Bead Expo HighlightsThere were more than 160 vendors at the

Bead Expo Highlights

There were more than 160 vendors at the show with just about anything a beader could desire. I spent the weekend demonstrating projects and techniques from Hip to Bead, signing books and shopping! It was fun to meet readers and beaders. I also enjoyed seeing The Beaded Figure exhibit in person. These beaded sculptures are just amazing. Check out the The Beaded Figure gallery at www.beadworkmagazine.com to see them for yourself.

Here are some other things that caught my eye at Bead Expo:
Big (25mm) disk-shaped gemstone beads
Opaque resin beads that look like chunky gemstones
Bead frames: geometric shapes that are open in the center
Shell beads: tons of different styles
Lots of rhodocrosite and rhodonite beads (pink gemstone)

katie@katiehacker.com (Katie Hacker)