The  Great Bead Extravaganza is just around the corner. This time, we are paying homage to the biggest bead show in the world - Tucson. The city of Tucson is the global hotspot for gemstones and jewelry at the start of each new year. The city is full of rare beads and massive sales. You can find wholesale shows and bead sales that are open to everybody. If you cannot get to Tucson this year, make sure you join the fun at the Great Bead Extravaganza! There is no reason to miss out on the excitement!

If you love bead shows, the beginning of the new year is a special time. Mid January through February, the city of  Tucson, Arizona, becomes a jewelry makers paradise. If you are lucky enough to attend the events in the city, you will witness more gemstones and jewelry supplies than you ever thought possible. The entire beading industry sends buyers or exhibitors, from all corners of the world. Since not everybody has the means to travel safely during these strange times, the Great Bead Extravaganza is honoring Tucson in February. Join us, live, from the comfort of your favorite chair. You can walk the virtual halls of a big bead show! Read on and learn more about Tucson and see what we have in store for TGBE!

Tucson Great Bead Extravaganza Design Kit

Need beading ideas and inspiration? Join us LIVE for the  Tucson edition of The Great Bead Extravaganza.

Preview night kicks off February 18th.
The show dates are February 19th - 20th

Don't miss Sara and Kristen's jewelry making demo on Saturday, February 19th - 1:30p - 2:30p (PT) / 4:30p - 5:30p (ET). They will be using TGBE kits and bead mixes to make something marvelous. Buy a kit and follow along or make something unique.

Links:

The Great Bead Extravaganza Site
Official Facebook Page
TGBE Instagram
TGBE YouTube

For a month, at the beginning of each new year, Tucson becomes the world's biggest bead store. The entire city turns into a massive gallery of unique gemstones, beads and jewelry making supplies. Bead shows run throughout the city. Vendors sell their merchandise in arenas, casinos, parking lots, and even out of their hotel rooms. There is a bead show on nearly every major street. It is a vast celebration of beads and creativity. It is the perfect time to explore and find a new favorite designer or store.

Celebrate the world's biggest bead show with us!  Tucson Great Bead Extravaganza Design Kit is a collection of beads, charms, findings, beading wire, and supplies that evokes the mystical spirit of the American Southwest. Participate in the fun and excitement of a big bead show from the comfort of your couch. The Great Bead Extravaganza is the world's largest virtual bead show. Feel the rush, learn a new jewelry making technique, and meet new friends with the TGBE show. Join the TGBE social media sites and be in the know. Jump on big sales and giveaways before everybody else. Save money and have a blast!

The Great Bead Extravaganza Tucson 2022 

Save the date!

Make sure you free up your weekend when the  The Great Bead Extravaganza arrives. You do not want to miss out on a minute of the fun. Check in for Preview Night and meet the lovely exhibitors of the show. Enjoy some laughs and see what everybody has in store for the big bead show. Lots of the crew of TGBE have been to Tucson many times and they have insight and stories to share!

Once the show commences, make sure you join us live. There are giveaways and sales that you do not want to miss out on. Also, attending a jewelry demonstration live gives you the opportunity to engage with your favorite designers. Ask them questions or just see what new jewelry they are planning to make. Who knows, you might even make some new friends in chat. This is a fun community full of creative people. You are bound to find a like-minded friend!

Tucson Gem And Jewelry Shows

We have had a bumpy couple of years. Haven't we? In 2020, the  Tucson show was another exuberant celebration of jewelry making and beading fun. Everything changed once the wave of pandemic uncertainty rolled across the globe. Beading shows across the world went on hiatus. Small businesses that relied on the Tucson show to keep them afloat had to reorganize their business and adapt or be faced with shuttering their stores. Show promoters and show hosts that require bead stores and exhibitors to thrive had to put everything on pause. It has been a scary time for business people and their enterprises.

Thankfully, Tucson is back this year. Doors are opening and the market is going strong. If you love small business, like bead stores, make sure you visit them. Spread the word to friends that might enjoy your favorite stores. Shop small businesses for great deal and learn about the industry from people that are passionate and love their jobs. Department stores might carry the items you are looking for, but a department store is staffed with people that do not have the narrow focus you might want. A department store employee might not be able to show you how to crimp or finish a piece of wire wrapped art. But a bead store run by people that love making jewelry can probably teach you a new technique or two. And they might even cut you a great sale if they enjoy the conversation.

