Bead and Button Recap

 Lots of pics below! Better get some coffee and a snack!

Diane Hawkey
HAPPY. GO.LUCKY!!

Melanie Brooks of Earthenwood- our host for booth space, we had a little table at the left there, where we had set up some jewelry from the book, a couple of earring kits, and this is where we did the book signing on Saturday afternoon. The signing went well, quite a few blog readers stopped by to buy books and have them signed. It was so cool meeting blog readers!

Wayne Robbins lampwork glass beads- Below you'll see a little frog I bought myself. He's just the sweetest, and might be my most favorite purchase of the weekend!

 

Vlad of Golem Studios made some fun beady stickers for bead studios. I got a few, but this one is the best!

Joe saw these mushrooms on Facebook from Stephanie Sersich and made me promise to bring him one to make him a hanging doodad for the VW van. He picked the green one. I'll keep the other for myself.

Another splurge for myself. HEY! Didn't I come back with beads for jewelry designs?! Geesh.  The owl connector above from Green Girl Studios is something I've wanted for myself for awhile. I was lucky to snag this one with mysterious labradorite eyes.

Speaking of Green Girl, Cynthia gifted me this lovely wing pendant. I just love it. She was wearing a long chain with several of these, at the show on Saturday, and it was just stunning!

Finally some loot! Green Girl beads and pendants, bronze, gold, and pewter pieces. Some old stand-bys like birds, a few clasps and bead caps.

I was so bummed I didn't get back to the C Koop booth, but when I stopped by on Friday afternoon Sara gave me these new style connectors to see what I would do with them. She had a sweet bracelet using the 3 hole connector, with some enameled flowers attached with wire.  The wheels are a-turning!

Of course, you know I had to stock up on some Pam and Heather Wynn beads! It was so hard to choose, I felt bad I couldn't buy one of everything!

Here is the little frog I got for myself from Wayne. If you haven't seen his work, check out his website and shops. He is from California and is a real cool dude to chat with. Erin and I had a nice talk with him on Saturday about the book, and living out on the west coast. I feel like my little frog could come to life and slip his little tongue out at any moment!

Got some cool new Humblebeads to play with! Heather had a ton of new work and it's always a pleasure to be able to chat with her!

Ran into Lori Anderson on the showroom floor and we shopped a few vendors together like Glass Garden Beads! Stocked up on some bottle cap beads, and got a few of the new Cookie Tin beads, debuted at B&B for the first time!

Diane Hawkey always has sweet pieces to choose from- I tried picking a few things I haven't worked with before like the Raven bead,  and a face acorn. Love the personality of her work, it screams Diane!

Patricia Healey had a HUGE booth at the show. I would have bought more but she didn't take credit cards. I picked up some sweet owl beads, and few of her signature copper pieces. She was really cool to meet and chat with! I just loved her!

Wynwood's is always a favorite booth of mine. They had a bit of everything at this show, including these new rough edged Picasso Czech nuggets, and some raw brass rondelles. Looking forward to trying some patina on these.
Below, are the silver pieces I got there, of Lois Venarchick's. Sweet things, and great prices! I missed seeing Lois herself, but her husband is just as charming!

The Sandy Schor booth was HEAVEN!  It was huge and there was a ton of cool vintage beads. I picked up some vintage strands of lucite and glass. The lucite is some original beads from the Coco Chanel line of jewelry.

Stocked up on some really cool Resin, bone and wood beads from a booth I had never seen before. Wild Things beads was really really great, and the guy working there was really nice and chatty! Check out those wood rounds with inlaid abalone! AH-MAZING!

Stopped by Singaraja Imports and picked out a few cool silver pieces. I have to admit, I have seen Heather Millican use some of these pieces in her work and they really add such a cool element to her one of a kind pieces. I look forward to using these sparingly- they were SPENDY!

Gotta thank Heather Powers for the heads up on the ZnetShows booth that had PILES of seaglass beads. I stocked up on some beautiful colors and cool shapes.

I really enjoyed the Antelope Beads booth and picked up a few Kazuri beads but what really got my attention is this new line of Dorabeth Designs fine pewter components. You've gotta check these out, read more about Dorabeth on their website, here.

Remember when I blogged about Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods on the Jewelry Accord blog here? Well they had a very popular booth at the show. I was psyched to see them there! They had a bazillion buttons, and many options of ribbon sold by the yard. Some of the buttons were pretty pricey, so I picked out only a few. These cool stone buttons are amazing. And the carved mother of pearl inlaid brass shank buttons were too sweet to pass up.

Lilly Pilly Designs are always coming up with new designs. I chose a few center drilled pendants, some etched tagua nuts, and this awesome etched stone focal bead.

Funny story about Kerri Fuhr! I had never met Kerri before. Although I am quite familiar with her work- and have admired her gorgeous lampwork glass for some time. We attended a bead bloggers networking breakfast put on by Heather Powers of Humblebeads, on Sunday morning. We sat down at tables and someone asked this beautiful red head at the table about the necklace she was wearing. I was listening in on their conversation and heard her explain that she was a lampwork glass artist, that created beads featuring bees, birds, horses, and other such inspiration. My head started racing and I thought to myself. Hmmm. that's odd. That looks an awful lot like Kerri Fuhr's work. I wonder if she knows about this copycatter.
Everyone goes around the table introducing themselves. The beautiful red head stands up and says, Hi, I'm Kerri Fuhr. I just about died. And of course had to tell her this story. too funny.

Love love love the glass beads at Bead Haven. Another great suggestion by Heather Powers. I picked out some awesome beads, faceted and smooth with awesome and unique finishes! Check out those pewter colored faceted barrels! mmmmm!

Was loving all of Melanie's new pieces, especially the key hole pieces. She is just so dang talented, I just love her.

GOLEM! Loved seeing Vlad again this year at the show but mostly because his beautiful and talented wife Kremena was there too for the first time in the U.S.! What a sweetheart she is! I stocked up on some lentils and a few pendants.

Heather French of Vintage Meadow Artworks gifted me with a few flower strands, and also donated some beads for a future giveaway! It is always lovely to chat with her. Her booth was awesome, as always!

And of course, Lisa Peters. My friend, and a wonderful confidante. I enjoy her company so much! I wish we had had some more time to chat but her booth was twice as big this year, and she had twice the amount of shoppers at any given moment. That busy girl! But I did manage to sneak in at the last minute and get some new beads and pendants.

I hope you enjoyed this little recap and bead porn! Come back tomorrow, I'll be announcing 3 bead giveaways! I am giving away 3 sets of beads to 3 random winners! You don't want to miss it!