Monday, March 22, 2010

Exciting Day

Caitlyn Hyde

"Wheat" by Leah Fairbanks

Oh well, an exciting day for someone that makes glass beads. This summer at the end of July, the International Society of Glass Beadmakers (ISGB), is having their annual meeting in Rochester, NY, my hometown!

I have been to one of these conventions a couple years ago in Minneapolis, and it was a blast. Picture a room full of glass bead celebrities from all over the world, tools, glass, frit, torches, 02 concentrators, I could go on and on.

I am taking advantage of the fact that this conference is in my hometown by taking a pre and post conference workshops, no hotels, no air fare. Some of the best glass bead makers live in the Pacific Northwest, so it is never an inexpensive expedition to take a workshop. I am taking a class with Leah Fairbanks and Caitlin Hyde. The pictures above show examples of some of their work.

If you are into glass beads, I would highly recommend taking a trip to Rochester, NY this summer, here is a link to The Gathering information. If you are driving distance away the Bead Bazaar is on July 31st. This bead show is open to the public and there are hundreds of glass bead makers selling their beads, I will even have a table. I am terrified to be selling my beads next to these amazing artists.

Let me know if you are coming, I would love to meet some of my blog buddies.

Natalie

And wouldn't you know it, the planets have aligned and the day of the bead bazaar, July 31st, is my daughters 16th birthday, it figures.But you know what I am doing that day, I will be planning a big bash for Natalie to make up for it.


3 comments:

SueBeads said...

LUCKY!

Gardanne said...

Sue you are not too far, you should do a road trip.

Unknown said...

How fun! I met Caitlin last month at the Southern Flames meeting and watched her demo the crow mandala bead (AMAZING!) and the geometric shapes on the back. She is an excellent teacher and such a kind person!

And such timing, I have a post set to go on Thursday with that same CH pic and other lampworkers' beads...was just waiting back on approval from them to use their images.