Sweet Bead Studio Blog
Back from Bead & Button {the photos, video, and give away post!}
Hello everyone
I hope you’re not too tired of Bead & Button stories yet! You’ll find there IS a little surprise for you too though when you get to the bottom of this post! 🙂 It was an exciting trip both going to Milwaukee (plane delay causing me to miss my connection, then giving up my great seat so lovebirds could sit together) and coming home (unexpected bump to First Class – good karma!). And the few days that I was there? It really was all they say about BEAD & BUTTON – So Much Fun!
For me, this was first and foremost a great getaway weekend with Lori of Pretty Things. One week prior, I had NO idea I would be flying out to the big show. Somehow it hit me that I could make it happen (with the support of my husband). This was also an opportunity to meet friends who I had only known online – isn’t it incredible to actually give a hug to someone whose blog you’ve been following for some time? The very first person who transcended the “online” to “real-life” barrier was Beth Bricker of Vintage Sweets. I was so happy to meet many jewelry designer/blogging/bead maker friends and only regret that we didn’t have even more time to hang out together.
Me 'n Beth Bricker
A glimpse of the attendees from the U.S. People from Israel to Japan gathered at the annual show.
Lori had arrived before me so she had already scoped out the showroom floor briefly. I had heard that there would be a phenomenal amount of bead shopping, but what really struck me was the quality. This event was above and beyond. If you have a favorite bead artist or bead shop, chances were good that they were there! It was great to actually see products from the Beadin’ Path, Vintaj, or AD Adornments in person. It was a thrill to meet bead artists such as Heather of Humblebeads and Vladislav of Golem Studio (btw,Vladislav and Kremena won in the Bead Dreams Handmade Beads category).
All sorts of finds - AD Adornments
Vintage chains from AD Adornments
An incredible selection of Tibetan capped beads
Another show highlight was viewing the Bead Dream entries in the glass showcases. We walked along slowly, admiring the incredible artwork from lampwork to beadwork.
Shopping for beads with a friend like Lori was so fun. She knows what I like so it was like having two sets of eyes, helping to be sure I didn’t miss the must-see booths (which could account for just about all of them!). Some booths contained such interesting beads/tools/components/demos, and the vendors so engaging, that I sometimes spent an hour in a booth at a time! We both enjoyed perusing through the Kalmbach store as well, and found some cool books that are hot off the press. I’ll share more in a future blog post. It was great to be there to see some of the Beading Across America participants signing their new book and joking around like a tight-knit group of beading sisters.
"Beading Across America"
Now what would a post-bead-show post be without a few BEAD pictures?? I unpacked some of my new beads and took a couple of beauty shots.
New charms and pendants by both Humblebeads and Golem
Tibeten beads: amber, turquoise, coral, lapis, naga shell, carnelian
Vintage and vintage-style from AD Adornments
I interrupt this post for some action, scenes from B&B captured on rare video footage. 🙂 Lori and I would like to give Kerry of KAB’S Concepts a big shout-out for kindly putting this video together for us (she’s an artist and a techie!). Nothing like hanging out in the hotel lobby, uploading video clips, and calling a friend to ask, “er, can you splice together these little videos??” – and she says yes without hesitating.
Okay, no need to wait as stated in the video, let’s get started now!……
Time for the “Back from B&B” give away!
Lori and I wanted to share some of our Bead & Button treasures with you so we’ve put together a little give away. I should say mine is “little” because I know Lori even more to share. The pretty inspirational pack was generously donated from the sweet Beadin’ Path ladies.
If you’d like to enter the drawing, simply leave a comment! I will draw FOUR different winners. Winners will be drawn on Monday, June 20th. Be sure to visit Lori’s blog for more chances to win B&B treasures!
The Bead & Button experience was certainly one for the records for me. Thank you for stopping by and sharing in the weekend wrap-up. Good luck in the drawing!
-Cindy
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Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her best-selling jewelry design book, The Missing Link, was released in Fall 2013. Read more.
Looks like you guys had a great time! That fiber looks fun! Great give away!
Wish I had been there, it looks like it was a lotta fun! Count me in on the drawing.
I am totaly green with envy. I would love to attened,but my guess is that I would have to save every penny I could for years to be able to purchase all the goodies I would want.
What a fun adventure! I have hopes of going to B&B someday. I can’t wait to see what you create with your purchases. Please count me in for your generous drawing! Oh, and I blogged about it too! Have a great day 🙂
What a wonderful time for everyone! And what a wonderful giveaway! Thanks for hosting this.
Oh Cindy I can tell you and Lori had a great time. You can count me in on the give-a-way Be Blessed to be a blessing
That would be so fun to go but also so hard! =) I can’t even imagine having to choose just a few things haha I know I would be so broke when I left! Thanks for the chance to win some here though! =)
New GFC follower too! =)
Arizona Girls
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What a generous giveaway!! I would love to attend the Bead and Button show someday. 🙂
Sounds like you two had a blast! Bead shows are more fun if you have an accomplice, lol. Count me in on your giveaway and thanks for doing the giveaway.
Sounds like you and Lori had a wonderful time at B&B. Thank you for sharing the pictures, wish I had been able to go.
Thank you for this great pictures!! What a big bead party!!! .. and such nice give away 😉 Have a nice day, greetings Doris
Wonderful post; fab pics, great to hear about the show. So fun that you joined Lori. Thanks for sharing these Cindy.
