Tucson

My trip to Tucson this month was wonderful! I hadn't been in a few years, so it was great to be back on the show floors, seeing all the great products, reconnecting with friends, and taking in the beauty of the desert. (Click here to see some of the people and things I saw during my trip.)

My first order of business was to teach my Principessa II Necklace for Swarovski. They held their classes at the YWCA--a new venue for them. It was a beautiful building with high-ceiling classrooms and a sunny courtyard where students could take breaks and have lunch.

While there, I met Andreas Wieser, the mastermind behind Swarovski's online community. I guess the idea was his college thesis, so this project is like his baby. He's done a great job with the site--it's very interactive and fluid. I signed up this weekend and already I've had people become friends and make comments! I'd highly recommend it as a good place to connect with other designers.

One very cool thing that happened while in Tucson was that Swarovski invited me, along with 19 other designers, to become a Create-Your-Style Crystallized Swarovski Elements Ambassador! We will be teaching classes on behalf of CYS, test products, and generally promote their DIY lines. I'm really excited about this opportunity. Plus, just meeting with the other designers (including Margot Potter, Katie Hacker, Lisa Pavelka, Laura Timmons, Diane Fitzgerald, Debbi Simon, Brenda Schweder, Diane Whiting, Peggy Sturman, Bonnie Clewans, and many others) was opportunity enough--what a creative powerhouse.

I was traveling with Diane Fitzgerald, so I hung out in Tucson for a couple days while I waited for her to finish teaching her classes. It gave me an opportunity to buzz around and see my buddies at the different shows. Even though traffic was down (foot, that is, not car, which was WAY up because of construction), the vibe felt as lively and energetic as ever.

We headed up to Glendale's Bead Museum on Saturday morning. I taught my Le Cirque Bracelet on Saturday and Peyote Buttons on Sunday. A perfect day out for any beader would be to attend a Bead Museum class, visit this incredible museum over the lunch hour, and then head to dinner at Europa (the fabulous little Polish joint we ate at on Saturday night within walking distance from the museum).

Diane and I had dinner with my dad's wife, Peg, and her daughter, Julie, on Sunday night. Peg is such a kick--even though she's battling the Big C, she's always resilient and fun and she just always brings everyone up.

I'm so glad I got to get away. Makes me realize how important it is, so I'm going to start saving up for next year's trip NOW!