Big Apple and Whole Bead Shows, NYC

I'm jealous!

I went to the Big Apple Bead Show on Saturday. It's sponsored by "Bead Unique", Softflex and the Bead Society of Greater New York. It was in a very convenient location, just a few blocks from Penn Station at the Radisson Martinique Hotel, an older art deco type hotel which they are redoing, but so far seem to be upgrading but remaining true to the architecture. It was a smaller show, but there were quite a few gemstone dealers and some lampworkers. I got some gemstone strands for the bracelet class I taught last night - tangerine aventure in small square tile shapes,

6mm amethyst, faceted coin bloodstone (both for me), oval Russian Amazonite, small oval Sodalite with good color, looks almost like Lapis (kept those, too, I'm so naughty) - all these were $7.00 a strand! My find were tiny tourmaline drops, mixed colors, also $7.00, I nearly fell over. Other than that, I just got some sterling clasps and 500 sterling silver crimp beads, since I am always dropping them. The Bead Society was teaching people with "make it and take it" projects and Bead Unique was giving away their most recent magazine. It was fun. I never made it all the way down to 18th street to WBS, just didn't have the energy. NYC was very crowded due to the projected taxi strike, which did happen yesterday. The trains were packed both ways as well. It was a beautiful Autumn day in NYC. I also went into one of those garment district jobber places and bought this cool velour like shoulder bag for $4.99!!! What a deal. I wanted a Betty Boop bag, but all they had were Marilyn, Audrey Hepburn and James Dean ones, which were a little garish, even for me. Lampworkers in attendance were John Winter, and Leah Fairbanks' husband, Derek was there with some of her beads and also his gorgeous gemstones - Oregon sunstone, opals, tourmaline, etc. There were a few other lampworkers there as well, but I don't remember who they were. All in all, a smaller show, but a good time. Had lunch in the restaurant downstairs - lobster, avocado & mango salad - OMG, not a bad price either, especially for NYC. So, Jerri, are you pea green with envy, lol. Hope your daughter is doing better, I'll hold her and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

Patti