Check out Sara’s latest Live Design Challenge. The mystery box she opens is huge! This time, she is opening a box full of beads and jewelry supplies from a bead show and not just a single bead store. The Twin Cities Bead Bazaar runs October 27-28, 2018. The show is sponsored by GoodyBeads and is taking place in Hopkins, Minnesota, at the Hopkins Eisenhower Community Center. If you live in the area, you should plan to make a trip and support the show.
If you are not familiar with Live Design Challenges, they are unboxing videos. Sara opens a mystery gift box from a bead store and designs a piece of jewelry with what was in the box. The challenges are live on Facebook. You get to watch her plot out and finish a piece of jewelry. They are a lot of fun. Sometimes she creates a beautiful piece of jewelry, other times, she makes something she is not as happy about. The challenges are fun to watch if you are a beginner, you will learn a thing or two. The challenges are also fun for the pros; they get to see new beads and see what Sara makes.
Bead shows are fantastic. If you have never been to one, a bead show is a large collection of vendors and stores from around the country or around the world. You can find pre-made jewelry, lampwork artists, and jewelry making supplies. You can also find every gemstone and bead imaginable. Bead shows are facing a downturn. Attendance is down and they are getting to be a rare sight. Make sure you visit one if you have the means and desire.
Check out the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar site. Check out their Facebook site. You can see the vendors, the classes, and all of the information about the show.
This Live Design Challenge will give you an idea of the items vendors bring to a bead show. GoodyBeads, the sponsor of the show, has put together a fantastic box full of mixed vendors’ items. The contents are just a small sampling of what you will find at the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar. If you do not live near the area – you will still have the chance to see some vendors’ items that you may have never come across.
Sara reads a list of the vendors in the box: Dakota Stones, Julie Nordine - Credit River Art Glass, Relic Charm and finally GoodyBeads.
Sara opens the box. There is a GoodyBeads postcard that welcomes her. GoodyBeads says that this two day show will have an array of jewelry artists, bead vendors, jewelry making classes, and product demonstrations. The postcard thanks Soft Flex Company for the door prizes donated to the upcoming show.
Sara pulls the contents out of the box. There are individually wrapped items. She opens them up one at a time.
The first package is from Taylor’s Falls Bead Store. The package is a set of beach stones found at Lake Superior. Lake Superior tumbled and perfected these wonderful beads. They are one of a kind. They are drilled and finished with a delicate wire wrap by the folks at Taylor’s Falls Bead Store. Visit them on Facebook and on the web.
The second package is from Julie Nordine - Credit River Art Glass. Julie sent Sara a beautiful copper leaf and a glass acorn pendant. Julie has been making glass beads since 2007. Julie hand crafts her lampwork beads, one bead at a time, in her studio in Minnesota. You can find Julie at her website or at the Twin Cities Bead Bazaar.
The third package is from Relic Charms. They are a handmade artisan, “Combining new and old pieces to create a one-of-a-kind look”. They sent a package of pendants. There sent two coin pendants, a Fleur-de-lis, a star, and a patinaed Roman pendant. Find Relic Charms on their website or in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The fourth package is from Dakota Stones. Dakota Stones sent four strands of beads: a Rose Gold Plated Hematite, Dumortierite, Red Lightning Agate, and White African Opal. Dakota Stones will be featuring new high end strands at the show with exclusive discounts. You can find Dakota Stones on their website.
The final package is from sponsor GoodyBeads. GoodyBeads sent gold colored beads, some silver saucers, tassels, and copper beads. Goody Beads also sent a mixed bag of Swarovski Crystals in a little treasure box. You can support GoodyBeads by visiting their website and especially by attending their shows.
Check out the video. Watch Sara make some wonderful jewelry. If you have the means to attend a bead show, please do so. Bead shows are a dying breed. They are such a fantastic collective of talent and finds, it is a shame to watch the attendance shrink. There are classes to attend and booths to visit. There are discounts at shows that you will never find online. Plus, you get to meet the teachers and designers and jewelry makers that move this industry. It is a wonderful chance to meet the people that make beading and jewelry design special.
Enjoy the video. Catch us on Facebook and YouTube. If you have any questions, you can email us or message us in Facebook.
Join our Facebook group – VIB. VIB is a community of jewelry designers and jewelry lovers. There is a lot of inspiration and a bunch of fun pictures posted daily.
Watch Sara in action at the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza In Oakland, California:
Visit the Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!
Blog contributor Thomas Soles is the Trade Show Coordinator for Soft Flex Company. His favorite stones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Tom Selleck's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com