Philadelphia or bust

My hubby and I attended the BeadFest last weekend. It was really great, but I had this headache. Ouch... I spent about half what I had budgeted because it hurt to lean over the tables.

The tables. Full of beads, bead-related tools, findings, books, ideas, colors, and wonders.I saw a great lampworked bead with a dragonfly (my logo!) in shades of blue and purplish and green. Hmmm. It was on sale. Such a deal! I couldn't pass it up. I had just bought some seed beads a half hour earlier in the same shade of blue. Okay, the bead gods want me to have this bead. And at home, I have those vintage beads I bought two years ago and have been waiting to find the perfect focal bead for. Okay! Mine! I will post a picture when I finish the project because the vintage beads are absolutely perfect with the dragonfly bead.

I bought a whole bunch of seed beads and cabochons. I always want to buy cabs in person because they are hard to photograph. David Kramer of Dikra Gems (http://www.dikragem.net/downloads.html) must be the best salesperson in the world. Every year at BeadFest he greets me as if (a) he remembers exactly who I am and (b) I am his best customer. This year I spent about $30 at his booth, so I am definitely not his best customer. He just has that salesman's personality that is super friendly, but doesn't seem phony. See you next year, David. Maybe one of these years I will surprise you and visit your shop in NYC.

We stayed with my cousin, John. (Hi, John!) What a gracious host! He made us so comfortable, and we enjoyed visiting and remembering fun cousin times. Thanks, John!

Hello, everyone!

Isn't technology great? I have a brand-new laptop and a brand-new blog.

Family, friends, and customers know I have a little shop of jewelry on Etsy: www.pfordcustomjewelry.etsy.com News from that shop: In 2008, I will donate 10% of all purchases you make to the Lutheran Peace Fellowship (http://www.lutheranpeace.org/ ). Please take a look at my Peace Bracelet. All profits from this bracelet will go to this wonderful organization.

Other news: On September 13, I will have a table of jewelry at the Autumn Fest at the Lutheran Home at Hollidayburg. See this link for more information: http://www.alsm.org/events/events.html

I also have a few items available at a wonderful new art gallery in Hollidaysburg: Art4 Gallery.