Part 1: Bead Fest Philadelphia 2010
Nancy showed up at my house on Thursday night, to spend the night- I can't tell you how excited I was for this whole weekend. We had a nice dinner that Joe made for us, and then enjoyed the evening drinking wine and video chatting with Kelley and Cass. Oh how I loved laughing with these girls.
We set off for the 5 hour drive, early Friday morning after a pitstop to Daylight donuts for the best local coffee and doughnuts. The drive flew by as we chatted about everything, Etsy, fellow designers, our biggest inspirations, significant others, our homes, jewelry, beads, you name it!
We arrived at the airport and picked up Cass and Kelley from their flight from Atlanta. Then bolted to the hotel in heavy anticipation of the show. Checked in, and practically ran to the showroom floor where we visited with friends, and scoped out all our favorite vendors for the next day of shopping! It was fun to see how the newbies reacted to the rows and rows of beads- I remember feeling just as overwhelmed last year! It can take your breath away!
Friday evening we all went out to dinner, and had a few other friends join us, Diane Hawkey and Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood. We met up with my good friend Beth at the restaurant. We had a great meal, and chatted the night away. Dessert was held in our hotel room, Kelley brought the most delicious Mississippi Mud Cake and Butter Cake for all of us to devour.
After a great omelet breakfast in the hotel restaurant, we attended the show and did some major shopping damage. We shopped from 10 to 6, with only minimum drama when my bank card temporarily did not work for a certain bead vendor. That was a pain!
That evening we went out to dinner at the King of Prussia mall, and enjoyed a nice evening of chatting and great food. Sangria at the hotel room after, and more laughter. I swear my face hurt that evening, due to all the laughing. Diane tells the BEST stories about her daughter.
We made one last round at the show on Sunday morning before jetting off to take Cass and Kelley back to the airport. I did not want to say good-bye! For the first time in my life, I have a real, honest, I GOT YOUR BACK, group of friends that I can love and depend on. Women that share my interests, women that are strong, and independent, and love me for who I am. I love them with all my heart and I am counting down the days til I can see them all again.
I was so excited to finally meet Mary Jane Dodd! Can't you tell?? She arrived on Sunday morning for a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer (who I also met this weekend, but didn't get pictures of, dang!) It was great to be able to steal a few moments with Mary Jane. We were disappointed that she couldn't have been there the whole weekend for our bead shopping extravaganza. Looking forward to next year's show which will undoubtedly be even better with more friends, and more FUN!
Tune in later for bead porn from the show!
We set off for the 5 hour drive, early Friday morning after a pitstop to Daylight donuts for the best local coffee and doughnuts. The drive flew by as we chatted about everything, Etsy, fellow designers, our biggest inspirations, significant others, our homes, jewelry, beads, you name it!
We arrived at the airport and picked up Cass and Kelley from their flight from Atlanta. Then bolted to the hotel in heavy anticipation of the show. Checked in, and practically ran to the showroom floor where we visited with friends, and scoped out all our favorite vendors for the next day of shopping! It was fun to see how the newbies reacted to the rows and rows of beads- I remember feeling just as overwhelmed last year! It can take your breath away!
Friday evening we all went out to dinner, and had a few other friends join us, Diane Hawkey and Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood. We met up with my good friend Beth at the restaurant. We had a great meal, and chatted the night away. Dessert was held in our hotel room, Kelley brought the most delicious Mississippi Mud Cake and Butter Cake for all of us to devour.
After a great omelet breakfast in the hotel restaurant, we attended the show and did some major shopping damage. We shopped from 10 to 6, with only minimum drama when my bank card temporarily did not work for a certain bead vendor. That was a pain!
That evening we went out to dinner at the King of Prussia mall, and enjoyed a nice evening of chatting and great food. Sangria at the hotel room after, and more laughter. I swear my face hurt that evening, due to all the laughing. Diane tells the BEST stories about her daughter.
We made one last round at the show on Sunday morning before jetting off to take Cass and Kelley back to the airport. I did not want to say good-bye! For the first time in my life, I have a real, honest, I GOT YOUR BACK, group of friends that I can love and depend on. Women that share my interests, women that are strong, and independent, and love me for who I am. I love them with all my heart and I am counting down the days til I can see them all again.
Tune in later for bead porn from the show!
Wait a second, yous guys stopped for doughnuts and you didn't even bring any for us? That was wrong ;)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOVED every minute of our weekend together. I loved that among the four of us, there was never any cattiness or sarcasm...that we really just talked and laughed non-stop. My face hurt from smiling so much, too. And then that made me smile even more.
I am so sad that I missed the face hurting laughs of saturday night!! I loved what time I did get to spend with you girls though!! You all are awesome.
ReplyDeleteIt was so nice to finally meet you in person Lori...I had so much fun!! It was so hard to say goodbye, but hopefully we will meet up again soon!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like I great time!
ReplyDeleteI hope to attend a bead show some day too!I LOVE Daylight donuts! I thought they were only in Colorado and Wyoming! I had one in my small town in Colorado and they were all gone by 1:00 and closed at 2:00! I can't wait to see what you make out of your stash. Your haircut is super cute too! Looks like you had a grate trip!
Cilla
"For the first time in my life, I have a real, honest, I GOT YOUR BACK, group of friends that I can love and depend on."
ReplyDeleteThis is my dream too.
So glad that you found it. You deserve it! And these girls seem like just the right amount of fun and sass and creativity and liveliness.
So cool that you could meet up with so many people.
Would so like to meet Mary Jane (thank you for the picture!)
And soooooo wished that Wisconsin wasn't a million miles away from there. (Okay, so I exaggerate, but it feels like it!)
Thanks for sharing your experiences so that we can all live vicariously through you!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
More! More! Dying to see your loot, too!
ReplyDeleteYour hair looks fab, by the way!
Ohhh all so nice!! I Rejoice for you that wonderful and the pictures! Yea Texas is like Wisconson like Erin...so far away! ox
ReplyDeleteWhat fun! No classes?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your slice of heaven!
ReplyDeleteAwesome. Just awesome! I hope to join in on the fun next year! Would love to meet the others in person, too since I've connected so well with you!;) and Mary Jane is just the cutest in this picture!
ReplyDeleteOh, how I wish I could get a group together out here on the West Coast to do the same thing! It looks like you guys had SO MUCH FUN! Can't wait to see the Bead Porn - because I'm sure it's XXX-rated (as in XXXtra special)!
ReplyDeletewish the meet had been longer - you guys had a blast! but i feel lucky that i made it in time to say 'hey'... also might have worn make up!! :0)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting this and the video blog for those of us that could not attend. It really helped to see the hugeness of the show and to see the fun you were having.
ReplyDelete