Bead & Button 2009 New Product is LIVE!

We went, we saw, we shopped...

Your turn...Our picks are up in the Shoppe and ready to purchase!
Many are one-of-a-kind, so when they are gone, they are gone! Check 'em out here...

Bead & Button 2009...Just a couple more things!

Well, all in all it went great!
We were all set up and ready to go.

Booth was busy.


Our Preview night on Thursday was a blast. Thanks so much to our customers who were patient and seemed to be having a good time, too.


...and liked the brief sit-down moment at the check out!

Not to say that there weren't highjinks...

Our tool rep, Mike, sporting a Beaducation apron! (hottt!) Great look on you, Mike!


That is NOT Kate cracking a beer after class. At Beaducation, we are the model of decorum and would NEVER, EVER show such an example.
(Okay, unless it was beer o'clock and someone had been teaching for 12 hours!!!)

The whole week was great. Dinners with friends were enjoyed. Pratfalls ensued (thanks, Mindy). Songs were sung (karaoke in Milwaukee may just be the best. Mustang Sally, anyone?). Oh, and tools and supplies flew out of the booth (sorry, we are out of screw-down hole punches, but can I interest you in a foldy ruler?).

We made it back...

Yes, you do see 4 suitcases and two carry on's each...don't ask!

See you next year, Milwaukee!

New UPPER and lower case stamp sets. Be the first on your bench block.

We've got new letter sets.The top line is the Economy Basic Lowercase Set 1/8." The font is based on the popular "Comic Sans" font.

In the middle is the Economy Fancy Lowercase Set 1/8". The font is a script-type and varies in size from letter to letter.

On the bottom is the Economy Fancy Uppercase Set 1/8". Again, the font is a script-type and varies in size from letter to letter.

These sets are made in China and as you can see, really vary in size from letter to letter. We like to think that the size variation is a great way to add whimsy to your design. A great design idea would be to mix these letters up with your Kismet and Gothic sets for a truly whimsical design.

They are tool-hardened steel, made to last a long time. As Lisa says in the product description try these stamps out first on copper to perfect your stamping technique.

These will make a great addition to your stamps sets. We hope you'll love them! (we sure do!)

Bead & Button 2009...Hot for Teacher! (or is that a hotflash?)

After we packed and left the booth for the night, we dashed upstairs and put on cute dresses. We dashed downstairs and set up our teacher tables. We dashed around taking video of teachers in the room before the student invasion. (More on that video later. It does not contain singing, pratfalls or other hilarious highjinks. Really).

Meet the Teachers is a phenomenon that began at Bead and Button years ago...(how many years, you ask? I can't remember, let's just say a lot).

The purpose of this much-anticipated event is to let the students meet the variety of teachers that come from around the country and in turn the teachers can meet the students before class, chat it up and have an opportunity to sell their kits and promote their classes.

It is also an opportunity to drink wine.


and an opportunity to mug it up for the camera...

(Kris, Lisa and Lisa's Awesome Kits!)

Students come from all over the country to take classes. It is always fun to meet new students and catch up with former ones.

We also got to visit with our fellow instructors...a shout out to Barb Switzer and Liz Jones.

Fun was had by all...

Kate, Mindy, Kriss and Lisa, having fun.

Thanks students, it was great to see you all!

Bead & Button 2009...We sent how many boxes??? and now we have to set up a tripple booth???

It was a Wednesday that started like any other day... except that we were at the largest bead show in the U.S. and 38 boxes of our merchandise was somewhere...waiting for us (okay, 13 of those boxes had already been delivered to Lisa's classroom, but STILL...)

Lisa had a class (two classes), Liz Jones had a class, we were expecting Kriss and Mindy to fly in from San Francisco, Colin just drove 12 hours, Lisa and I been up since 7 AM (which is 5 AM our regular time) AND we had gotten to bed late after having a lovely dinner with one of our suppliers (that might have involved wine; we will neither confirm or deny).

No problem. We can handle it. We are BEADUCATION!!!

This is how it played out:

Lisa got to her class in plenty of time, set up, handed out kits and rocked the house with her Stamped Ladder Bracelet and Tornado Earrings classes.

Colin and Liz went to check in and grab their teaching materials while I attended to some office business.

I was to meet Colin at noon for set-up, so I high-tailed it up to the showroom floor at about 12:30...(so much for punctuality, but I'm on bead-time) and was greeted by the huge banner that welcomed up all to Bead & Button 2009.

I began to feel overwhelmed. It was a darn big sign.

Then I saw the booth...the big, empty booth...


...and the boxes, on TWO pallets. (At least they'd arrived, whew!)

Now, to unpack and make everything look GREAT! At least our boxes weren't as big and daunting as the ones from Swarovski around the corner.


We took up the challenge...

Unearthed Box number 13 that contained the box cutters and got to work.