Can't visit  Tucson this year? No worries. Take a look at what the city has to offer. And then join us for the Great Bead Extravaganza for a monster bead show that you don't even have to leave the house to attend! If you are among the lucky people that are traveling to Tucson and you would like to check out the Great Bead Extravaganza, good news - you can schedule both and not miss a moment of the fun!

Tucson is a sleepy desert city in southern Arizona. Mornings here begin with a beautiful banded sunrise. Daylight is bright and shines on a splendid tawny desert full of creosote, ocotillo, and regal saguaro sentinels. Dusk is an explosion of red painted sky mixed with deep mystical purples. Tucson itself seems to be a glowing and radiant gemstone. It is an apt place for the world's largest bead show.

Arizona has a deep kinship with the earth. The state prides itself on the Grand Canyon. Turquoise, copper, and petrified wood are deeply ingrained in Southwestern culture and mythos. Geologists and gemologists visit or set up shop here. A small gem and mineral show began in  Tucson in 1955 at the Helen Keeling School. It started with the locals. The next year, the event moved to the County Fair and Rodeo Grounds. It grew and flourished. International communities took notice and Tucson became an annual trek for people all over the globe. Jewelry designers, fashion icons, collectors, and bead stores descend on the city every January and February to look for the newest and greatest beading tools and colorful gemstones.

Modern gemstone shows in  Tucson have absolutely enveloped the city. In 2019, it was estimated that the show brought $120 million dollars into the local economy, alone. What was once staged in halls and convention areas is now in nearly every venue imaginable. You can visit hotels that hold shows and find vendors selling in common areas - but you will also find that a good deal of the hotel rooms have been turned into mini bead stores. The entire city basically becomes one galactic sized bead store. Every square foot of this desert town is claimed by beads, minerals, and gemstones. Most shows are downtown or close to downtown. But the demand for new venues has meant that there are shows taking place thirty minutes outside Tucson proper. But don't worry, there is a pulsing artery of buses and shuttles that make every show in the city convenient and economical.

The Great Bead Extravaganza - The World's Biggest Virtual Bead Show Experience

TGBE began from a simple conversation between friends. At Soft Flex Company, the pandemic taught us that we needed to focus on serving an online community. The dynamic ebb and flow of the economy meant that we could not rely on a show presence to keep our business sound. At the same time, we truly missed the camaraderie and love we felt at bead shows across the country. It was always nice to run a booth space next to people we admired. We began hosting  beading parties and meeting with friends. We thought this was a great way to keep in touch and also share some of our favorite designers and stores with our community. 

Andrew Thornton is one of our best beading buddies. We would often see Andrew working at the same bead shows we attended. He is an incredible artist and jewelry designer. Andrew and his partner own the Allegory Gallery in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. We wanted to see how his business was faring during these unprecedented times. We staged our first beading party with Andrew. After this fun get together, Andrew and Sara started talking about how much they missed life on the bead show circuit. The idea to hold a virtual beading show began.

We never guessed it was going to be successful. How do you stage an event with exhibitors across the country? How do you line up schedules and make sure the videos are orderly and not running into each other? It was a daunting proposition, but we wanted to make it work. We gathered a community of amazing jewelry makers and made it a blockbuster hit!

From  Andrew:

When Sara Oehler and I came up with the idea for The Great Bead Extravaganza, we didn’t know if anyone would attend. It has now grown into a thriving community group of over 10,000 people with multiple events a year!

Meet The Presenters Of The Great Bead Extravaganza

If you have never been to a big and bustling bead show, the Great Bead Extravaganza is the closest thing to a real show that you can get, without actually traveling to one. Forget the airline tickets, forget the hotel rooms, and meals. Keep that money in your pocket and spend it on the things you want to buy!

Meet the individuals that make TGBE a must visit event. This collective is made of people that have attended hundreds of beads shows, taught tons of classes, instructed thousands of smiling faces with easy to follow jewelry demonstrations. These industry experts and crafting artisans know how to run a sale and educate their community. On top of that, they all have a wonderful sense of humor and they want you to be a better beader!