I would have blown my entire budget at AD Adornments! I love that store! Thanks for the great pics from B&B– almost like being there except I didn’t go bankrupt! Thanks, Cindy!
gotta say I love how you and Lori have picked different stuff to show us- this way we get to see more!!! I love the Spring Meadow beads you showed us. I would love to win something from your drawing.
Alice’s beads and baubles
alicecraddick@rocketmail.com
not sure if my post went thu or not but I would love a chance to win something from your generous give away. I really like the Spring Meadow beads you shared with us. Thanks for sharing the fun!!
Alice’s beads and Baubles
alicecraddick@rocketmail.com
Oh I would love to be entered 🙂
I am so jealous that I am so far away . . . wish I could have joined the fun!
Oooooooooooooooooooh, you guys both have way too many AWESOME beads. Please enter me to win some? Thanks.
QueenMarcy
oh what a great show ( and video!) a lot of things too see!! your vidéo is so funny .; you are sooooooooo shy my cindy!! (and cute!)
Thank you for the lowdown on what I missed.
I’ve already checked out the AD Adornments website.
B&B sounds like a lot of fun. Wanted to attend but couldn’t swing it this time. Hope to go to Artbliss in September though. Thanks for having the drawing 🙂
I think if I went to that show my brain would just explode from too much wonderfulness- love the corset rings and the Tibetan beads! And I’d love a chance to win!
Love the video! It was great meeting you and Lori. I am already looking forward to next year. I never saw se of the things you bought. It’s hard to see everything, I know on the first day after I saw you I missed a lot because I was on overload mode. Please do not enter my name, save the goodies for someone that couldn’t go.
Beth
Ooo wow that looks like so much fun. I would love to go to something like that. There never is anything exciting like that where I live. Time to start traveling 🙂
Just realized that I was so excited to write a post about your giveaway a few days ago, I neglected to leave a proper comment here. Oops! See how easy it is for a generous giveaway to sweep me off my feet?!
Wow, the show looks amazing! I am sure I would be coming home with bags full of goodies. I sure wish we had something that big up here in Canada. Glad you had a super time!
It looks like you had a great time at Bead & Button! So many beautiful beads! 🙂
I love the giveaway beads, they all look adorable!
Thank you for offering such a wonderful giveaway!
How very fun! Thanks!!!
I’m so jealous of everything you got to do! Count me in!
Love all this beady goodness and the video! Would be glad to take these off your hands!
Loved the video… looks like you had such a great time and loads of fun bead shopping! Thanks for a chance to win some lovely beads.
Awesome give away! Count me in!
I’m reading all the blog posts from you lucky Folks that got to be at Bead and button and I’m green with envy here on the little island I live on 🙂
Thankyou so much for sharing the pictures, the video and the beads!
It makes me feel like I was “there” somehow 🙂
Jana
It sure sounds and looks like you guys had a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing the great video and for the awesome giveaway!
A lovely giveway — thanks for the opportunity! Wish I could attend a bead show like that some days. It seems like a lot of fun (though I’d have a really hard time not bankrupting myself amongs all those bead booths). Overwhelmingly much, but fun.
Wow! All those bead pictures leave me weak in the knees! It sounds like you had so much fun.
Looks like you had a great time at B&B. I would love to win one of your great finds.
What a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to win. The bead show sounds fabulous 🙂
Carol
Sounds like you had a great time! Awesome show. Count me in on the drawing!
Wonderful giveaway!!! Good luck to everyone. It looks like you and Lori and a great time. It is always wonderful sharing with a friend.
All the gorgeous beads are mind boggling!! Such beautiful candy!! And such great photos you posted..I would be honored to win some of these tasty beads!!
Great pictures of the delights at Bead and Button. Also, great beads for a give-away. Thanks!
They’re all so lovely! Sounds like you two had a grand time shopping! With so many beautiful beads I don’t know how I’d ever choose what to buy!!
Thanks for hosting this amazing give-away! 🙂
I love the lucite flowers and ribbons. My favorite part after the Bead & Button show is the pictures and videos you girls share when it is over. Makes me feel like I was there with you. Thanks!!
Wow-ee!! Looks like y’all had an absolute blast.
I’m intrigued by the map since I saw a couple of pins from my area. . . makes me wonder who else got to go.
In any case, thanks so much for sharing your pictures, video, and the giveaway with those of us who had to sit at home and wait to see what all y’all brought back!! Fun stuff.
What a wonderful giveaway! Someday I will make it to the Bead&Button Show, but thank you for the pictures till then!
What a wonderful post and what gorgeous goodies. Wish I could have gone, but too far away from Texas for me. But it was great to see some of the things and people that were there. Would love a chance to win.
http://KayzKreationz.blogspot.com
Wow, what great photos of some really unique beads.
Thanks for this giveaway~Eileen
I have been wanting to attend the Bead and Button show but I am a teacher and it is always the last week of school. I would love to win a prize from the show that you were lucky enough to attend!
I LOVE the corset rings…they are FABULOUS!!!
Looks like you had soooo much fun on this trip…not sure I would have been able to move from the spot with all that gorgeous-ness around me….how do you choose what to purchase when THERE’S SO MUCH OF IT!!
I surely would have been drooling all day with lots of ooo’s and ahhh’s spilling from my mouth…
hugs
hello gorgeous xxx