Credit River Art Glass.  She makes the most amazing glass acorns with electroplated acorn caps and lampwork beads.  You'll also find etched copper leaves and new this year were enameled copper leaves.  Julie has an enchanting color sense, all earthy and organic.  You can see more of her work at http://www.creditriverartglass.com/.

My favorite find from the show was Vintage Meadow Artworks created by Heather French.  Heather hand colors lucite in the most amazing color palettes.  I couldn't get enough of her work.  She will be opening an online shop soon and when she does I will be the first to let you know!

I also enjoyed meeting Sak from Saki Silver - who by the way had a table full of bronze metal pieces.  If silver has you sticker shocked check out their collection of alternatives in the dark, rich color of bronze.  If you don't know Mellisa's lampwork from Sea of Glass, I recommend heading over to her website.  I will share more of her work soon, she had the coolest new beads.

And it's not all art beads, I loved visiting with the girls at the Vintaj booth - they were during demos of their new embossing system on metal blanks - so easy and fun.  And Sara Hardin from Soft Flex was showing off a make-and-take project.   

I was at the show for 4 days so this is just a small sample of the beadmakers that I was able to visit.  I loved seeing what was new at Green Girl Studio, Lisa Peters, Diane Hawkey, Earthenwood Studios, MakuStudio, Golem Beads and many more!

I made a quick video with my ipod of our row, filled with beadmakers.  The show was dazzling, overflowing with all the treasures of beady dreams.  Now to pull out the goodies from the show and create some new jewelry.

Bead & Button Survival Guide

1. Set a budget.

2. Laugh at that budget.  Set aside just enough money to get home and come to peace with spending all the rest.

3. Have a huge sale in your Etsy shop the week of the show! (Like these guys.)

4. Don't bring a friend - you'll buy twice as much because she'll find all these amazing things you'll have to have too. (And if you have two friends with you - forgetta about.)

5. Bring a healthy snack, water and wear comfortable shows.

6. Bring a big bag. Bring a rolling suitcase.  (Can you bring those to the show?  I can't remember.  Okay, stick with the big bag.  But there will be a moment during the show when you turn to that friend and say, "We're gonna need a bigger bag." ala the crazy man from Jaws.)

7. Have a show strategy - visit the beadmakers first - they have limited stock and sell out of things!  And take a minute to meet artists who are your creative heros!  Next visit booths with hard to find items like Czech glass, resin beads and decorative chain. Watch demos and join in any make-and-takes.  (Booths that usually have demos are Vintaj, Soft Flex and Beaducation.)

Stop by booth #1212 to visit me at Humblebeads.  Here is a little coupon for you!

These are the booths I'll be visiting - in no particular order:

Jangles #1103 - ceramic
Earthenwood Studio #1227 - ceramic
Green Girls Studios #1205 - pewter
Julie Nordine - Credit River Glass #1136 - lampwork
Diane Hawkey #1228 - ceramic
Lisa Peters Art #1213 - ceramic
Pam & Heather Wynn #1235 - polymer clay
Kim Fields #1208 - lampwork
Elemental Adornements #5 - silver
Anne Choi #1233 - silver
Kerri Fuhr & Stephanie Anne #1157 - lampwork
Golem #111 - ceramic
Lori Greenberg #938 - lampwork
C-Koop #727 - enamel
Gail Crosman Moore #9 - lampwork
Lisa Kan #818 - lampwork
MAKUStudio #142 - ceramic
Sea of Glass #1254 - lampwork

Out on a Whim #701 - seed beads, peanut beads
Ad/Adornments #717 - chain
Bello Modo #838 - brass, mixed media
Raven's Journey #117 - Czech glass
Vintaj #834 - brass (wholesale only)

Here is the whole list of exhibitors - there are so many more artists than the ones listed here and I will enjoy discovering new talent to share with you here on the Art Bead Scene!

Is there a booth you are planning to visit that we should mark on our list?  Share it in the comments below.

Tips For Bead Shopping in Tucson

I have the bead show blues - I'm feeling a little sad that I'm yet again missing the party at Tucson this year! 

In case you don't know the Tucson Bead Shows are the holy grail of bead shopping in America.  With over 43 shows happening during January 26 - February 13.  There are beads and shows to cater to everyone from the hobbyist jewelry designer to retail dealers to those who buy and sell diamonds.

If you are one of the lucky ones already making your plans, here are a few resources to help you plan your shopping, tips on how to survive a major bead show and a few places your favorite art bead makers will be hanging out.

