Back from Beadfest

We've been back two weeks and finally had time to sit down and write about Beadfest. We had such a great time. My coworkers always laugh at me when I tell them I'm taking vacation time to go to Beadfest, but if you are a jewelry-maker, you'd understand. This year, they moved Beadfest to Reading, PA. I took a class with Louise McClure on etching metals, image transfers and aging surfaces of glass and wood. I love the whole mixed media look, so this class was perfect for me.

Chad taught a borosilicate pendant class on the last day of Beadfest. He had a full class, and I was the official teacher's assistant. His students had a great time and made some beautiful pendants.

One of the best things about Beadfest is meeting jewelry and glass artists from around the country. Some of the top glass artists were there demonstrating their amazing techniques (Sharon Peters, John Winter, Chris Roesinger, James Yaun, Margaret Zinzer, Travis Medak, Andrew Brown, Harold Cooney, Lewis Wilson). Glass artists are some of the most friendly, fun people you'll every meet and they are always glad to share their techniques. We also got to see Barbara McGuire (polymer clay artist and author), Nikki Thornberg (glass artist recently published in Bead Unique) and Lisa Niven Kelly (cool wire artist).

Then, of course, there is the exhibition hall with hundreds of vendors. Chad and I really had to control our spending!!!!

Here are photos of what we bought:



First, we finally got to own a Sharon Peters bead. This one just begged us to take it home with us, so we obliged...



Other beads/pendants we bought. Top left is by Nikki Thornburg. Dragon in center is from Lewis Wilson. Skull is by Michele Goldstein.



A really cool glass ring made by Harold Cooney



A polymer clay pendant by Barbara McGuire



A marble by James Yaun