Hold on to your beads, everyone! I was disappointed in Whole Bead this year.
My shopping list included the following: 5 strands of different blue gemstones for a class I'm teaching, some of the Pema Arts silver and gemstone beads for accent beads, some beads to make a necklace to honor the pink Leah Fairbanks bead I posted on rcb, sterling clasps, gold filled clasps, lead free pewter rondelles which look like Bali silver, and maybe some lampwork beads.
I could not believe the lack of selection of blue gemstones. Now, meanwhile, I went on Friday which is opening day of the three day show. First of all, almost all the strands were huge beads, lots of them some kind of plastic stuff which is pieced together - yuck. I needed smaller 8mm or so size for this bracelet class. I ended up buying one strand of African Crysocolla. The drills for anything small were terrible, I wouldn't buy them. I also wonder what has happened to teardrop beads which you used to be able to find in 6x16 and 9x22mm sizes in almost all gemstones. I guess they have been replaced by briolettes? I miss drops for earrings.
I was more successful with Pema arts - got several blue quartz and silver beads, a coral and silver centerpiece size bead. They were well priced, great quality.
I did buy some very interesting Herkimer diamonds and some Russian Moldivite, which is Russian sunstone - a mauve color - to make a necklace for Leah's bead. Of course I fell in love with another of Leah's beads, but I was good. I'm saving myself for B & B, lol.
Bought 4 strands of leadfree pewter rondelles and small beads, 2 strands in gold and 2 in silver.
The sterling and gold filled clasps were outrageously priced.Sterling crimps were the same.
I bought some small cloissone starfish for a beach theme necklace and two Siamese cats for earrings @2.00 each.
There also were a number of lampworkers who were originally supposed to be there, but were not on the final list of exhbitors. I can imagine how expensive WBS is to do. The lesser famous lampworkers did not look busy or happy.
That's all I bought. I'm beginning to think that smaller bead shows like Innovative are a better bet in these rough economic times.
Anyone else go? Any other opinions?
Patti