Working a show that is local… you would think this would be an excellent thing.  You don’t have the travel expenses of working a show that is further away, and it is easy to do because you can eat at home, sleep in your own bed, there’s no airfare or hassles of having to schlep all of your gear through airports and security.  All good things!  However,  if you live too close, then people will always say they will come to shop in person at your studio/retail store and then there are very few sales at the show and virtually no one ever actually comes to the store.

I don’t want to lie and tell people that ask if I have a store… if they know my name, and they always ask for a card, then they will find out that I do have a retail store.  So, it’s not to my advantage to lie and say, “no”.

What I will say for sure, is that I am all over the map in my bead making.  I get bored easily.  If you see something at a show, and don’t pick it up right away… it may not be there later when you come back and it may not be there if you really do come to my shop.  I make very few repeat designs.  Sometimes I even make stuff that I have no idea what exactly it was that I used.

So, this is my decision.  I will no longer be working the LA Bead Bazaar.  Thank you to all the people who have bought from me in the past at this show.  It’s just a lot of work to set up and tear down on a day that I normally have my studio open, for barely the cost of my table fees.

Here is my schedule for the year, just the shows and special events in my studio that I know about so far.  Check back again. I am hoping to find more opportunities to travel to more venues.  If you really want to see my beads, they are all in my studio, not displayed as nicely as they are at a show, but I have them.  I also have a small representation in my Etsy store… Prima Donna Beads

**These are things I plan on doing but haven’t signed up for yet.

2013
July 27/28 Anne Mitchell workshop
**Sept. 5/6/7/8 Best Bead Show Tucson
Sept. 20/21/2 SoftFlex Glass Art & Bead Show Hawaii
November 9/10 BABE Oakland

2014
February Best Bead Show Tucson… this one is a huge maybe!
March 7/8/9 – SoftFlex Glass Art & Bead Show Hawaii
**March 28/29/30 – GlassCraft Expo Las Vegas
**April 26/27 – Denver (Rocky Mountain Bead Society)