I have been making jewelry ALL day today and just put a few things in the tumbler. As I put my 'works in progress in the tumbler', I thought it would be the perfect time to wrap up my Bead Fest re-cap and talk about the people I got to spend time with...because they are the source of my renewed inspiration.
The best part of traveling to Philadelphia for Bead Fest was not the beads, or being in a new city, or the weekend away...but the friends that I got to meet and spend time with.
Kelley and I have known eachother for years through work (we both work for AT&T), but we have just become close in the last few years when we discovered that we both had similar interests. Although we do live fairly close, we don't get to see eachother much. It was so good to see her away from work...and away from everything really...when we could talk...and just be.
Kelley is the one who told me about Lori and her jewelry. I quickly became a fan and a loyal blog follower. I really look up to Lori. She makes incredible jewelry, takes great photos, blogs like crazy and manages to still be an amazing person. I don't know how she does it, but I want to be just like her when I grow up! See that necklace I am wearing up there? She gave that to me the first day of our trip after she had seen that I blogged about it. How sweet was that?? So when I was showing the girls some of my jewelry one night...she really liked a seaglass ring that I made...and I told her, "It's yours!". She wore it for the rest of the trip!
Nancy and I had never talked online and didn't know eachother at all. From the minute we met in the airport, I knew I liked her.
Of course I had seen Nancy's Etsy shop, but what I didn't know was how talented she was. Nancy is a potter, has her own line of beautiful hand made ceramic jewelry and is also getting into metalwork...and she is completely self taught. She is such a cool person and I wish she lived closer.
I also had the pleasure of meeting Diane Hawkey and Melanie Brooks. We had dinner together that Friday and Saturday night and it was so nice to spend time and connect with such creative, talented people.
The weekend in Philadelphia was such a great trip, but what I will remember the most is the people that I met. I have been through a tough time recently and meeting these special women has added back that spark I needed. What a wonderful trip.
So it is time to take my things out of the tumbler...pictures soon! Hope you all are having a great weekend.
2 comments:
I agree. This trip was a fantastic weekend for getting to know each other better, but mostly to just be. With no responsibilities or time line to rush us through anything.
I can't wait to see what you made today!!!
Getting to meet new friends and spend time with those that share the same interests sounds like an awesome time to me. :) Glad you had the opportunity to experience all that. :)
Post a Comment