Stash...

No Bead and Button show would be complete without the STASH!!!  Beads, tools, and what-not that you don't necessarily need but can't resist.

This show is the one time a year Cris and I get to see Abe from Afghan Tribal Arts.

Abe is such a charmer!!  I lifted this picture from his Afghan Tribal Arts FB page.

He has some of the most beautiful beads.  Lapis, onyx, jasper...the list goes on and on.  This year Abe showed Cris and I some of his collection of extremely rare beads.  Ones that dated back to Alexander the Great and before.  It was a treat.  I only wish I had taken a few photos.

Jaspser carved into these great melon shapes

Gorgeous lapis

Roman Glass....I love these shapes.  They go so well in necklaces. 

Faceted green aquamarine.  These are stunners!!

I think this is jade.  I love the dark green.  A great complement to the bronze.

The other people we can't wait to see is Ebrima Sillah and Ruth Aschaffenburg from Bead Paradise in Oberlin, Ohio.  

Ruth and Ebrima....I took this picture from the amazing website!!

Ruth wasnt' there this year.....we REALLY missed you Ruth!!  But Cris and I will be coming to visit the store in October!!

I got this truly amazing strand of Nigerian Amazonite from Ebrima this year.  The hard part is deciding if I use them or just hang them in the studio

A few other bits and pieces to round the shopping.  There is so much to see in the vendors you could never see it all.  There is always some treasure hiding in the next booth just waiting for you to discover it. 

Nepalese mala or mantra counters. 

Molds

There great glass bead from The Bead Goes On

Bead and Button Recap

It came fast and left the same way.  Hard to believe it's been two weeks since the show.  Our classes went really well and I hope everyone had a great time and learned some new techniques.  Outside the classroom we were able to catch up with friends.

Setting up and giving a ride to Cris

Cris and YiYi

Eli and I

Great brass and metal clay bracelet by Louise Little

More bracelets made by the class

Cris

Twisted bronze wire bracelet

Backside showing the riveted connection

Women using MAPP gas....gotta love it!!

Everyone at work

Bill Struve and Katie Hanrahan hard at work

Katie hard at work

Photobomb!!

Our students were so creative. A twisted bronze neckwire made in the bracelet class.

Metal clay tube bead bracelets

And then there were mustaches!!

or Frieda Kahlo eyebrows

Needless to say we aren't afraid to look stupid.

Eli and Yiyi are adorable!!

Bronze clay class.  Everyone made such great things.

Great colors and texture.

Pam put together a great necklace

A big thrill to see our earring class on one of the big display columns.

Close up

Remember what I said about looking stupid.  Cris has must have a whole album now of things I put on my head

Panaoramic shot of the show floor and Cris's mangled arm :)