It's that time again...Part 2

Ah bead shows. Rings and Things bead show was a resounding success. I had my hundred dollar limit and I spent $99.13. I spent two hours and I got a lot of beads for my money. This is a picture of the beads I purchased. I got red agate, blue Peruvian opal, crazy lace agate (dyed green), amazonite, Chinese charoite, natural impression stone, impression stone (dyed serpentine), owyhee jasper, mookaite, riolite and tourmaline.

Now for B.A.B.E., the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza. This is their tenth anniversary! It actually starts on Thursday, November 6th (just three days from now with so many classes about jewelry making and bead making and bead and jewelry business stuff...it's a lot. I am only going for one day though, Saturday the 8th. The two days of the weekend, the 8th and 9th, are shopping days as well as class days. There will be more than 250 vendors at the event. Some you will have heard of others, maybe not. http://www.beadextravaganza.com/exhibitor.html - link to exhibitors page. One of the things that is the biggest draw for me is the glass. There are glass bead artists there selling the beads they made themselves. It is so cool talking to these people about their art (and it is art). One of my favorites is Sharon Peters Silly Beads, she is a hoot. You can find her online at smartassglass.com.

Last year when I went for the first time, I was completely overwhelmed. This year, I am bringing a friend. It helps if I make a list of vendors or products that I am more interested in because if I don't I won't remember anything (seriously, nothing-poof-all gone). Some of the items/vendors I will be looking for are Green Girl Studios (Fab fine pewter and etc), Sharon Peters (lampworked beads), copper, Thai silver, Bullfrog and I-Ching Beads (lampwork beads), Lillypilly Designs (awesome etched shell pendants), Unicorne Beads (yes, more lampwork), Beaducation (TOOLS!), Bead Palace (I know, you thought lampwork, but no...GEMSTONES), and Arrow Springs (stuff to make lampwork beads).

I will let you know how I did. I am sure that with a good breakfast and comfortable shoes, I can handle this.