Bead Fest Logo
Bead Fest (www.BeadFest.com)
Bead Fest brings together bead enthusiasts from all over the world for four days of exciting events, featuring the Bazaar, a four-day shopping extravaganza, hands-on jewelry-making classes, author book signings, a gallery hop, juried art exhibition, silent auction, wine, chocolate and poetry soiree, and more.
At the Bead Fest Bazaar, crafters, jewelry-makers, and fashionistas will find everything they need to make or shop for beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry from more than 100 exhibitors, including 25 exhibitors from New Mexico. The Santa Fe Community convention center will look like Aladdin’s cave—everywhere will be beads: ropes of crystal beads, ceramic beads, silver beads from Tibet and India, African beads, vintage Venetian beads, handmade glass beads by local artisans, and beads made from semiprecious stones. The Bazaar promises to appeal to shoppers of all different tastes and budgets, with beads ranging in price from a few cents to thousands of dollars.
In addition, more than 80 how-to classes are being offered onsite by nationally-acclaimed bead and jewelry instructors. People may still register onsite for classes at all experience levels. Techniques that will be taught include: bead crocheting, bead stitching, bead stringing, jewelry business, chain maille, clay, design, kiln fusing, lampworking, metal clay, metalsmithing, wire and beads, wire and metal, wire knitting, wire weaving, and wire wrapping.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS INFORMATION
Who: Bead Fest Santa Fe 2009
What: One of the west coast’s largest consumer bead and jewelry shows, presented by BeadingDaily.com and Beadwork, Stringing, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Step by Step Beads and Jewelry Artist magazines
When: March 12-15, 2009
Bazaar Hours:
Thursday, March 12: 5 - 9 p.m.
Friday, March 13: 10 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 14: 10 - 6 p.m.
Sunday, March 15: 11 - 5 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $10 or 2-day pass $12; 3-day pass $14; 4-day pass $16. Registered Bead Fest Santa Fest students are free all weekend.
Where:
Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St, Santa Fe, NM 87501, www.santafe.org
Hilton Santa Fe, 100 Sandoval Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.hiltonofsantafe.com
Public Contact for Information:
SPECIAL EVENTS
Meet the Instructors Reception
Thursday, March 12, 6-8 p.m.
Open to the general public, this is an opportunity to meet Bead Fest’s world famous instructors and sign up for classes. Instructors also will be selling kits and their hand-crafted jewelry. Admission is free for Bead Fest students with a badge and hand-stamped Bazaar attendees. General reception admission is $5 at the door, which can be applied to the Bazaar entrance fee.
Gallery Hop
Friday, March 13, 6-9 p.m. in the Downtown Plaza Area
Free and open to the general public. Join downtown galleries and merchants for a bead-filled night. Participating merchants will showcase the work of local bead and jewelry artists.
Wine, Chocolate and Poetry Soiree
Saturday, March 14, 8-10:30 p.m.
Enjoy a luxurious post-dinner social with fellow beaders. Sample regional wine and gourmet chocolates and experience the performance poetry of New Mexico poet Judyth Hill. Don’t miss this special event, with surprises and delights to give a true Santa Fe experience! Admission is $20 per person.
Bead Star Silent Auction
Bid on five of the winning designs in Bead Star magazine, the first-ever beading publication comprised entirely of prizewinning designs selected by the general public. In addition, attendees will see the 20 other winning designs featured in Bead Star that will be auctioned simultaneously on eBay throughout the weekend. All proceeds from the auctions will benefit the American Heart Association’
Beadwork VI: The Beaded Book Competition Winners
Beadwork’s biannual juried competition encourages beaders worldwide to stretch their imaginations and create a masterpiece based upon a theme. On display will be the winners of our 2008 competition, Beadwork VI: The Beaded Book.
Author Book Signings & Free Jewelry-Making Demonstrations
Meet popular authors Melinda Barta, Janice Berkebile, Marlene Blessing, Danielle Fox, Jamie Hogsett, Susan Lenart-Kazmer, Denise Peck, Tracy Stanley, Kristal Wick, and more.
Website: www.beadfest.com.
If you can’t make the Santa Fe show, mark your calendar for these upcoming Bead Fests:
* Bead Fest Wire in King of Prussia, Pa., at the Valley Forge Convention Center, May 1-3
* Bead Fest Philadelphia in King of Prussia, Pa., at the Valley Forge Convention Center, August 20-23
* Bead Fest Portland in Portland, Ore., at the Oregon Convention Center, September 24-27
About Bead Fest:
Bead Fest is widely considered the premier event in the bead industry and is sponsored by Interweave, publisher of BeadingDaily.com and Beadwork, Stringing, Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Step by Step Beads, and Jewelry Artist magazines. Bead Fest is now the signature name for all of Interweave’s beading events, bringing together the east coast Bead Fests with the long-established west coast Bead Expo event, which Interweave acquired in 2006 from its founder, Recursos de Santa Fe. Bead Fest’s reputation and success can be attributed to its highly respected workshops, its quality exhibitors, and its committed and impassioned attendees.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
