Berks Bead Show....finally!!!!

The weekend for the bead show finally arrived, and I must say, I really felt prepared. Nerves kicked in of course, and I had that panick moment, where I thought no one would buy my beads.  I hate that.

Things didn't go smoothly, but they went.  Just realized prior to leaving that my car is overdue for inspection (an old chevy blazer that I can pack everything into nicely).  So we took my moms car, a Honda compact instead.  It fit, barely!!!  Whew!  It was like tetris.

We got there with no problems, my mom, daughter Julia and me....ready for a girl weekend.

Well- saturday was BUSY.  I barely got to hang with my girls.  But my mom and Julia had a nice time together.  Some bead friends that I know from our online group stopped by and they all had lunch together.  It was soooooo nice to finally get to meet these ladies in person, that I already felt so close to before actually meeting them.  What a fun group!  I wish all lived closer.

Not everyone made it in the picture.  Thats what happens when you get a group of bead lovin ladies in a room full of beads.  Its hard to get them to stand still in one place, unless perhaps you scream, "FREE BEADS!"

IN this photo, starting on the left, we have Marsha Neal of Marsha Neal Studio and her daughter (totally worn out from bead shopping).
Me- hiding in the back
Diana Ptzaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio
Jenny Davies-Reazor whom I have gotten to know for her jewelry- but she also does mixed media art!
And all the way to the right is Melinda Orr of Orrtec.  She does ceramic and wonderful metal components and jewelry.

Lisa's mom is peaking around the left side in the back.  She is as "berks bead show" as it gets.  I always think of her and Lisa working the booth together there.

Not in the picture are Sandra Miller of Beaded by Sandra and Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay, who also brought her daughters (OH my Julia was sooo happy to see them!)  Mary Hubburd of White Clover Kiln came with her daughter too.  Where did they get to???  Did I miss anyone- geez- it was a blurr!

Of course- Lisa Peters and Joan Miller had tables there, and it was sooo nice to be able to talk with them through the weekend.  More friends I made online.  I also met new people, and just had a blast!!!!  Bead and jewelry people, we just get each other!

Here are some more pics of the girls!

me, diana, and jenny

Don't we look like we are up to no good????  I have a feeling if I hung around with this girl more often we would be!!!  (smile real big and no one will suspect us;)

Diana pushing the sari silks I was selling.  Holy MOly- ladies love their silks!!!  Sold almost all of them.

Lisa and I- love this lady and her work!  If you haven't met her in person, you need to track her down at a show!

(above)This is apparently the face I make when someone tells me to "just act natural" in a picture.  Yeah, you should see my school pics through the years.  No poise in front of the camera.  None.

This is another picture by Jenny of the booth- that bounty of beads is what I have been working soo dilligently on!

Here is my booth- the banner turned out nicely, and I was very happy overall with it.  It really stood out, wasn't too hard to set up and tear down at all, and not too heavy to carry, and matched my style!

This was my neighbor at the show, Dona Jones of Kindred Spirit Designs.  She does great copper components and jewelry- very detailed!!!!  I was honored that she bought my necklace!  She is wearing it in the picture, doesn't it look like it was made for her?  We hit it off fabulously.  I hope we keep in touch!  Anyone who loves their Doc Martens is ok by me!!! 

It was a great show.  And people did like and buy my beads.  I even had a wonderful cutomer buy a bunch on saturday, and she came back sunday to show me the wonderful necklace she made with them!!!!!!!!  It was so amazing!  I also had someone track me down from Belle Armoire Jewelry.  Did I tell you I have an article in there and a project in the gallery too?  I love the pictures they took of my jewelry.  As if that wasn't exciting enough, a customer read it and came to find me at
Berks.  I can't tell you how happy it makes me that my jewelry and beads are loved!

You can get a sneek peak of my article here- its titled, Butterflies and Chains.

Of course, I came home with some loot.  After a marathon of bead making, I got a pallette together to start making jewelry for my spring shows.  Can you tell where I will be going with it????

I got some great large keshi pearls, chunky grey gemstones, sea urchin spines (ooooooooo my favorite find) some Greg Graup cabs and beads, a couple Joan Miller daggers, lots of Lisa Peters Art beads and some odds and ends, Diane Hawkey beads, some Dona Jones pieces, and some bone beads.

My daugther loved bead shopping at came home with quite the stash, but it was stashed away so fast when we got home I had no time for pics.  Here she is playing games with her gram!  I was so happy they came along. 

We had dinner with friends saturday night, Lisa and her family, and I was honored once again by Hank wearing one of my hearts on a necklace Lisa made for him.  I think he really pulled it off.  Who knew they were uni-sex pendants? 

Then Julia and I had ate chocolate, watched a movie and beaded in bed.  How girly is that?  Here is the necklace we made, using a Lisa Peters butterfly.

I think that sums it up.  I feel so overwhelmed by the support and love.  You all have been soo encouraging during this process.  I think this show confirms I can continue in this direction, doing both beads and jewelry.  Thank you thank you thank you!

You guys light up my life!