Attendees
Bead Elements and Design Show is organized with attendees in mind, the showrooms are conveniently accessible from onsite parking and displays are well-designed and colorful. Entering through the front door, surrounded by beads, jewelry, gold, silver, gemstones, art clothing, textiles, collectibles, and antiquities presented by over three-hundred artisan booths, galleries, and merchant displays –the overwhelming first impression is visual energy.
Strolling the aisles, the details emerge –ceramic buttons, handmade gemstone beads, felted hats, sacred textiles, Miyuki seed beads, champlevé enamel, handpainted silk jackets –and it becomes clear, the most beautiful colors, textures, and patterns are the impressions of artisanship that represent the lasting art of designers, beadmakers, jewelers, gemcutters, glass artists, metalworkers, hat makers, weavers, spinners, and fiber artists.
If you are a retailer or designer, art patron, boutique owner, professional bead buyer, or someone who just loves beads, art clothing, and jewelry, every aisle has something for you –from handcrafted beads to one-of-a-kind art clothing and accessories –products that transcend the ordinary.
Attendees come from across the US and from twenty-two countries to meet with beadmakers and designers, make new business contacts, place orders, and attend workshops and classes. We attribute this kind of enthusiasm to the show’s ability to continue to develop and refine its exhibitor list, which sets it apart from other events.
We get emails from attendees: “It feels more like the 1920s in Paris…Art Nouveau jewelry, Bohemian crystals, felted hats, …”; “I am still reeling from the exhibitors and selection of resources…”; “I love the distinctive quality of the merchandise and your devotion to artful things…”, “The feeling is of discovering something by intuition or inspiration, which must be experienced personally…”; “You have a gift for finding new artists…”.
During the three-day event, attendees may visit numerous bead displays from artistic to antique; beads made from crystal, glass, gemstone, fabric, clay, shell, wood; kiln-fired, torch and lampworked glass beads; gold, silver, and brass beads; tribal, ethnographic, ancient, and trade beads.
Another part of the show is arranged into a studio-like setting where attendees are invited to roll up their sleeves and explore their creative side. There are workshops, classes, do-it-yourself projects and design performances offered in hand knotting, freeform spinning, polymer clay, art clay silver, bead making, soldering, jewelry design, mixed media, wirework, bracelets, Kumihimo, glass pendants, and metalwork.
Bead Elements and Design Show is well-organized and balanced –instead of the uniformity and replication found in machine-made goods, there is a remarkable diversity of handmade products. The bead selection alone makes it the one event that bead lovers simply can't afford to miss. Add to that, the high quality and good value, beautiful textures, colors, and patterns of artisanship –and you have a lasting impression that brings attendees back time after time.
