It is fun imagining the piece I will create using these tiny pine cones. These were referenced in yesterdays entry, Gary Wilson carved these little jasper, slag, gold ore, and opal stones, and put a hole in them.

Today I began to use the String-Me-Along bag and workspace that Bert and Dana gifted me with at the Beadfest. Also in picture is that 8 LED portable light I mentioned in yesterday's entry. So scroll down for links and info on these.

My bead show experience is always made complete by a visit to Gary Wilson's booth. He and his wife Kathy remain as cheerful and gracious throughout the show as they appear in this photo, explaining to each customer the origins of each stone. My earliest knowledge of Gary was in an article I read some years ago in Lapidary Journal (or was it Ornament?). I was charmed to read how his childhood fascination with rocks led him to become the rock whisperer we know and love today.
For a few years I have been collecting his solid stone rings. It is a way of carrying a bit of Mother Earth with you throughout each day; a comfort, a thing of beauty and a pleasure to hold and rub and wear.
Even though I am not teaching the Marcasite Chain with a Silver- Lined Bronwen Heilman focal bead at this time, I had to drop by and see what she has been up to.


The first time I met Sewdish PMC artist and teacher Gaby Friberg was about 5 years ago in Orlando at a bead show. She took a couple of my beading workshops there. Over the years I am delighted at the frequency that we meet again. Sometimes I find that she has registered to bead with me again and other times we run into each other in the exhibit hall at bead shows. Yesterday, as often is the case, I spotted her husband Rolf first, to find Gaby nearby.

Marlene Blessing and I met to discuss our taping of Beads, Baubles and Jewels for PBS television. We decided we'd talk about felt jewelry and I would give a brief explanation of making hand felted complex cane felt beads. It was so much fun. She is charming and professional and made it a breeze. This is the third one I've done for this producer, so we can say I have been broken in...I know the drill. When I know particulars about showtime, I'll share it here. (Yes, she IS familiar. Marlene was editor-in-chief of BEADWORK magazine and you saw her photo and read her welcome inside each issue. Recently she was promoted to editorial director and Melinda Barta has taken over as editor.

I'll share some of my finds at the show another time. Goodnight for now.

Unable to blog while at Bead & Button Show, here is the week in review. While enjoying the Bead Dreams exhibit along come Suzanne Golden and Merle Berelowitz. Behind and to the left of Suzanne you can see half of her black and white bangle in the showcase behind her.

Lisa Garoon is one of the nearly 3 dozen beaders who have taken workshops with me in the past and honored me by taking eyt another again this year. She is shown wearing the elegant necklace she will enter in next year's Bead Dreams competition. We ran into each other at Gary Wilson's booth. She was shopping for more more of his gorgeous cabochons and I was picking out another ring or two to add to my collection of Gary's incredible lapidary work.

We find inspiration and imagery wherever we look. Here is gift wrap with interesting symbols. One right are similar graphics etched into windows of the sky bridge between the hotel and convention center.

Jay tells me that it is a rate treat to see baby seagulls and pigeons. How lucky am I to have had a few of this adorable feather balls born on the roof outside my window of the hotel. Very cute. Very loud.




These felt bracelets were made in one of the three offerings of this class I taught at B&B. The finished piece is one connected through a beaded bead and slipped on as a bangle.

Ahhh, back to the exhibits. Check out the ottoman! It is loomworked and has a wide and long rope attached to it to boot!

More of the Bead Dreams exhibit.

Tomorrow's blog entry will share the Japanese exhibit and Convergence.