Catching Up

As per usual, time is flying by at warp speeds. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do with you guys!

The BABE show in Oakland was a true delight. Not only did I get to have polymer class artist, Christi Friesen, as a neighbor, but her sister, Stacy, was helping her out in the booth too and we all had a blast! On the other side, Dawn Sklar had her treasure trove of buttons and laces and trimmings that I found impossible to resist. Damage: a big old bag of cool buttons, and one sequined applique that I don’t know what I’ll do with.

Just one row over I discovered a sweet little woman who was very nervous because it was her first ever show with her polymer clay beads. Folks, I was blown away. BLOWN AWAY! Her work is some of the most beautiful polymer class I’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait to show it to you this weekend when I have time to take photos of the gazillion beads I bought from her. She is such an undiscovered artist, and I’m thrilled to have started my own collection. I’m sure it won’t be the end of buying from Eriko, either! And before you ask, no, she doesn’t have a website yet. I’ll have to check with her to see if she’s planning one. She and I are going to collaborate on a limited edition piece for my Kumihimo students.

I also snapped up some of Michele Goldstein’s little pieces – I waited too long to grab some of her way cool lampwork buttons. Her colors are bright and lively and make me happy. I got to meet Rachel Nelson Smith and Barb Switzer for the first time face-to-face. We’re all Facebook friends, but this was a real live meeting which is so much better! Unfortunately, both encounters were super quick. Hopefully we’ll get more time to chat at the next show. A quick visit with Marcia DeCoster was equally too brief. Sigh. I hate it when work interferes with my social time!

In the last hour of the show, I happened to look over and saw a woman wearing a necklace that looked quite familiar! It was the Everyday Venus necklace Mom designed which was published in Bead & Button a few years ago. So I commented on it, and discovered that Kathy had chosen that necklace as her very first ever beadweaving project, and it launched her into a happy beading habit! And get this…because it’s the best part…her last name is Wiseman! It was meant to be, obviously.

And then, poof! Before I knew it, the show was over and it was time to come home again. Since returning I’ve been getting the last of the kits I need to send to Fusion Beads ready, and on Thursday I have the last class of the year here at the Studio. As a matter of fact, I should be finalizing the instructions for that now, and getting the Studio ready for the influx. But catching up with you guys was much more fun!

So I promise – more photos this weekend – stay tuned!