Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Monday, June 13, 2016
The day after - Monday.
No sleeping in for us - J-Me has to be at the airport by 9am to fly home.
Guy, on the other hand, can go back to the room and relax. No work until Tuesday afternoon when he sets up his traveling trunk show at Ayla's Originals in Evanston, Illinois (just north of Chicago). 2 day show with Ayla and gang at her shop.(first time - excited).
Then drive to St.Louis for a 2 day trunk show with Susan at Lady Bug Beads. Going to be a great show there.(also a first time show - super excited).
Next a 2 day trunk show at Bead Boutique in Kansas City with Andrea and Jenna. Done that show many times - still excited to be there.
Then, a one day show at Papio Creek in Omaha, Nebraska with Cathy and Martin and the whole Omaha Bead Society invited. Definately excited about that show.
After that, driving, driving, driving to get home -to get ready for Portland Antique Show and the Oregon coast! Oh yeah!
Guy, on the other hand, can go back to the room and relax. No work until Tuesday afternoon when he sets up his traveling trunk show at Ayla's Originals in Evanston, Illinois (just north of Chicago). 2 day show with Ayla and gang at her shop.(first time - excited).
Then drive to St.Louis for a 2 day trunk show with Susan at Lady Bug Beads. Going to be a great show there.(also a first time show - super excited).
Next a 2 day trunk show at Bead Boutique in Kansas City with Andrea and Jenna. Done that show many times - still excited to be there.
Then, a one day show at Papio Creek in Omaha, Nebraska with Cathy and Martin and the whole Omaha Bead Society invited. Definately excited about that show.
After that, driving, driving, driving to get home -to get ready for Portland Antique Show and the Oregon coast! Oh yeah!
Last day of the show - Sunday.
June 12 - Sunday, and the last day of the 2016 Bead and Button show.
J-ME went to go look at the wonderful beadwork displays…...
Very busy - maybe our best day of the show, but won't know for sure until we count the money!
Breaking down our booth……...
And here are other booths breaking down……..
Everyone was running around making last minute purchases - or for some people who only just arrived at the show, running around trying to see all their suppliers and make their purchases.
Some people stumbled into the show by accident or curiosity and were walking around dazed and confused - what the hell is a bead?
Well, a bead is anything with a hole in it that can be used for adornment.
Anyway, by 4pm all the vendors were madly breaking down their booths and loading out. The union workers were tearing down the pipes and drapes, carrying off the tables and driving their forklifts everywhere, getting in our way. Chaos!
The weather yesterday was 91 F and humid - and today - 63 F and cool. There is a god, and she was smiling on us.
Last minute goodbyes and well wishes for safe travels by vendors to old friends and new friends, and the hall rapidly emptying, like the show never even happened.
J-ME went to go look at the wonderful beadwork displays…...
and then the buttons on display……
Very busy - maybe our best day of the show, but won't know for sure until we count the money!
Breaking down our booth……...
And here are other booths breaking down……..
Everyone was running around making last minute purchases - or for some people who only just arrived at the show, running around trying to see all their suppliers and make their purchases.
Some people stumbled into the show by accident or curiosity and were walking around dazed and confused - what the hell is a bead?
Well, a bead is anything with a hole in it that can be used for adornment.
Anyway, by 4pm all the vendors were madly breaking down their booths and loading out. The union workers were tearing down the pipes and drapes, carrying off the tables and driving their forklifts everywhere, getting in our way. Chaos!
The weather yesterday was 91 F and humid - and today - 63 F and cool. There is a god, and she was smiling on us.
Last minute goodbyes and well wishes for safe travels by vendors to old friends and new friends, and the hall rapidly emptying, like the show never even happened.
Saturday, June 11, 2016
Day 7- preview night
4pm - and the show opens with a large crowd eager to buy beads. They have been chomping at the bit, taking classes, buying kits from their teachers, then the Wednesday night midnight madness sale from 10pm til 11:30, and finally now…. the 4pm to 8pm preview sale! Lots of sales, lots of excitement … and before we all knew it, it was 8pm and closing time.
Thank goodness, because we were exhausted!
Drove home to our hotel, and dinner, then sleep. Morning will come quickly.
Thank goodness, because we were exhausted!
Drove home to our hotel, and dinner, then sleep. Morning will come quickly.
Day 8 and 9 - Friday and Saturday.
Crowds of eager customers came shopping. Some had lists, some just came to see what there was to buy, others came to carry the bags and provide funds.
Some came first to scout out the offerings and then circle back to buy what they had decided was the best beads. Others scooped up stuff immediately, knowing they would never come back due to lack of time or because if they didn't buy it immediately it would be gone by the time they came back. Every one has a theory on the best way to shop a bead show.
It was nice to see old customers who come every year and only see us once a year. Also nice were the group of Japanese customers who saw us 6 years ago and came back to see us first then shop the rest of the show.
It was nice to have new bead stores come and buy from us to stock their new stores - several new shops around the country and up in Canada. Yay! We need more bead stores! And there they are.
We sold lots of beads and buttons, and buffalo teeth!
Finally, Thai food for dinner with another vendor to trade stories and share secrets.
Some came first to scout out the offerings and then circle back to buy what they had decided was the best beads. Others scooped up stuff immediately, knowing they would never come back due to lack of time or because if they didn't buy it immediately it would be gone by the time they came back. Every one has a theory on the best way to shop a bead show.
It was nice to have new bead stores come and buy from us to stock their new stores - several new shops around the country and up in Canada. Yay! We need more bead stores! And there they are.
We sold lots of beads and buttons, and buffalo teeth!
Finally, Thai food for dinner with another vendor to trade stories and share secrets.
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