Well, it's official: The Bead & Button Show is here. Actually, the Bead & Button Show is in Milwaukee ...and so am I.
I'm so excited to be here. I arrived today and had just enough time to register for the week's events and check out the entries for this year's Bead Dreams Competition. Just seeing the incredible works of art submitted by these talented artists from around the world inspired me and reminded me just how extraordinary beads can be.
Here is a beaded corset by Laura McCabe. Her iconic use of glass eye cabochons really make this corset stand out as a signature Laura McCabe piece.
This beautiful crystal necklace by Akka Maslennikova is breathtaking. It reminds me of cascading water and the title of the piece--Crystal Waterfall--could not be more appropriate. I love the ombre affect with the blue crystals and her use of crystal cupped chain, a product new to me that I'll be on the lookout to purchase while I'm out here.
This stunning necklace by Agnieszka Jankowska caught my eye because of her ability to take monochromatic to the next level. Even though her color palette consists of only varying shades of purple, every single bead stands out and makes the entire piece a showstopper.
This incredible necklace by Robynne Simons-Sealy is so intriguing for both her color combination choice--I never would have thought to pair royal blue and olivine together but absolutely love it--and her perfect use of symmetry in creating this almost geometric-like statement piece.
This nature inspired necklace by Susan Horine caught my eye in the way she added this cascading pearl fringe to her bead embroidered neck strap. I haven't really experimented with long fringe on my bead embroidered work before and this necklace makes me want to begin adding it to my work ASAP. I also loved how she incorporated the beaded feathers in her work. It gives me some design ideas to play around with while contemplating my BSOEPA's summer challenge theme of birds.
And what Bead Dreams Competition would be complete without a Sherry Serafini entry?! I knew this was her piece as soon as I saw the extraordinary colors brought to life by her incredible use of crystals and seed beads. As if this one piece wasn't mind-blowing on it's own, imagine my surprise--and delightful awe--when I saw two more of her extremely brilliant creations.
Again, loving the pearl fringe of this piece by Sherry Serafini.
Even void of color, this piece by Sherry Serafini is just as visually compelling as her bright colored piece above.
Taking in all this creativity was a great way to start my exciting beading journey here at The Bead & Button Show. I'm so excited to learn new techniques, meet interesting beaders and discover beautiful tools and beads I will probably call my own as I have fun shopping during the last leg of this trip.
To check out my itinerary while I'm here at the show, read my post from a few months ago when I first signed up and registered. I hope to blog about my experience here, but you can also follow along with me on Twitter and Instagram. Don't forget to use the hashtags #BNBShow and #LetItBead.
Tomorrow this image of Keshi--the Bead & Button Show spokesperson--will be me as I'm off to my first class: The Art of Photographing Jewelry.
Let it Bead,
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