Thursday, June 11, 2009

Total Exhaustion

I'm home. I arrived at 12:30 yesterday morning. Then I got up at 9:00 and headed to Natalie's house to pick up Ariel. Needless to say, there was a nap yesterday afternoon. I'm still feeling tired, but it will pass in a couple of days.

How do I describe Bead and Button? Wow. It was not as overwhelming at the Houston International Quilt Show, but it was still pretty big. There were quite a few people but reports from experienced attendees indicated that attendance was down as were sales. All in all, it was a pretty good weekend (barring a few unforeseen catastrophes).

I did get to visit with the fab Kate McKinnon, the wonderful Cynthia Rutledge, the marvelous Lisa Peters (I bought some of her pieces -- my B&B souvenirs), the talented Heather Powers, and the cheerful girls from Beads East. I saw friends from Austin and Houston. I also got to see the Bead Dreams entries in person as well as the Treasures of Toho competition entries and the Convergence exhibit. Wow! Otherwise, I pretty much stayed in the booth and worked, worked, worked! Carol had so many new goodies, it seemed like an endless stream of unpacking, pricing and merchandising. Then we would drive back to the hotel and collapse on the beds only to get up and do it again the next morning. I did go in search of several beaders I wanted to meet but, alas, our paths never crossed.

I have over 300 pictures to go through with a story for every one of them. Plus, Carol has some of them so there will be some swapping before I get them all posted. But there will be a great road trip pictorial! Later, beadlings!!

10 comments:

Carol Dean Sharpe said...

I'm so glad you are home, home safe, home well...and home with Lisa Peters goodies!!! :D I love it that some of my favorite peeps got to meet in person at B&B. I'm hoping I'll get to meet some of you there next year (yes, DH has said I should go). Now, be sure you get as much rest as you need. We both know how important that is. I can't believe how you've managed all this; you are my hero!!! *hugs*

Bead-Mused said...

You're so sweet. I'm sitting here with my feet up, drinking water by the gallon. Some hero, huh?

If you go next year, take it easy and go slow!. Unfortunately, this may have been my only year to go because of EGA committments. But we will get together eventually!

Carol Dean Sharpe said...

Wanna do Santa Fe Bead Fest next year?? ;o And I know I should know what EGA is but I'm blanking....

Bead-Mused said...

EGA=Embroiders Guild of America
I may have missed the cut-off date for teaching submissions to Bead Fest, but I'll check. It would definitely be fun. Maybe I should put a bug in Carol's ear on that one and see if she can get a booth . . . .

Clara said...

Glad you are home safe and sound.

Bead-Mused said...

Glad to be home, Chica. I missed everything here. Did Carol get in touch with you? She could not find your beads and she needs to know what color flowers you want.

Anonymous said...

Not yet. I'll contact her later 2day. Thanks.

**fights the temptation to buy all the flowers**

Clara

Bead-Mused said...

There is a BIG bowl of flowers, cabs, cameos and all kinds of pieces. And the new aluminum flowers were droolicious! You better contact her before she heads to Ft. Worth!

Christina J. said...

As one of the shopping attendees, I agree that attendance was down. I did my part to help boost sales. :)

Bead-Mused said...

Christina, I'm glad someone was shopping! I hope you had a great time!