Allegory Gallery, Andrew Thornton & William Jones - AllegoryGallery.com

Saturday, February 19th - 8:30a - 9:30a (PT) / 11:30a - 12:30p (ET)

Allegory Gallery is a creative space that's one part bead store, one part jewelry boutique, one part fine art gallery, and one part gift shop. The aim of Allegory Gallery is to promote artisan craftspeople, inspire the community (both in-store and online) to explore their creativity, and act as a focal point for classes and artistic education.

Website: https://www.allegorygallery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allegorygallery
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/allegorygallerydesignchallenges/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allegorygallery/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/allegorygallery
Twitter: https://twitter.com/allegorygallery
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/allegorygallery/
Podcast: https://www.allegorygallery.com/pages/allegory-gallery-interviews-podcast
Bookclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/inspiredbyreading/

Candie Cooper, Candie Cooper - CandieCooper.com

Saturday, February 19th - 9:45a - 10:45a (PT) / 12:45p - 1:45p (ET)

Hi there, I'm Candie! It all started in 6th grade when I tried my hand at wire wrapping a rock so I could hang it from a ribbon necklace. By 9th grade I was flunking Algebra yet selling my finished jewelry pieces all over town. Short and sweet; I LOVE ACCESSORIES and MAKING THINGS. Sparkle makes me feel good and what I've learned over the years is I'm not alone. Join me (and a bunch of really good people) on my Facebook page for daily lives at 2:30PM EST where I show easy projects, talk about creativity, and connect with you to share stories and celebrate living the DIY dream.

Website: CandieCooper.Etsy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CandieCooperDesigns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CandieCooper/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CandieCooper

Kate Richbourg Jewelry, Kate Richbourg - katerichbourgjewelry.com

Saturday, February 19th - 11:00a - 12:00p (PT) / 2:00p - 3:00p (ET)

Simply put, Kate Richbourg loves jewelry. She loves to teach it. She loves to make it. She loves to wear it. Teaching and designing jewelry since 1992, she teaches at national shows, bead societies, bead shops and in her studio in Redwood City, CA. She is published in a variety of jewelry magazines and is the author of the popular blog “We Can Make That at Home." She has also appeared on several episodes of the DIY and HGTV network shows “DIY Jewelry” and “Craft Lab.” Kate is the author of two bestselling books, Simple Soldering: A Beginner’s Guide to Jewelry Making and Metalsmithing Made Easy. 

Website: www.beadshop.com
Website: www.katerichbourg.com
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/292707518460695
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beadkate/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/katerichbourg

JillMacKay.com, Jill MacKay - JillMacKay.com

Saturday, February 19th - 12:15p - 1:15p (PT) / 3:15p - 4:15p (ET)

Jill MacKay is an accomplished designer, author and consultant. Her name is synonymous with innovation and inspiration. Jill MacKay designs product lines, licensing to manufacturers, chain stores, and television retailers. Jill is perhaps best known for having been the jewelry designer for the Guiding Light, and for her work on Paramount Studio’s Star Trek: TNG. Jill is widely published, creates educational content and teaches and presents internationally.

Website: www.jillmackay.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JillMacKay.pro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jill.mackay/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JillMacKay
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jillMacKay
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillmackay/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jillmackay

Soft Flex Company, Sara Oehler & Kristen Fagan - SoftFlexCompany.com

Saturday, February 19th - 1:30p - 2:30p (PT) / 4:30p - 5:30p (ET)

We are a trusted beading wire manufacturer and jewelry making tool distributor in Sonoma, California. We sell our products to bead stores, hobby and craft chain stores, jewelry manufacturers, wholesale jewelry suppliers, jewelry designers, and hobbyists. Our products cover the spectrum from high end beads and supplies to economical solutions for jewelry making and crafting. We offer a monthly beading kit in limited quantities with a new theme each month. Many of our products are made in the USA, but our product is shipped worldwide.

