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More from the Vintage Bead Show |
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Written by Dara Spiotto
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Monday, 19 November 2007 |
 Still Out and About!
Bead show number three out of five was such a hoot. I’m still basking in the bead glow of fun, laughing and smiling so much my face hurt when I drove home on Saturday night. Considering I hadn’t been into this particular store in almost two years because of its location, being tucked up away over the huge San Gabriel mountains which separate us. In fact, to get there I have to drive along a series of Los Angeles highways way out and around, even though geographically they’re pretty much right above me. Since my son isn’t fond of being in the car longer than an hour at a time, I had to put my visiting on hold.
But there I was, amid friends again in a store that has been re-done with fresh paint and a new look. I was just so happy to be in there. At one point, I looked around and thought, “How did I get here again??” It was a shocking and great feeling all jumbled into one. So the staff helped me set up in astonishing record time, and we were off!!
 The tables were full of people instantly. They came through the door like a storm of bees on National Pollen Day. They swarmed around the table and buzzed to each other happily. (Enough bee jokes!) I jumped out of my seat, so happy to see so many familiar faces, and began chatting and catching up on all that can happen in two years' time, and also dangled strands of lusciousness in front of them to tempt them. They’re like old friends, even though I don’t even know many of their names.
One funny thing that happened right away… a gentleman came in and came right up to me and said, “I’m here for my wife. She sent me to find out if you carry any mutilated quartz.” He gave me a look that let me know he thought his wife was a little off her rocker to be asking for such a thing. I mean, mutilated quartz. Imagine lovely quartz beads all mangled. So I said, “Oh, RUTILATED quartz… yes, we’ve got it!” and he laughed. He couldn’t wait to get home and let his wife know how she’d embarrassed him, to his chagrin. All in good fun!
I sat back down and enjoyed watching everyone shop. After a while they just need me to leave them alone. You can’t design beautiful jewelry in your head if you’ve got someone jabbering away at you. So I let them free for a bit.
Eavesdropping on Beaders
Then in walks Beadly McBeaderton and her friend Beadbabe Beadsalot. I remembered them. I sat back to watch them in action. In no time at all they were shopping with frenzy, looming over the tables like a hovercraft, not missing a bead. They mused with each other. I laughed, remembering how funny their conversations could be. Then I got smart and grabbed a pen. Here’s some of what they said to each other in a span of 20 minutes or less, not really listening to each other but chatting away continuously.
“Don’t let me buy any green!”
“I wish these weren’t so pretty.”
“What do I do with THIS?”
“Worry about that later.”
“Didn’t a superhero wear this pendant?”
“Oh, no. That’s precious. I mean hideous!”
“Are you shopping in my BASKET?? Shoo!! Off with you!”
“You can’t afford all that.”
“I’m poor in cash and rich in beads.”
“You already bought that bead last time.”
 “Gray isn’t really a color.”
“I’m getting a crook in my back.”
“Is that a baby crying?”
“No, it's your husband!! HA! HA!”
“For some reason I’m not happy with this necklace design.”
“That’s because you have those f***ing hideous spacers in there.”
“Oh, look at this candy. Oh my, I’m 12 again.”
“Here, I want this whole tray.”
 “Do you have any cheerful beads?”
“I can’t deal with those seedy things.”
“If I buy this gorgeous necklace to wear tonight, do you think anyone will notice my zit?”
“I’m waiting to see if you put that down so I can grab it.”
“How much is that?”
“Oh, too much. You don’t want that. Let me have it. I’ll get it.”
“Oh my God, I wore this bead as a teenager.”
“Would you swap these beads for the
 8 kittens I have at home?” :-)
“I think I’m blind from all this color.”
“I need a shopping cart.”
“Ok, I’m done. I can’t take any more of this. I might explode.”
“Wimp. Ok, I’m done, too. We still have to go to the fabric store.”
“I can’t take any more color today. Let's get pizza instead.”
“Then we’ll go to the fabric store. Pizza doesn’t have that many colors and your eyes can rest.”
Checking Out
At this point they worked their way over to where I was and handed me shopping baskets brimming with an assortment of beads, chain, metal components, pendants and other things. One thrusts her basket at me and says, “We’ll be eating spaghetti for a year.” Then as I begin to write her up, she hands me another colorful handful of stuff she picked up beside me. “Without sauce!!” she says! Her friend pushes in and thumps her basket down on the table beside me. Her eyebrows are up as far as they can go. She says to me, “It's your fault I can’t afford my house payment this month.” I smile and say, “Do you think I feel bad for you with this monster assortment of gorgeous beads you’re taking home? I can’t shop like this!” She retorts with, “Oh, shut up, you enabler. When are you coming back?”
Mission accomplished! |
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