Reckless Beading: BEAD AND BUTTON 2014

I had such a great time at Bead and Button that I didn't take many photos, but I have cobbled together the story of my stay in Milwaukee with some of my photos and photos taken by friends.

MONDAY, JUNE 2

I flew into Milwaukee on Monday in order to take Cindy Holsclaw's Sakura Bouquet necklace that night. I was happy to stretch my legs by taking a walk along the Riverwalk.

Polka dot rocks that I discovered on my walk

One of the plaques set in the walk

A view of Bead Central, otherwise known as the Hyatt Hotel

The start of the Sakura Bouquet necklace

TUESDAY, JUNE 3

Tuesday was a full class with 1 long class and 1 short session. The long class was Making an Impression with Marti Brown, where I learned a lot about coloring niobium metal. I have been curious about niobium and I was not disappointed with the amount of knowledge and experience that I gained in class.

Some of my textured, impressed, formed and colored niobium pieces. The circles in the middle are going to be earrings as soon as I practice riveting.

Then it was on to the Frida Flower Brooch with Stepahnie Sersich. This was a Miriam Haskell style of pin incorporating one of Stephanie's own lamp work bead.

My finished brooch.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4

I had 2 short classes on this day but the first one was at 8:00 am, not my best time of day. The early class was Torch Enameling: Back to Basics with Steven James. Since Steven is an elementary school teacher, it was just the right level for me.

My finished pieces; the round ones are about the size of a penny.

I had a chance to hang around with friends at the meeting place in the Hyatt Hotel.

From left: Patty McCourt, Jayashree Paramesh, and the incomparable Suzanne Golding closing her light.

It was on to the Rivet Me This class with Gwen Youngblood. I learned to do wire rivets in this class--I would have learned more if I wasn't so tired, but I got the basics.

The start of a pair of earrings. Gwen has developed a new system that takes a lot of the guesswork out of wire rivets.

After a quick dinner, it was time for Meet the Teachers. I didn't buy a thing but had a lot of fun visiting with old friends.

Here I am with Teri Kirby Lawson, a new friend.

Meeting Sharon Wagner on my wanderings.

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

I had a leisurely breakfast with friends and then tagged along to the TierraCast suite to see what new things they are offering. We had a lot of fun making a pair of earring with leather flowers and rivets using their new riveting system.

My new earring courtesy of TierraCast

Then it was time for the Twisted Wire Floral Necklace class with Melody MacDuffee.

My almost-finished necklace.

The shopping preview started at 4:00 pm, so I was busy looking, shopping, and visiting with friends. When the show ended at 9:00, I went on a dinner adventure with friends to the The Comet Café, where the theme is bacon. We shared cheese fries topped with bacon and I had bacon-wrapped meatloaf with bacon and chive mashed potatoes...oh yes, there were a few asparagus spears on the plate.

FRIDAY, JUNE 6

Since my class had been cancelled, this turned into a free day. I went back to the shopping floor to do some serious shopping. As I was wandering around, I ran across 2 of my favorite people: Kelly Stevenson and Cindy Holsclaw.

Kelly (left) and Cindy. Kelly is fondling Cindy's balls (beaded, of course)

My friend Nikia Angel was having tinsel added to her hair by Taija of Hair Tinsel by Taija and I decided that it was just the thing to make my hair less boring.

Nikia getting sparkles in her hair

Me too!

Here are some of the entries in York Beads Bead For a Man Contest waiting for votes. My Manny the Snake is in the center back.

After the hair fun, I shopped for some new projects: seed beads, ceramic beads from Golem Design Studio, wire, Crystalettes, o beads, cup chain, enamel frogs from Gardanne, a boulder opal pendant, and a cow bell key chain for my mom.

Part of my purchases

I couldn't pass up this lovely hand-painted, silk scarf

My big purchase was Gwen Youngblood's system for wire rivets, a number of wire-working pliers, and a pair of metal shears. I have gotten to the point in metal work where I need some more decent tools to upgrade my efforts.

Friday night was reserved for drinks with a fabulous group of beaders. After a few drinks, we turned the gathering into a henna party.

Here is Jayashree decorating my hand with henna while Betty Stephan looks on.

Liz Thompson (top hand) and I show off the drying designs.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7

The day started bright and early with the Tzarina Pendant bead embroidery class taught by Liz Thompson (aka the Bad Liz). I have wanted to take a class from Liz for a while because her style of bead embroidery is different than mine. I was not disappointed with the class. First, though, we had to admire our completed henna designs.

Top: the hand of Liz, bottom: my hand

The partially-completed Tzarina Pendant

I took advantage of the lunch break to find Niki Berelowitz Best, Merle Berelowitz's daughter, who had a booth on the show floor to introduce attendees to her mother's beadwork. Merle, a talented beadwork artist who specialized in jewelry made with acrylic flowers, died last year. You can see more of Merle's work at Ms. Maddie's Beads.