Website: SoftFlexCompany.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoftFlexWire
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/veryimportantbeader
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softflexcompany/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/softflexcompany
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoftFlexCompany
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/softflexcompany/

SilverSilk, Nealay Patel - SilverSilkOnline.com

Saturday, February 19th - 2:45p - 3:45p (PT) / 5:45p - 6:45p (ET)

In my current role, I am the educator, designer and owner of SilverSilk & More. My work for this brand encompasses everything from production innovation to distribution, education and customer service. I take pride in developing and designing with a very unique jewelry chain and I enjoy connecting directly with my customers through social media.

Website: silversilkonline.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/silversilkandmore
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/silversilk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silversilkandmore/
YouTube: youtube.com/silversilkandmore
Pinterest: pinterest.com/silversilkandmore

Kellie’s Bead Boutique, Kellie Sutton - KelliesBeadBoutique.com

Saturday, February 19th - 4:00p - 5:00p (PT) / 7:00p - 8:00p (ET)

Kellie's Bead Boutique is a full service bead store that opened in December 2009. Owner Kellie Sutton created a successful line of jewelry, Kellie Sutton Jewelry, that was sold to over 80 stores across Canada and worn by women in the US, Japan, Australia, England and more! Kellie has been featured in many local and national newspapers, been seen on local TV and has had her designs shown in several issues of Bead Style magazine. Opening a bead store seemed like a natural progression to Kellie with her love of beads and a yearly pilgrimage to Tucson in February helped fuel that passion. Kellie strives to carry the best quality beads, have a great selection and will hopefully have something that will inspire you to make your own unique jewelry!

Website: www.kelliesbeadboutique.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdW2WjZs98tZKcLOZNu6h-A

The Bead Place, Abbi Berta - BeadPlace.net

Sunday, February 20th - 8:30a - 9:30a (PT) / 11:30a - 12:30p (ET)

The Bead Place is a family owned bead and yarn shop in the St. Louis area. We have over 3,000 square feet of colorful jewelry components and fabulous fiber arts supplies! In addition to our fun and unique products, we also offer fun and unique workshops, both in-store and online! Make sure to check out our easy DIY Kits! Thanks to our wonderful staff, we fill orders daily and ship worldwide!

Website: www.beadplace.net
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheBeadPlace
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/AbbiBertaOfficial
Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheBeadPlace
Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/AbbiBerta
YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/AbbiBerta

Humblebeads, Heather Powers - Humblebeads.com

Sunday, February 20th - 9:45a - 10:45a (PT) / 12:45p - 1:45p (ET)

Beadmaker, author and instructor, Heather Powers spends her days creating beads, inspiring jewelry makers and sharing her favorite bead finds on her website. Join her for a free project each week on Bead Table Wednesday at 1pm EST on the Humblebeads Facebook page.

Website: www.humblebeads.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/humblebeadspage
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humblebeads/

Green Girl Studios, Cynthia Thornton - GreenGirlStudios.com

Sunday, February 20th - 11:00a - 12:00p (PT) / 2:00p - 3:00p (ET)

Green Girl Studios was started in 1997 by Cynthia Thornton, who wanted to make sculpture and found that tiny was the way to go. She grew the company with help of family and friends, going out and selling her pewter beads and pendants at shows across the country. The collection is now over 500 pieces and mostly sold through bead shops, boutiques and as finished jewelry all over the world.

Website: www.greengirlstudios.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greengirlstudios/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greengirlstudios/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cynthiathornton

Star’s Beads and Clasps, Kay Goss - Beadorea.com

Sunday, February 20th - 12:15p - 1:15p (PT) / 3:15p - 4:15p (ET)

Star's Beads & Star's Clasps is a family owned and operated small business for over 25+ years. We have been traveling around the world for decades to find the best components in the world to bring you. We also manufacturers a unique line of precious metal clasps and jewelry components for your creative designs. We are currently transitioning from being a full service brick and mortar to an online jewelry supply shop where you can join us in many ways to get your Star's Special Stash. Check out our daily broadcast of Bead with Me to get free video tutorials. Come have fun at our weekly sip and shop on Fridays @ 8pm, where you will see fantastic selections of artisan glass, high quality stones, pearls, and more!

