Question of the Month: Would you ever do an art show where you knew you wouldn’t sell anything?

Recently, I did exactly that!
Our town has been holding an arts fest for a couple of years now, called Art Smart. Local artists, musicians, teachers, and organizations are invited to participate. It’s the only “show” that I do anymore, and even though I sell very little (sometimes nothing) at it, I still like to get out there once a year and hear what people are thinking.
Why do a show that you know doesn’t cater to your target audience? I love my town and …read more

My friend Heather Powers, one of the masterminds behind this exciting event, asked me to remind you that the 2010 Bead Cruise is booking right now.  The cruise sets sail on January 17th, leaving Port Canaveral, Florida for seven nights of non-stop beady fun!

You can find out all the information on booking at the site link above, and you should also visit the Bead Cruise blog, where you’ll learn more about the instructors, the projects, the cruise ship, the sites to come…

Custom Cool Jewelry
by Melinda Barta
Melinda Barta came up with a brilliant idea for this fun book. Instead of spreading her many talents out too thinly, she concentrated on just three areas: pendants, charms, and clasps.
It’s often hard to find exactly that perfect piece to customize your jewelry, and if you can make your own pendants, charms, and clasps, you can add them to readily available lain beads to create a masterpiece that is distinctively yours. Melinda includes over 275 quick and easy ideas for mixed media components as well as 7 full stringing projects. Once you start …read more

The 2009 Metal Clay World Conference will begin with a Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening, July 15th. Hour long lecture/seminars will begin on Thursday morning and run throughout the day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. On Thursday evening there will be an open studio available for those wanting to play around with their new tools and or supplies. The Keynote Speaker will be the internationally renowned metal smith and author, Alan Revere, founder of the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts, in California.
The regular conference runs from July 16 to 18, 2009, while the pre-conference classes take place on July 13 …read more

The Bead & Button Show is almost upon us!   Although most people who are going have already made their plans, perhaps this is the first time you’re hearing about it.  Or maybe you have changed your schedule recently, and you’re wondering if it’s too late.

The answer is NO!  You can still go, but you’ve got to make your plans NOW!!  The show starts on May 31, so visit the link above and see what classes are still available.  If you just want to go for the socializing and shopping, there’s all the info you need at that link too.
Anyone going …read more

If you’re anywhere near New York City, you might want to run, not walk, to Peggy Sturman’s private sale.  You might remember Peggy’s work from feature a couple of month’s ago: check it out if you don’t remember!
M. Sturman Jewellery will be holding an exclusive private sample sale:
Date:  Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Time: 6PM to 9 PM
Location:  In Good Company Workplaces
16 West 23rd Street, 4th Fl.
New York   10010

So bring a friend and join us to get a head start on your summer accessorizing — and get some exceptional deals, too.  From steals ($75) to sensational ($750)!
(sorry, no credit cards – …read more

The Innovative Beads Expo
Shows and classes in the northeast only. Click on Beading Classes
Bead&Button Show
Milwaukee, WI. Click on Classes
Best Bead Shows (Crystal Myths)
Tucson, AZ. Click on Bead Shows. Bead show classes are linked in the right sidebar
To Bead True Blue
Tucson, AZ.   Click on Workshop List
Down the Street Bead Shows
Southeast locations only. Click on Class sign up page
Puget Sound Bead Festival
Puget Sound, WA. Click on Classes
Gem and Jewelry Show (JOGS)
Tucson, AZ. Click on Classes
Intergalactic Bead and Jewelry Shows
Click on Classes
International Gem and Jewelry Shows
Free beginner workshops with Wendy Simpson Conner
Click …read more

More Tucson news!  February 3 through 8, the Manning House will be open for beady business.
At the gorgeous Manning House, Exhibitors offer classes and workshops demonstrating how to create artistic pieces such as the ones they exhibit. These classes and workshops are held throughout the day, every day of the show.  Classes range from beginner to advanced, and cover beading, polymer, metal, glass, and business savvy!  The fabulous John Winter and Linda Gettings are just two of the names you’ll recognize!!

Beaded baseball cap
Some of you will remember that I posted about the Remembering Cindy Etsy shop back in October. Well, I wanted to give you an update, sent to me by Dulcey Heller, a forum friend of Cindy’s.  The last of the beaded mystery panels, dolls, and other objects have been loaded into the shop.  It’s come down to shop now or forever hold your peace 
Cindy died in 2005 of lung cancer before being able to complete the project. Moderators of the Bead Art Forum have since completed assembling the Mystery Image Challenge. These four completed panels …read more

Art Attack Thursday
All of the pictures! It’s an eye-candy feast!! You can see all of the winners here on Bead & Button’s website. Grab and cuppa and settle in…there are 10 pages of gorgeous pieces, 116 items altogether. For instance, how about these beads, the first place winners in that category:

Barely a Bear’s
1st Place Handmade Beads or Buttons
Robert Jennik