For the rest of us, we'll just have to dream and live vicariously through those who will be going. 

Shows:

Complete show details and planning tips from the Jewelry Show Guide.

Best Bead Show, Feb. 2-6 - This would be the one I wouldn't miss! Awesome line up of some of my favorite beadmakers.

To Bead True Blue, Jan. 30 - Feb. 4 - Check out the classes offered during this show and lots of art beads to be found.

Whole Bead Show, Feb. 2-7 - Bello Modo will have Humblebeads at this show. There are other bead artists like Gail Crossman Moore, Hip Chick Beads and Springall Adventures and more.

Bead Shopping Tips:

Advice from the New Mexico Bead Society on surviving Tucson.

5 shopping tips from Beading Daily.

(Photo credit: cobalt123 via Flickr's creative commons)

Top 10 Bead Show Tips

As I prepare for Bead & Button and having my first booth this year, I'm also making a strategy for my shopping experience.  I thought I'd share a few tips with you that I learned from last year.

1. Have a budget - I know I just heard someone laugh, but seriously unless money is no object you can get into major trouble without a budget.

2. Have a list - make a list of materials or projects supplies you are planning to hunt down.

3. Have a plan - make a list of the beadmakers or shops you have to visit

3. A good pair of shoes - seriously, it's a lot of walking.

4. A good friend - to help you stay out of trouble and to share your best treasures.

5. Have a strategy - buy your art beads and rare finds the first day.  Look for deals the second day.

6. Impulses are not your friend - ask yourself: can I order this at home or will it add too much bulk to my suitcases if I'm flying.

7. Replenish - have water, you really will need it.

8. Bring business cards - this is a great time to network.

9. Bring a camera - you'll want pictures of you and your new friends and photos from the show.

10. Be kind to yourself - let's face it #1 will be blown the first day unless you have super human bead buying powers.  Bring a credit card or have a back up funds for your travel expenses.

Bead Fest: Philadelphia

You'll probably end up seeing many different posts about Bead Fest: Philadelphia, all around the blogosphere this week. I wanted to share some of my loot with you today. Although I went to Bead Fest with the intention of NOT buying a boatload of Art Beads, I was not very successful.

I can't help it! Bead Fest is probably one of the best places to stock up on art beads! There were so many great artisans there selling their handmade beads.

I stuck to some tried and true favorites like Green Girl Studios and Bob Burkett pewter beads and components, and Marsha Neal Studios ceramic buttons and bobbles. I also snagged some beads from some new peeps, like these enamel metal components from C-Koop Beads. I can't wait to start putting these beauties into some jewelry designs. I picked up a few pieces from Kristie Roeder, of Artisan Clay, a couple of her smoke fired beads, and a Fall inspired ceramic connector with gorgeous leaf colors. And then after I was all done shopping, I spotted and fell head over heels for this sweet little Shibuichi bee charm from Leanne Hartman, at the Pumpkin Hill Beads booth. Look how sweet he is! I might have to keep him for myself.

All in all, it was a total blast, and well worth the Philadelphia traffic, pouring rain, and uncomfy Sleep Number bed. I got to meet in person some fabulous people such as my roommate and partner in crime, Kelley Wenzel of KelleysBeads. And walked away with a huge stash of new beads! If you didn't get a chance to make it to the show, I would put it on your calendar for next year and I'll see you there!

Written by Lorelei Eurto

See more of my work at my Etsy shop, and check out my blog!

Bead Fest

The next big bead event is Bead Fest in Philadelphia, August 19-23rd. If you are in the area I hope you'll stop by to scout out some of your favorite bead artists. There are a ton of great classes to take too. What a great way to recharge before the busy days of fall creep back upon us!

Can't make it to the event? Interweave is offering video classes from past Bead Fest events. You can purchase them as a DVD or online download.

Freeze Frame

“You learn something every day if you pay attention.” ~Ray LeBlond

The first time I attended the Bead & Button show was in 2008. I only had a few days and so much money to play with, so I opted to spend my time on a two day class. This year I knew that I couldn’t miss out on the World’s Largest Bead Expo, but the classes were still the main draw. So I loaded up my plate with four classes in 48 hours with just a few moments to spare in the shopping.

Since they say that you will have a hard time getting past the first row in the Bead Expo, I knew that the classes would be the wisest way to spend my money. I was not disappointed.