Website: www.beadorea.com
Website: www.starsclasps.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/starsbeads
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/starsbeadsspecialdestash
Instagram: www.instagram.com/starsbeads
YouTube: www.youtube.com/starsbeads

TierraCast, Tracy Proctor - TierraCast.com

Sunday, February 20th - 1:30p - 2:30p (PT) / 4:30p - 5:30p (ET)

TierraCast makes components jewelry makers love to use. Since 1978, long-standing commitment to consistency of product, delivery and customer support. We’re dedicated to quality & to sharing technique & information with the jewelry making community.

Website: TierraCast.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TierraCast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tierracast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TierraCast
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tierracast/

The Bead Gallery, Jamie Yoshida - TheBeadGallery.com

Sunday, February 20th - 2:45p - 3:45p (PT) / 5:45p - 6:45p (ET)

Beading is inspiring, creative, and connecting. We passionately believe that everyone can benefit from and enjoy this experience! It is our mission to spread our aloha to as many people that we can and to make sure that our presence raises the vibration of this planet, one bead at a time, one person at a time. :) All of us gathering love beads, love creating, love crafting, love wearing jewelry, or love feeling inspired and being part of a community! Let's do this!! Welcome!

Website: thebeadgallery.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebeadgallery.honolulu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeadgallery/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBeadGalleryHonolulu

Christi Friesen, Christi Friesen - ChristiFriesen.com

Sunday, February 20th - 4:00p - 5:00p (PT) / 7:00p - 8:00p (ET)

Christi Friesen is an award-winning artist, specializing in mixed media sculptural and adornment pieces. Her style embraces an abundance of embellishment, often incorporating glass, gems, pearls, beads, fiber, found objects, artifacts, metal and ceramic components. Her work expresses joy and exuberance. Christi’s art has been showcased in numerous books, articles, juried shows, exhibits and juried contests. In addition, Christi has written a dozen how-to books on creating. She also teaches her unique style throughout the world, using humor and positive energy to encourage students to stretch their creativity, technical skills and artistic confidence. Christi says about her work, “I am an artist because I must be. My mind wanders and my fingers follow.”

Website: https://www.christifriesen.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christi.friesen.5/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realchristifriesen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ChristiFriesenArt

Not Just A Bead Show!

Check out the previous Preview Night!

The Great Bead Extravaganza isn't your standard bead show. This event is staged by friends and designers that respect and admire each other. At a massive show, a designer or store might get lost in the mix. You might miss out on a store selection and sales. At this show, we are a united front. We want you to find the sales you want. We want you to join us for the jewelry demos you need to perfect your craft. We want you to win the awesome giveaways featured. Join our family of presenters. Learn something new and have a laugh along the way.

Preview Night is the fun kick off to each TGBE. Sit down with the group and see what they plan to make during their live segments. This night is full of fun and lively conversation. You can truly see the dynamic between the presenters. This is a night for casual conversation and catching up. If you join the show live, make sure you say hello!

Preview Night is fantastic. But that is not all in store. We love to have side activities that are just a bonus for the viewers. Last show, we had the Great Bead Trade.  The Great Bead Trade was an idea to show how each of the store presenters creative thought process works. Each participant added some of their goodies to a kit. Each kit had all of the same supplies. The presenters unboxed their kits and made their own unique piece of jewelry. It was really fun to see how wildly different each creation was when everybody had the same beading supplies. The Great Bead Trade had four videos total. Eight presenters were able to join the fun (not everybody had a free schedule).

The Great Bead Trade was a wonderful bunch of beading parties. Make sure you check out what we have in store for you this time!

Check out Trivia Night - Power Hour of Prizes!

Another surprise was Trivia Night - Power Hour of Prizes! What a fun moment! A trivia night added some extra excitement to an already amazing bead show. Gifts were generously given and fun was had by all in attendance. The show presenters were also challenged to a creative throw down. They were tasked with creating a project using the color blue, a natural material, and the number six. It was a spirited night of excitement for all of us!

You never know what each Great Bead Extravaganza is going to bring. Each new show is loaded with surprises and exciting events on top of the presentations. If you missed out of the previous show specials, make sure you check out our blog and catch up. We have documented each lively event in our blogs. We have links, videos and so much more!

Check out the Great Bead Extravaganza blogs!

Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!

Visit the Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!

Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com