Mid-November is always an exciting time for me. For two days, some of the best craftspeople come together to showcase their latest work at the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza. The event isn’t limited to beads alone though. Lots of suppliers supplement the offerings. The organization offers classes as well, but this weekend, I was mostly interested in seeing what this temporary respite of the Picking World had to offer. I spent both days perusing the aisles, talking to the artisans and those who delve deeper than me into the world of vintage German and Japanese glass. Toni Lutman’s new line of glass beads really stood out to me. And I got to visit with my favorite people from Baubles and Beads, right down the street from me in Berkeley.
On Sunday, I volunteered to man The Crucible’s booth. We spoke with hundreds of people. Some of them had heard of The Crucible before, some hadn’t. I love it when someone walks away excited by the possibilities that they can explore at The Crucible. I love it even more if and when I see them again, after having taken a class…the classes are addictive! (I’m taking my next one in early December!)
The BABE show was my second time volunteering to man a Crucible table. Lots of people say, “I always say, I’ll go, but I haven’t gone yet.” My reply to them is always, “don’t let some day become six years!” In 2003, I told my friend Erin that when I moved to Berkeley for grad school, I would be at The Crucible every day. This January, I realized 6 years had lapsed, and I hadn’t even stepped foot in the place. By the looks of this photo, you can see that’s all changed now!
It was great to spend time around so much raw creativity, both people and materials. And I can’t wait to make new pieces with the loot I collected this weekend. It’s going to be so much fun!
