On Friday, June 8^th hubby and I went to the

wonderful Bead&Button Show. It was the first day ‘open to the public.’

It was held at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Called the “Biggest consumer bead show in the world”. The details were given on our earlier blog, so check it out.

We came across another silver craftsman who was at his first show in Milwaukee. He was actually just getting started in the business but had some very nice pieces. Prices were relatively low! The WorldRound is the name of Christopher Neal’s company. He plans to do other shows and hopes to get on the internet in the near future. Some nice, clean multi-metal pieces in silver and gold and with an “earthly” theme such as moons, Bali bells, and bamboo. To find examples go to http://www.theworldaround.com/. Good fun.

Well, you cannot be a glass ‘artiste’ without the necessary supplies. We came across the very large booth from Arrow Springs. “Everything for lampworking success – everything”, is on their catalog. And they meant it. They had tools, glass annealers, books, videos, etc.

Another incredible booth was that of Milon Townsend, artist, author and educator. He’s from Hilton, New York, http://www.milontownsend.com/. Not new to the field, he’s been in the business for many years! He was tied up with a lot of customers who were admiring his work and we chatted with his wife. She’s a big fan! She pointed out his latest and greatest – these beautiful ‘cast’ pieces with shells and other sea creatures, Aphrodite, etc. Wonderful colored glass with deep impressions in the back that make you feel like you are wearing a piece of art – and you are! You’ll love his work!

We found Jangles handmade ceramic beads next. The artist/owner is Jennifer Heynen and her work was a delight. In the business about 6 years, this was her fourth show in Milwaukee. You can find her at http://www.jangles.net/.

Andrew Brown at http://www.kbglassworks.com/ had some wonderful pieces too. These shells were beautiful and ‘priced to entice.’ Very tempting. Also had some very nice animal-themed hair barettes and such. In the same booth was Harold William Cooney. He’s been doing lampworking for 8 years, and this was his 5^th year at this Show. He recommended a website for all those who love glass beads and jewelry – called http://www.glassartists.com/. We’ll have to check that out soon.

Having granddaughters who love horses, it was only natural that we stopped at the booth with “the Horse Lady.” She was teaching a class and the lady in the shared booth told us she was an incredible teacher and well-respected artist. Lots of fun items!

While this show was advertised as the Bead&Button Show, we found only two vendors who specialized in the button part. One was with a customer and just could not take the time to share any information. Linda Wright from “My Mother’s Buttons” was able to share some time with us. She only uses antique buttons, some of them from the 1800’s. Her brooches are ‘one of a kind’ and quite distinctive. Real compliment magnets. She inherited her love of buttons from her mother who shared stories of their significance and their ‘history.’ Linda’s booklet on her company has some charming tales about buttons. One of the best is this one. Before sending her groom off to war, it was not uncommon for a new bride to place a drop of perfume oil on her most cherished fabric button, then stitch it beneath the collar of her soldier’s uniform. She hoped in doing this that he would always sense her near. How sweet! Linda has been in the button-business for 15 years and can be found on the web at http://www.mymothersbuttons.com/.

No show of this magnitude and importance would be complete without the ‘awards.’ The prestige of knowing you are top-in-your-class and that your work is truly appreciated, especially judged so by a group of your peers. We found these creations to be spectacular and hope you agree.

The Show was a wonderful experience and we are thankful to all the vendors for sharing their stories and ‘history’ with us. We’d also like to thank Matt at Kalmbach Publishing for ‘filling in the blanks.’

René Lalique talented French designer whose career spanned the last years of the 19^th century and early years of the 20^th. Not only was he a jeweler of great talent and creativity, but his glasswork is legendary among collectors.

René Lalique was born in 1860 in the town of Ay, France. In his teens he was apprenticed to a Parisian jeweler and later moved to England to study at London’s Sydenham Art College. Upon returning to France Lalique designed jewelry for several different jewelers until opening his own shop in 1885.

René Lalique’s jewelry is said to define the style of the Art Nouveau era, which was popular from around 1895 to 1910. Art Nouveau jewelry tended to use lower-cost gems, and enamel was a common material used in the designs. Decorative elements were taken from nature – leaves, butterflies, flowers and such – and there’s an Asian flavor to many of the pieces. The female form was also a popular subject in the Art Nouveau style. Lalique was noted for his unique work with materials like enamel, pearl, ivory and horn. He won great acclaim with his designs, creating jewelry for the actress Sarah Bernhardt and causing a splash at jewelry exhibitions all over the world.

In 1908 Lalique chose to abandon jewelry making and focus his artistic talents on glasswork. He began creating unique perfume bottles, first for the French firm Coty. He soon was designing bottles for numerous top perfume companies, including Guerlain and Worth. All told, Lalique designed over 250 perfume bottles.

Lalique was also known for his graceful vases and embraced the Art Deco style in his glasswork. In the 1920s René Lalique began designing elegant hood ornaments for automobiles. The glass ornaments were designed to be lit by a bulb and were featured on Bentleys, Bugattis and more.

Although he died in 1945, the company that René Lalique founded is still in operation today. Today his designs are highly sought and while some of his work fetches prices of tens of thousands of dollars, other pieces are available to collectors of more modest means.