AD-Sept. 6-7, 2003 Birmingham, AL Magic City Intergalactic Bead Festival

Magic City Intergalactic Bead Festival Birmingham, AL Sept. 6-7, 2003

10AM - 5PM Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7 - Zamora Shrine Temple 3521 Ratliff Rd. Irondale, AL From I-459 Exit 29, west on I-20 to Exit 135, south on Old Leeds Rd., east on Grantswood Rd. (Masonic Dr.) to Ratliff Rd. Follow signs. Vendors with a dazzling array of ancient, antique, vintage, and modern handmade beads for sale. Also bead identification & appraisal, bead making demonstration. Open to the public. Admission $8.00 Saturday $5.00 Sunday. For more information (888) 729-6904 or
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Twenty-nine vendors from twelve states with an extraordinary display of ancient, antique, vintage, and modern handmade beads for sale. Also, 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,

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PRESS RELEASE FOR MAGIC CITY INTERGALACTIC BEAD FESTIVAL

Birmingham, AL The Magic City Intergalactic Bead Festival will take place

10AM-5PM Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7. Twenty-nine vendors from twelve states will show and sell their wares of ancient to modern beads, bead books, beading supplies, and finished beads, at the Zamora Shrine Temple 3521 Ratliff Rd. Irondale, AL From I-459 Exit 29, west on I-20 to Exit 135, south on Old Leeds Rd., east on Grantswood Rd. (Masonic Dr.) to Ratliff Rd. An interesting mix of history and art, this bead extravaganza will feature over 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 Magic City 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 bead artists and shops as listed below. Local glass beadmaking artist Rita Burkholder Robinson, of Fresh Frozen Glass Studio, Birmingham, AL will act as a welcome center for attendees to the festival this weekend. In addition to crafting beautiful and colorful signature beads in all shapes, styles and sizes, Rita enjoys teaching her craft to others via local and out of state workshops. Her classes have been offered publicly at the Birmingham Museum of Art and Miami University's Craft Summer in Oxford, OH, as well as for private workshops throughout Alabama. A member of the International Society for Glass beadmakers and the Alabama Designer Craftsmen, Rita specializes in sculptural beads in fantasy shapes, such as Pixies and Goddesses, and the occasional headless chicken! Her creative, unique beads match her personality - fun, inspired, and a delight to behold. Few people have such a connection to the history of beadmaking as Peter Sedlecek, EuroGlass, Acworth, GA. Peter's specialty is Czech pressed-mold glass beads, which are made by placing molten rods of glass into a mold machine and pressing out the beads. A former mold-maker by trade, Sedlecek fled Czechoslovakia to escape communism. He returned after its fall to reconnect with many of the glass beadmaking families that had changed professions rather than work under tyranny. Under his tutoring and encouragement, these families are once again manufacturing the beads, and many of them produce exclusively for Euroglass. Sedlecek is always happy to explain the history of Czech glass bead making to attendees, and his story is as rich and colorful as the beads on his tables. In the world of glass lampwork beadmaking, artists often express their individuality by developing a signature style. The result is a collection of beads that is an identifiable, unique representation of their art. Timothy Holahan, of Holahan Glass, Arden, NC creates glass beads with a visual texture that resembles a snake or lizard skin. Holahan begins his beads by swirling one or two colors of glass with black glass and then he adds either raised or inlaid dots to finish the design. His seemingly simple use of color allows him to create striking beads that work as well grouped together as they do paired with other beads. A graduate of the Tyler School of Art at Temple University, Holahan started blowing glass in 1991 and his work has been featured at numerous galleries in Asheville. Known at the Intergalactic Bead Shows for their beautiful selection of high-quality pearls ranging from $4.00-$200.00 per strand, Ayla's Originals is a large, full-service bead store out of Evanston, IL. One of the largest bead stores around, Ayla's is open seven days a week and employs twenty full time people, including three dedicated staff members who travel all over the country solely doing bead shows. In fact, Ayla's Originals will be at every Intergalactic Bead Show in 2003! It is the incredible volume of business they do that allows them to carry such a variety of products at such low prices. In addition to their pearls, Ayla's also offers furnace glass, metal spacers, and Turkish and Bali silver. Among the noted glass beadmakers at the festival will be local artist Susan Barnes, Fire Goddess, Marietta, GA. Susan designs and creates beautiful jewelry using her own hand crafted glass beads along with fresh water pearls, hand-faceted crystal, Bali silver, and new for this season - her custom designed lead-free pewter beads. Trained and inspired by many of the leading artists in the lampwork and jewelry design field, Barnes has fashioned her own style with an eclectic blend of colors, textures, designs and movement. Her focal designer beads are available to jewelry designers, fashion retail outlets, to the public via her website, and at the nearest Intergalactic Bead Show. 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 bracelets, pendants, necklaces, and earrings. The various artists, vendors, and collectors brought together by The Magic City Intergalactic Bead Festival will be bringing Birmingham 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.
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the pages of the best bead vendors on the Web and the IntergalacticBead Shows at
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ATTENDEES may contact the below for show newsletter.CHRISTOPHER ENGLANDINTERGALACTIC BEAD SHOWS44 TUSCULUM HEIGHTS DR STE BGREENEVILLE, TN 37745
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Phineas T Beadd Director National Bead Society
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