|
A Visit to Bead Faire |
|
|
|
|
A Review of the new Bead Show
|
I had the pleasure of attending a new Bead Show, just starting on the West Coast. It's called Bead Faire and it's brought to us by the folks who also bring us the Gem Faires! Nothing beats being able to pick your beads from among the many at a big beading event like this one!
For those of you unfamiliar with the Gem faire, it is a traveling show, and has a wonderful selection and assortment of beads, stones and other gem and mineral type things. Many beaders have been shopping these faires for great beads for a long time.
I think the Gem Faire folks have been seeing the increase in beaders, and decided to do a beads-only show. The debut of this show was in Santa Monica this year. The local word was that it was small, as was the case here in San Diego. However, that did not affect the energy nor the content of this show.
It was small enough and I went late enough on opening day that I had an opportunity to talk with some of the vendors while I shopped. This is something I really enjoy, as I like to get to know the vendors. I had the opportunity to speak to the folks at Da Bead Babe, with their wonderful Czech glass. I swooned and gushed at Mingo and Asho and their wonderful fire polished furnace glass beads. I just love them!
I also got to talk with Ron and Valerie from Crystal Pendant, and found out that their daughter is a Swarovski dealer, and has crystals for ever! My friend Rosa Meyer from the Bead Society of San Diego worked in their booth, and they did a very brisk trade. They had great Czech glass, at wonderful prices. Their daughter, Tashina can be found at her web site, RavenDance .
East West Best was there with pearls, as was Lan's Beads International. Bead Creations had lots of finished product for sale, and did some lampwork demo, which I unfortunately did not get to see. Vicki Star of Beady Eyed Women was there, and had a very nice selection of beads and a ton of patterns, as well as their new book "Beading with Peyote Stitch". Vicki is charming, and just delightful to chat with.
There were many other vendors there as well, but I did not get to meet all of them. For me, the show was a very nice size. Smaller and it would have been too short, longer and it would have been tiring and overwhelming. Perhaps I am alone in this, but I like a more intimate show. even when the crowds are big, I feel that I get to talk a bit more, and can enjoy looking, without aching feet.
My only suggestion for this particular show would be to get a food concession. There was no food available, not even any coffee. It was the second day before I discovered the soda machines, and the show closed an hour early the first day, due to extreme hunger on the part of many vendors! I think a coffee and hot dog cart could make a small fortune!
If one of these new & delightful shows makes it out your way, do try to get there. Even as busy as it was, the vendors seemed to have a nice selection through the two day run, and prices were all reasonable, and there were many great bargains!
Warm, friendly, fun and with lots to see, be sure to check this one out!
