Bead & Button Show - Ongoing Report

Thanks for the report, Barbara! It's nice to hear what's going on when one is afar! David

*waaaah*

It sounds like just too much fun!

Thanks for the report, I'm desperate to get over next year and impose myself on family so Mike and I can go round the show.

-Su

Thank you for being such a wonderful and loyal reporter, Barb!!! Makes me feel like I'm there also.

Becki

Thank you for being such a wonderful and loyal reporter, Barb!!! Makes me feel like I'm there also.

Becki

Barb, I was there on Saturday...took Lisa Pavelka's Collage in Clay. She reminds me of Julia Roberts in Erin Brokovich.

I also did not purchase many beads...too spoiled by selection at Intergem. I was thrilled with the Whole Lotta Whimsey booth...They had a wide variety of tools from other media that they applied to silver clay. I bought some really tiny punches and some metal tools. Some of the prices were really good (an entire metal alphabet set for $10).

Mary

Others agreed with you...when Lisa isn't playing with polymer clay, she is Julia Robert's stunt double!

Lori

...but I was only there on Saturday, shopping :)

So many sparklies, I forgot to even check folks' nametages, to look for rcb'ers, although I did speak (very briefly) with Grant Diffendaffer, and got to see his polyclay work in person; absolutely stunning.

That much beadstuff in one place was, in a word, overwhelming. I actually spent less money than I planned simply because there were *too* many choices; silly me, I found it hard to make decisions about what I wanted :)

The real high point of the weekend for me, though, was getting to spend Friday afternoon with Maren Purves, who was here in Chicago. We talked, we laughed, we shared "Death by Chocolate" :) And it's always great to put a face with the name from someone here. We were supposed to hook up with Patti, too, but couldn't get in touch with her before Maren had to leave to get to the airport.

It was a good weekend, I'm exhausted :)

Cheers, Carla

Thanks for the updates, sounds like so much fun. I'm jeleous.

Lara

Carla, I was just reading your update on the Bead and Button show...how fun. It sounds like you had a blast. Those shows can be so overwhelming at times. I call it "visual overload".

You mentioned Grant's booth. Did you know that Grand Diffendaffer is going to be teaching at Ravensdale in Washington? Ravensdale is an international polymer clay conference. Grant D. has 3 classes that he'll be teaching. One is Totally Textured Beads which is a full day of learning, then the other full day class is his signature Marvelous Mica. On Saturday he's demo'ing his Lathe techniques. What an opportunity to learn from a master. To find out more details about his classes, go to

I'll be at Ravensdale and it would be wonderful to get to meet some of the members of this group there. I'm the registration chair, so if you have questions, please don't hesitate to ask me. I'll help you or direct you to the person who will be able to answer.

Helen

Carla wrote:

Mary,

I probably saw you in Lisa's class but didn't know it was you. I was waiting for Lisa in the back of the room during one of her demo sessions, then left when it dragged on longer than I wanted to wait. I had on a green t-shirt and a fiery orange necklace and long dark hair.

Lisa's great, isn't she? Do you have a pic of your finished pendant? I'd love to see it.

Barbara

Barbara Forbes-Ly>

Not stunt double...body double! ;-)

Barbara

>I was there on Saturday...took Lisa Pavelka's Collage in Clay. She

Carla,

So sorry to have missed you! And Maren - had no idea she was in Chicago! I was supposed to have been in Chicago on Saturday, but that got cancelled. I spent a couple of hours at the show that morning, then had to leave for the family obligation that nixed my Chicago trip.

The show is overwhelming - I was glad to ahve had an extra couple of hours on Saturday, in addition to Thursday night and Sunday afternoon.

Barbara

...but I was only there on Saturday, shopping :)

Barb, I didn't see you there..very difficult to concentrate on the demos with such a large class crowded around her workspace.

My project didn't turn out as well as hoped...We only had one oven and one of my classmates removed my pendant before it was done. (She taught a project with a 5-minute bake, and I think some of my classmates were trying to do that one while we were still trying to do the 20 minute bakes on the first project.)

I had a thumbprint in the middle of the faux dichro! I managed to cover that up, but now I'm struggling with the polyglaze.

Mary

Barbara Forbes-Ly> Mary,

Well, the nice thing about the clay is that you can rebake it now that you are home. Can't offer any tips with the polyglaze - I haven't cracked open my bottle, but do check Lisa's site because she has a whole page dedicated to using it properly. Here's the link:

I want to see pics, regardless! Barbara

Barb,

So, Sooz, when was the last time you went to Bead & Button??? Personally, I don't find it overwhelming at all, but then I'm used to WBS, and the entire NYC bead district. Patti

>

29 hours later I am safely home.The !2 hours in LA was actually pleasant. I had a good Nora Roberts book, a sunny window, and time to spare. I was met at Auckland airport for the 2 hour trip home and still have to unpack.

Loved everything about Bead and Button. Took six classes and found a few challenging. Forgot that I am left handed and can be clumsy reversing directions. Have a few projects to complete, took 2 Marilyn Moore classes on wire twining and knitting. Her work is brilliant, mine isn't

-yet.

My Kumihimo class was great even if I had to unpick 3 times , I have got it now. Enjoyed silver clay buttons.

My favorite classes were Viking knit and the silver flowing bracelet.

I spent a bit of money on the shop floor but had to remember that I needed to carry it all home. Thanks to REC beads I knew a lot of the names to look at. For me, the highlight was meeting beading people and seeing the wonderful work they do. Wish I could have gone to more classes. Took Saturday off and went to The art museum with 6 new friends. We had fun going to the museum and craft show then having an evening meal.

Washing, sleep and back to work tomorrow.

Cheers, Jan