I had a great time in Santa Fe last weekend. I got to meet Bead Star winner Erin Strother. (See her winning necklace on the cover of Bead Star magazine.) I also met Mary Tafoya, whose beading blog I read. It's always a bit surreal to meet someone in person whom you've only known online.
I also showed off a few projects. Maybe "showed off" isn't the right word; the pieces were either unfinished or unwearable. I showed Lisa Kan the progress I'd made using one of her beautiful lampworked flower beads in a necklace. Lisa generously gave me a few ideas of how I might finish the necklace, so I'm feeling inspired to work on it again. I also showed the Stringing editors the doll-size bracelet I accidentally made. I don't know if this has ever happened to you, but I was just so excited about this combination of materials and colors that I crimped it before I tried it on. (I'll be redoing that bracelet this weekend so an actual human can wear it.)
I also did some bead shopping. Here are a few of my finds from Bead Fest Santa Fe:
I love this bundle of colorful Sari ribbon from Leilani Arts. It's made from the silk remnants on the factory floors in India. Recycling at its best! I know I'll use at least a little piece for a bracelet or necklace for myself. I fully blame Lorelei Eurto and Erin Siegel of A Jewelry Accord for renewing my fascination with ribbons! |
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These brass peacocks are from Kabela Design. I love the rich chocolate brown color, a brand new color unveiled at the show. I'm planning on using these for earrings. |
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I bought these blue and white porcelain beads not at Bead Fest, but a place called Traveler's Market. It's one of those indoor antique-type places with different booths belonging to different vendors. These I found near the back, in a wonderful display with little bands of beads sorted by color. It was fun to dig through the drawers and look at the different beads. |
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I love this copper pendant by Patricia Healey. It's not just the rich colors I like, but also all the textures she's included—the stripes in the background, the divots on the leaf and the hammering on the frame. (Lima Beads carries some of her beads.) |
Of course, I bought a few more items not pictured here, including some wonderful buttons from a local yarn shop, Tutto. You'll be seeing those in April. I'm planning on hosting a button giveaway to go along with the button blog hop. If you're participating in the swap, you have about a week to send your partner some buttons!
Book Giveaway Update
Congratulations to Debbie and Cyndi whose names were drawn at random for the copies of Waking Up in the Land of Glitter and Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing. Thanks to everyone who entered. I loved reading about your sewing experience!