I'm back from my first Bead & Button show in Milwaukee. So much fun! Here are a few highlights:
- I met several folks in person that I'd only knew online, including designers Molly Schaller and Kerri Fuhr, beadmakers Melanie Brooks (Earthenwood Studio), Heather Powers (Humblebeads), and BeadStyle senior editor Naomi Fujimoto.
- I took a mixed media jewelry class with Sherri Haab, a wonderful instructor. I'd definitely take a class with her again. I'll share my finished class project in a later post.
- I enjoyed staying in a hotel with Starbucks on the ground floor. Maybe a bit too much. A little disappointed to wake up this morning and realize that there was no one to take my coffee order at home!
- I saw the progress on the world's longest bead necklace (pictured here). It's a fundraising project for art therapy programs at hospitals and cancer centers.
- I ran into Stringing editor
Danielle Fox as I was dashing outside, determined not to have another
Power Bar lunch. I saw designer/teacher Phyllis Dintenfass in front of the Fire Mountain Gems booth,
where we were both entranced by Tammy Honaman's riveting demo. I also chatted with the new Beading Daily editor, Kristal Wick, at the TierraCast party. Part of the fun of a large bead show is that you never know who you'll see!
- I bought some wonderful beads and findings, mostly chain and handmade beads. I enjoyed chatting with Andrew Thornton at the Green Girl Studios booth and Heather DeSimone at The Beadin' Path. I'll share photos later this week.
- I stamped a metal tag at the "Make and Take" at the Beaducation booth. Loved the tiny letter stamps I used—I'll have to put those on my wish list. I also really enjoyed the demo of using inks to color metals at the Vintaj booth.
I'm feeling energized by new ideas, but exhausted from traveling. I'll share more photos from my trip once I've had time to recover!