Handcrafted jewelry by Cindy Wimmer

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Bead Fest 2012

Bead Fest Spring has quickly come and gone.  But spending a quick Friday and Saturday there was enough to send me home with new friends, new skills, and plenty of new beads!   It felt good to be on the road with my friend Jeanette after a pitstop at the post office (to send off a special project and a package of buttons for my Button Swap partner).  Once we arrived we were happy to be greeted by Interweave author and editor, Denise Peck.

The sales floor was filled with really unique beads – so worth it to see the strands in person.   It seemed to me that there were beads available that you just can’t seem to find online.  I like to buy beads  in person and really see what kind of quality I am purchasing.

Metalliferous is known for its vast range of metal components. Their booth seems to be on everyone’s must-see list. Although I spent the most time looking through cards of antique buttons at the show, this bin of vintage stampings comes in a close second!

Many of us attend bead shows not just for the beads, but to meet up with our friends that are scattered across various states…and oftentimes people that we are meeting for the first time.  For dinner, it was an group of “old” friends – we’ve all met before and share some history.   Pictured below:  Me, Laura Twiford, Sandi Volpe (our roomie), Laura’s daughter Lindsay, Rosanne and Jeanette.

Laura always knows where to go for good ice cream. Here we are enjoying homemade ice cream sandwiches at Zwahlen’s… apparently they make their ice cream fresh several times a day!  It was SO good.

Although we were still up at 1:00 a.m. talking, we were up again at 6:30 a.m.to get ready for an 8:00 class. This shows real commitment to beading, wouldn’t you agree?  It’s been a while since I took a class for fun, and Jeanette and I were lucky to take one with an artist whose work transcends a wide range of mediums. Gail Crosman More is highly-regarded for her lampwork, and so much more.  For the brass mesh bangle workshop, we learned a bit about one of her other areas of expertise – bead work.  I love the bangle that we made – and went home with a new knotting technique under my belt. 🙂  And speaking of instructors, I was happy to stop in and say hi to Barbara Lewis and her son while she taught an enameling workshop.  She can really pack the house with her love of torch-fired enamels, and it was neat to see a new group of enamel enthusiasts, having taken this fun class myself a few years ago.

The day ended on Saturday with an art bead swap with a bunch of online jewelry friends. This was the first time for me to meet all but one of these ladies for the first time in person.  Diana Ptaszynski organized the swap and had cool buttons and stickers for our group, the East Coast Bead Mafia.

 Top Row:  Erin Siegel, Lorelei Hill Eurto, Jan Onipenco, Nancy Schindler, Me,  Diana Ptasynski, and Vanessa Gilkes.

 Bottom Row:  Melinda Orr,  Staci Klinger Smith, Linda Landig, and Linda Hanes

My bead swap partner was Lorelei, and boy did she spoil me!  I love the colors she chose, and everything from the enamel work to the lampwork!

To cap off the day, Erin Siegel offered a mini workshop featuring a couple of earring designs that she’ll be teaching at the August Bead Fest.  Erin was so prepared, with tools, beads, and great handouts for all of us.  Learning techniques with Irish waxed linen was really fun…and I think I am a new fan.

After all of these months, it was so great to see Erin and Lorelei’s new book in person for the first time!  Erin, Lorelei, and all of the contrubutors have a lot to celebrate….their new book is beautiful!

 Erin and Staci

One of the pairs of Irish linen earrings taught by Erin –

I have enough memories tucked away to last me til the next show.  Actually, if I could see many of you again without waiting a year, that would be GREAT.

– Cindy

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