First up on my agenda was a 6 hour class called “Frame It” by the wonderful Tracy Stanley of Wired Arts . (She does teach this at other venues around the country, and I highly encourage you to take one of her classes!) Since I had done some work the previous year with Susan Lenart Kazmer on metals and resins, I thought that I would expand on those skills. The description for “Frame It” is this: Using metal stamping, sawing, and riveting, you will make your own personalized framed necklace. This is your chance to use those special pictures to create a piece of jewelry that will say it all.

I have a healthy fear of tools. I did not grow up using them. But they fascinate me. So I was a bit daunted by a supply list that read like the inventory of a really specialized hardware store…bench block, jeweler’s saw, bur life, two-hole punch, various hammers, etc. That meant I had to shop before I even got there (woohoo!)! But I now have the tools and the know-how to do all that we did and more.

Here is a look at the tools that I used for this project.

I got to hammer and use shears to shape the metal. Then I had to break out my new jewelers’ saw to carefully cut the center out. Oops! I only broke one blade! Pretty good for a novice…just don’t ask me to cut a straight line. Rustic is in, right?

Did I mention how cool the tools were that we used? We were told to bring various sized letters to stamp words and quotes on the piece, and also design stamps to decorate. We had the use of stamps from Beaducation that had some nifty effects. For my extravagant purchase (did I mention that I have no filters when it comes to shopping?), Tracy sold me a Fretz texturizing hammer (okay, so she didn’t need to twist my arm that hard…I snapped up the last one she had before anyone else could get it!). It was completely an impulse buy and very pricey, but it stamps an image that looks like raw silk onto the metal…let’s just say that I won’t need another texturizing hammer for the rest of my life! (But those Fretz hammers are just the best!)

And we punched holes in the metal with this nifty little device. You just put the metal to be punched in one side or the other depending on the hole size desired, and start twisting. Voila! Practically perfect hole straight through! (I'm probably telling you about a tool you already know, but I thought it was magically delightful especially since I thought I had to buy a drill to do what this little screw punch did!)

After cutting, sawing, stamping, designing, punching, patina-ing and riveting, my little piece was complete. (Of course, not before I stamped a few letters backwards and upside down…on my specially purchased silver sheet no less! Good, if pricey lesson to be learned!) I had a ton of fun in the class and it inspired me to set myself up so make it my own for future projects. In fact, I already have two custom jewelry orders that will utilize these new techniques.

And here are my mostly finished pieces…still works in progress, but you get the idea… (The flower frame says, “My Time To Bloom” and the egg frame-in-progress says, “Hatch Your Very Best Self.”)

The thing about taking classes wherever you can find them is that you get to meet the nicest people. Tracy Stanley was a very cool teacher…knowledgeable, approachable and just plain fun. She was encouraging and exciting to be around. And the people in the class were instantly bonded by being there and so willing to share tools and tips and talents. If you have a chance to go to Bead & Button you are missing out if you just come for the beads. There are over 500 of them that week and so many more at venues near you. Take a class! (And buy some cool new tools!) You won’t regret it!

What class or technique would you love to learn if both money and time were no object?

Erin Prais-Hintz designs one-of-a-kind jewelry for her company Tesori Trovati, Italian for “treasures found.” She is excited to use the new-found knowledge to expand her designing repertoire. You can read more of her inspirations at http://Treasures-Found.blogspot.com see more of her designs at www.TesoriTrovati.com or read more about her creative process at www.WatchMeCreate.com. Enjoy the day!

Bead & Button

Whether you are headed to Bead & Button this weekend or attending an upcoming local bead show, Ms. Bead-it-all offers some great tips for surviving a big bead show.

If you are headed to the show, be sure to stop in and say hello to a few ABS editors, past and present!

Jangles -booth #1113
Humblebeads - represented by Bello Modo at booth #957
Former ABS editor, Earthenwood Studio -booth #1227

Our guest editor this month, Erin Prais-Hintz, will be reporting back on show as a student and a shopper.

Bead Buying Tips

My favorite thing in the world is to bead shop, you are probably the same! As luck would have it, the Rings & Things trunk show is the week I return from the Bead Cruise. I can't wait to go stock up on my favorites!

I read on Marcia Decoster's blog, a little bead shopping tip that I wanted to share with you. Before she went to Tuscon she made a visual shopping list with the beads she is looking for, labeled in little plastic baggies and attached together with a ring. You can check out her post and photo here.

You may be headed off to one of the big shows this spring or summer, so here is a link to Ms. Bead-It-All's guide to shop til you drop!

