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(Looking west at the Kino Center from the grassy hill with the taco vendor.)
Where: The Kino Veteran’s Memorial Community Center at 2805 E. Ajo, just east off of the Kino Parkway, and just past TEP Park on Ajo, which is located on the south side of Ajo; the Veterans’ Center is north. In fact, if you finish one show, just go to the other one -- it's simply straight ahead at the light as you're exiting either show.
2010 update: It was alive and well this year, although it seemed slower as did all the shows. Good beads and bargains, as always. A great public show. No free magazines by late in the day, but it didn't seem as if there were as many choices as from previous years.
2009 update: It's not called the Best Bead Show for nothing. This show is lovely in terms of variety and quality of the vendor merchandise as well as the setting. Arizona Bead Dog thought there may have been a few vendors missing in the tents from last year, but also saw some new ones. Definitely a show to check out this year, what with the dislocation of the To Bead True Blue Show and a very slow Manning House Bead Show.
(Some of Margaret Zinser's latest glass art.)
What: A very nice show that is completely open to the public. The vendors here offer mostly lampwork glass beads (exquisite, gorgeous, unusual), from focal beads to glass bracelets to glass critters of all kinds: spiders, octopi, fish, cats, salamanders, faces, ponies, hearts, dragons, and more--from art wear to cabinet pulls to wine bottle stoppers. Prices range from the low $20s and up (way up; some are hundreds of dollars) for focus beads (beads intended to be worn on a chain by themselves). Learn more about one vendor, MZ Glass. Some vintage bead vendors are here, and one vendor offered antique Venetian glass beads called "wedding cakes." Another vendor offered a very cool tool called a bead spinner--you know all those seed beads that are so difficult to string one by one? Just put 'em in this unique device, attach your stringing material to the appropriate needle, spin, and voila! Beads miraculously string themselves. Be wary of imitators, but visit this show for the real deal. Another unusual bead find here: bottle cap beads. Tons of seed beads were also available here, beading supplies, glass beads, some natural stone strands (mostly in the tents, but peppered around the show). One glass vendor had interesting "orbs" that were beautiful and blended the idea of a paperweight and a crystal ball--unique and mesmerizing. Another unusual find: stones and mineral specimens drilled to string on a silver or gold chain, or to incorporate into larger pieces; competitively priced. A silver vendor in the tent was selling Bali sivler for .65/gram and Hill Tribe for .75/gram. Yet another creative artisan offered glass mineral specimens that he created from heat and glass--truly amazing.
This show also had lots of places to sit outdoors and in the two large tents directly north of the main building.
(In 2008, Glass Garden Beads ran out of these wonderful bottle cap beads, but this year, there's plenty! Besides recycling bottle caps, the vendor also has recycled glass that's cut to ring sizes, smoothed, and given a frosted look.)
Tip: Don't miss the flame glass demonstrations between the two tents. It'll give you an idea of the amount of work and skill involved in a single glass bead, and also whether you'd want to jump into the lampwork hobby/business!
Inside or Out: The bulk of the vendors are inside, and there are even more great vendors outside.
(Photo of Luken Sheafe's work, with permission. Very unusual wearable art!)
Tips: 2007: If you’re looking for a glass bead to hang from a thin gold or sterling silver chain, here or To Bead True Blue and Bead Renaissance are your best bets. 2009: Unfortunately, TBTB and Bead Renaissance shows have changed so drastically that the best shows are now the TEP show, Frontage Road, or Simpson Street shows.
Arizona Bead Dog preferred this venue over the other two for variety, ease of movement from booth to booth, and convenient parking. Of course, amazing artisans are at the other two shows, so visit all three if you can. The lampwork is beautiful and very affordable and compares well to buyer-only show vendors, such as the Holidome.
This is one of the shows where you can pick up free beading magazines.
Parking: There’s ample parking, but if your feet are already tired, the lot seems further away than it actually is.
Food: The building has a small snack bar, and there's a food court outside where you can find burgers, dogs, Kettle Korn, Mexican food, pizza, and lemonade.
Rest rooms: Inside the building.
2012 February show dates: Wednesday, February 1st through Sunday, February 5th. Only open 5 days, including a weekend, so put this on your short list of shows to visit during those days, and see the TEP, Frontage Road, and Mineral Shows another day.
2012 show hours: February 1: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
February 2, 3, & 4: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
February 5: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shuttle route: To be determined. But the show will likely have its own "Best Bead Show" shuttle going back and forth from the Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center and the TEP Show across the street. Handicap accessible.
For additional information: www.bestbeadshow.com.
( A sampling of J.C. Herrel's work.)
September show review: (see below for 2009 updates)
Where: 2009: Kino Veterans' Memorial Center (Last year, 2008, the show was held at the Tucson Convention Center.) No admission charge!
2010 update: A shadow of last year's September show. Again, this show still had great vendors who offered good beads and other beading supplies. Definitely worth checking out if you're a die hard beader.
What: 2009 update: I don't know why it surprised me, but it did--a very nice mix of vendors and materials. If you are part of the public, and you don't have a tax-license resale number, this show is for you. Many vendors offered extremely reasonable prices on bead strand and finished jewelry to the public. If you're a wholesaler, some vendors were giving even further discounts. Another great year for this show. Even though there were fewer vendors, the mix was good and the venue is easy to get to, easy to park, and comfortable inside. This show continued its practice of offering flame glass demonstrations and classes. 2008 review: 2008 was this Show's third year. It's much smaller in terms of number of vendors than the February show, and the mix is different, with less emphasis on flame-glass vendors, and more emphasis on beads and findings vendors. For example, Arizona Bead Dog saw a couple of vendors with interesting higher-end gem stone beads with interesting cuts; prices seemed competitive. A nice selection of lampwork bead vendors was also present. Bargain bead tables could also be found. Finally, there were demonstrations and classes. A great show in a great space with friendly vendors.
Parking Tip: For 2009, see parking info for the February show above. (2008: Cushing Street, directly south of the Convention Center, was empty today, so if it costs to park, Arizona Bead Dog recommends parking along Cushing. It's only 50 yards or so from the event entrance. Otherwise, there was plenty of parking at the Convention Center.)
September 2012 show dates: September 7th through the 9th (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). 10:00 a.m to 6 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Sun. is 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Food: The Sandwich Co. and the Dog House were the two food vendors operating on opening day.
Rest rooms: Ample.
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