AD-Nashville, TN November 15-16, 2003 Volunteer States Intergalactic Bead Festival

Volunteer States Intergalactic Bead Festival Nashville, TN November 15-16, 2003

10AM - 5PM Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16 - Tennessee State Fairgrounds - 500 Wedgewood Ave. Nashville, TN (Corner of Rains Ave. and Wedgewood Ave.) From I-65 Exit 81 east on Wedgewood Ave. to Rains Ave. or I-440 Exit 6 north on Nolensville Pike (4TH Ave.) Follow signs.

Over thirty vendors from thirteen states with an extraordinary display of ancient, antique, vintage, and modern handmade beads for sale. The Cumberland Valley Bead Society with headquarters in Nashville, TN., will be hosting a welcome booth. Festival highlights include: beadmaking demonstrations, identification and appraisals. Admission: $8.00 Saturday $5.00 Sunday. BRING THIS LISTING FOR $1 OFF ADMISSION - 12 years old and under free. For Festival Information, 888-729-6904,

For Cumberland Valley Bead Society information contact Pam Hall (615) 889-5392,

If we can provide additional information or answer any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at either address below.

Thank you,

Christopher England Intergalactic Bead Shows

44 Tusculum Heights Dr Ste B Greeneville, TN 37745 (888) 729-6904 (423) 638-1651 FAX

Pam Hall Cumberland Valley Bead Society

4948 Tulip Grove Lane Hermitage, TN 37076 (615) 889-5392

PRESS RELEASE FOR VOLUNTEER STATES INTERGALACTIC BEAD FESTIVAL

Nashville, TN The Volunteer States Intergalactic Bead Festival will take place 10AM-5PM Saturday, November 15 and Sunday, November 16. Over thirty vendors from thirteen states will show and sell their wares of ancient to modern beads, bead books, beading supplies, and finished jewelry at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds - 500 Wedgewood Ave. Nashville, TN 37203 (Corner of Rains Ave. and Wedgewood Ave.) From I-65 Exit 81 east on Wedgewood Ave. to Rains Ave. or I-440 Exit 6 north on Nolensville Pike (4TH Ave.) Follow signs. An interesting mix of history and art, this bead extravaganza will feature seventy-five tables representing the country's finest bead vendors. The fascination with beads is not a new one. People have been admiring, wearing, and praying with beads for over forty thousand years. According to Christopher England, the man behind Intergalactic Bead Shows, "Beads are not a passing fancy. In fact, in the many years we have been hosting bead shows, beads have only grown in popularity." When asked why he thought that was, England's reply was noncommittal. "Perhaps it is because of the satisfaction that comes from applying time and concentration to a small vial of beads to create a three-dimensional piece of jewelry or sculpture. Or, it could be the instant gratification found by stringing a collection of beads into something unique that you can wear that evening. Maybe it is the inspiration one gets from seeing other people's creativity come alive. Or, as one who has attended an Intergalactic Bead Show can tell you, it may simply be the experience of seeing so many colors, textures, and patterns together in one arena that lends itself to the bead frenzy. Attending our shows is like entering a room full of potential." Indeed, this weekend's Volunteer States Intergalactic Bead Festival will be the premier place to harness the potential of antique and modern beads of every size, description, and material. The festival will also feature many local bead artists and shops, some of who are listed below. For those with the bead bug, the Cumberland Valley Bead Society (CVBS) table will be a wonderful welcome center at the show. The festival is the centerpiece of the CVBS semi-annual fundraising and membership drive. Society members will display a dazzling array of beaded objects, and attendees will find experts with answers to all their beading questions among the society's representatives. Member activities for CVBS include monthly workshops and seminars, retreats, shared learning and exchange of skills, and craft business discussions. For more information about CVBS, or to become a member, contact Pam Hall at 615-889-5392 or visit their website at

Local shop owner Yan Zhang, Oriental Treasures, Nashville, TN will be showcasing a wonderful selection of direct-import beads from his Belleview Center Mall shop. Zhang travels to China to hand-select the merchandise he carries at Oriental Treasures. He specializes in a huge selection of coral beads, semi-precious gemstones, turquoise, and Chinese lampworked glass beads with designs originating in the warring states period. Look to Zhang for a unique selection of interesting coral or stone carvings and medallions, as well as other one-of-a-kind trinkets from the Far East. Another local welcome center will be Warren Feld and James Jones', Be Dazzled Beads of Nashville. Known as "The South's Most Unusual Shop," and sponsors of "The Ugly Necklace Contest", Be Dazzled carries an incredible selection of thousands of beads, including Swarovski crystal, Czech glass, jewelry findings, bone, semi-precious stone, wood, clay, plastic, metal, and imported silver. They also carry a complete line of craft kits and jewelry findings, and they offer classes in beginning and advanced beading techniques, learning to silversmith, lampwork beadmaking, and precious metal clay. Visit their booth for information about their class schedule and upcoming workshops. Be Dazzled offers full web access to their entire selection of beads, and they also welcome special orders. Bead shows are a family affair for Lisa and Tony Blackwell of Zoa Art, Tryon, NC. Although the Blackwells have been making and selling their beads and jewelry for less than two years, their fresh style and organic inspired merchandise already has a following. Tony is the glass beadmaker in the family, working with Italian Moretti glass in a nature-inspired palette of hues. His color combinations are a unique blend of blues and reds with neutrals, and he often adds silver foil to create a subtle sparkle and depth to the beads. Lisa is a self-taught silversmith. She adds her touch to Tony's beads by wire wrapping them into pendants, adding hand riveted silver caps, or fashioning them into custom bracelets and necklaces. Lisa also enhances her jewelry with glazed and unglazed clay beads, handmade silver chains, and Precious Metal Clay beads and embellishments. Ashleigh, the Blackwell's daughter, gets involved in the family business by creating beaded hemp bracelets that are a beautiful compliment to the other pieces. The artists in the Blackwell family blend their individual styles into beads and jewelry that are an amazing combination of natural colors, textures, and inspiration. Visitors to this weekend's festival are sure to find something to delight them from the beads ranging from historical to modern, handcrafted to mass produced, natural materials to the newest in synthetic technology. Along with beads and bead-making supplies there will be numerous finished pieces to choose from, including beaded wrist and ankle bracelets, pendants, necklaces, and earrings. The various artists, vendors, and collectors brought together by The Volunteer States Intergalactic Bead Festival will be bringing Nashville the best selection of beads in the galaxy. Let the creativity begin! ####### End #######

-- "IF IT IS GOOD FOR BEADS, IT IS GOOD FOR THE UNIVERSE" WORLD BEAD DAY September 28, 2003

** The Day To Wear Your Beads ** or join others beaders at an bead event near you. the pages of the best bead vendors on the Web and the IntergalacticBead Shows at ATTENDEES may contact the below for show newsletter.CHRISTOPHER ENGLANDINTERGALACTIC BEAD SHOWS44 TUSCULUM HEIGHTS DR STE BGREENEVILLE, TN 37745