Bead & Button Show 2008, or "There's Treasure Everywhere!"

I can't imagine any hardship greater than attending a huge bead show with literally of thousands of amazing art beads available to view and purchase. Really, it's almost as bad, if not infinitely worse, than being forced to spend a day in a huge, excessively well-stocked bead store. Nevertheless, I and my companion set off with grim determination on Sunday to spend a few hours at the Bead & Button Show Marketplace.

Okay, okay, this is a complete lie. I was so excited by the prospect of all of the beady goodness spread out before me, that it was all I could do not to run screaming into the convention center with my arms wide open. Not even the imminent threats of flooding and tornadoes could keep me from that venue. (I was told by several artists that the convention hall was actually closed off Saturday night, and people were not allowed to leave for a couple hours due to inclement weather conditions. As Robert Jennick put it, most attendees didn't find it all that much of a hardship to spend a little extra time with the beads.)

To paraphrase Calvin & Hobbes, there really was treasure everywhere. There is absolutely no way I can do justice to the full scope of the show, but I would like to take the opportunity to show (off) a few special beads that a shopper could find this year.

My first purchase of the day was at ceramic artist Diane Hawkey's booth. The moon and sun beads, pictured above, represent some of her new work. She is also well-known for creating beads around both mythic and very organic themes. You will find horned gods, clever-looking beasties and a variety of animals (such as the above bear - I think of it more as an "ursa", but that's me) in her body of work. I find Diane's style to be vivid, strong and completely unique - I am a great fan of hers. Further examples of Diane's beads can be found on her website or at her Etsy store.


I have also been a fan of lampwork artist Isis Ray's work for a long time. Her booth was replete with lovely, colorful sets of beads, as well as larger, intricate focals, including her well-known Frida Kahlo bead. This gentleman is Bacchus, the God of Wine. For anyone unfamiliar with the technique, this bead is an example of a portrait murrina, a bead made by painstakingly assembling a portrait cane from glass, in this case of the profile of Bacchus surrounded by grapes and leaves. Her beads are available at the Pike Street Market in Seattle and at various bead shows throughout the US.



This Sphinx pendant is a Green Girl Studios original, handcrafted by Cynthia Thornton. The bezel is fine silver, the Sphinx is painted polymer clay and the whole piece has been filled with clear resin which (I think at least) gives the piece a nice depth and a storybook quality. I also think that the amount of love and care that is expressed in the incredible detail of the figure of the Sphinx is amazing. If you would like to see the other examples of this type of pendant that were available at the show, please visit Cynthia's blog. Of course, other Green Girl Studios beads and pendants may be viewed at the company's website.


Here's a cool, dotty cube by Joan Miller Porcelain. The level of detail in Joan's work and her cheerful color palette are always attractive. She collaborates with silversmith Penny Michelle to create whimsical creature pendants (I am particularly fond of their skull pendants). She also makes a truly beautiful series of buttons, for any knitters or sewers seeking something original to put as a finishing touch on a hand-made garment. To view more of Joan's work, visit her or Penny's website or her Etsy store.


Here is some new work by one of my favorite lampwork artists, Michele Goldstein. The larger bead is, of course, "Love Sprouts". I love the moustache in the small set, typical of the sense of humor that you often find in Michele's work. You can see more of Michele's work on her website. She has also lately been collaborating with lampwork artist Stephanie Sersich. Their work can be found at the Hearts and Bones Studio.



Last, but not least, it's Steampunk Time! Art Bead Scene's own Melanie Lukacs had a beautiful setup at her Earthenwood Studio booth (for pics of the "dry run" of her display, please visit her blog). I know regular readers of Art Bead Scene are probably already familiar with Melanie's work. Let me just say that her Steam Stones are even more beautiful in person than in the photos. Of course, you can find Melanie's work on her website, as well.

Needless to say, all of the above is only my own personal stash. If you were there this year, what's in your Bead & Button stash? And if you weren't there this year, what are you waiting for? For more information on the show, including next year's show dates, please visit this website.

Bead Shows - Rock on!

It's time again for Rings & Things cross country tour. Visit their website to see if they will be in a town near you. I wait every year for them to come to San Antonio. I stock up on stones and gunmetal findings. Everything during their event is 15% off their regular prices. Guess where I'll be this weekeend? You can see my stash from last year's show in this blog post.

On my wish list:

wood beads

gunmetal findings

smoky quartz

amazonite

amethyst

stones in faceted fancy cuts