There really is nothing like setting up for a show. Vendors pushing HUGE carts of merchandise down the aisle, having it tip precariously from side to side. The guys who work for the show delivering tables, driving REALLY BIG forklifts with 3" of clearance on either side. Dodging packing materials and boxes. Cursing because did I really forget to note down which box I had packed with the tape that we needed to fasten down the table covers? (Colin found it in the last box. Figures. She is great at finding what I am great at loosing.)

Break at 6:30...Breathe a sigh a relief when Mindy and Kriss arrive. Lisa and Liz taught great classes and now on to "Meet the Teachers"....We will catch you up with those shenanigans next time.

In which Lisa and Kate teach at Bead & Button...

...picture it. Milwaukee 2009. Lisa Niven Kelly. Kate Richbourg. Stamping, Dapping & Riveting.

Well, you don't actually have to picture it...'cause we took some photos to share. This is the first class that Lisa & I have team taught and boy, was it a blast. The students all had a good time and made some really lovely things.

One of our students drilling (she brought the drill, not in a carry-on).

A lovely stamped and riveted piece.

Tube riveting in action!

Kate, either teaching or surfing...

Lisa...directing the stamping process (did you know that she was a really good stamper?)

And of course a messy worktable means a lot of fun and creativity! Thanks ladies, it was a pleasure to have you in class.P.S. A special "shout out" Lampwork Beadmaker Bernadette Fuentes for making our lovely lampworked beads for our class. Check out her beads here.

Touchdown! Bead & Button 2009

The plane has landed and yes, as Lisa said...no drills! I picked them up from the US Airways baggage office...(thanks Pauline at the US Airways check in desk!)

We will catch you up with the shenanigans that went on in Milwaukee... stay tuned for more posts this week.

We saw old friends...met new ones and had the best time ever!

...and I don't snore...okay, maybe a little.

Packed up and headed home....

Ok, I know we promised you live blogging from the show but really, we were SWAMPED. We did get some really funny pictures and video and we will try to post some of each soon. All in all, the show was a great success. It so funny when ladies walk up to me and say they recognize me from their couch.....because they have watched so many of my classes from there! I love it.
Thanks to all who stopped by (especially those of you who bought the heavy stuff!). I have to turn in and catch a 6:00 flight home tomorrow. Kate is snoring already but she will catch you up on her take of the show soon. And yes, I have already checked her carry on...no drills :)
LNK

WOOOOWEEEE, we are having a blast

Here we are eating breakfast at the Hilton (picture is from Mindy's iPhone....hows that for live blogging) getting ready to open the booth for day 2 of the Bead&Button Show. The show room floor opened last night and our booth was packed. It was so great to see so many customers face to face. 6 of us were workin' workin' workin', checking people out, answering questions and doin' what we do best....selling tools!
Kate is teaching her Spinner Ring this morning and her Sculptural Wire pendant this evening.
I have already taught 4 classes and will teach my last one on Sat.
More to come....must drink more coffee :)
Lisa

In which Kate tries to get a power drill on the plane to Miliwaukee.

So we all know that flying can be a hassle.

We prepare, we pack light, we put all of our liquids in 3 oz bottles, we wear slip-on shoes to be quick at the security line, we do not pack power drills and drill bits in our carry-on luggage.

...that is unless you think "drill=harmless tool NEEDED for jewelry class" rather than "drill=possibly could be used as a deadly weapon in flight."

Yes, that was me in line at security on Monday at 5 AMready to go to Bead & Button (yes, 5 AM) thinking I had everything under control...
This is how it went...
"Why yes, that is my bag. Certainly you may search it. Yes, yes full of jewelry tools, ha, ha, ha. I teach classes in jewelry-making...oh, Milwaukee...what? Oh, you'd be surprised, lots of students. Beads...those are beads. The drill? Well, for holes you know, drilling...in metal."

That's where things went a little south. Obviously "drilling" and "metal" in an airport, when you are about to get on an airplane just doesn't work for the TSA.

The agent told me in no uncertain terms that this (these, I had TWO) drill could not get on that plane with me. "You're gonna have to check this," she said to me. "But I need these for a class...I have ladies who NEED these drills!" I replied in desperation (all the while thinking, "Oh boy, Lisa iss going to KILL me...she sailed right through security, drill-free).

The TSA agent was obviously not a jewelry maker...For one moment I thought about grabbing the drills and making a run for it. But then I realized, not only would the drills not make to to Milwuakee, I probably wouldn't either...and the headline "Beader Detained Due to Airport Drill Shutdown" would be pretty embarrasing.

So...in defeat, I let the TSA agent walk me to the ticket agent who thankfully understood that sometimes people, well...you know...forget that a drill is a no-no. She boxed the drills and is holding them until we return on Monday.

I made it back through security in record time, sailed right on the plane with Lisa, (who, by the way, did not tease me as much as she should have for trying to CARRY ON the drills) and had a Bloody Mary.

The drill-less class you ask? How did those ladies get the holes in their meal and beads??? Thank goodness instructor Dallas Lovett was smart enought to pack his drill in his checked baggage. We owe you one, Dallas!