I just returned from doing the Beadstreet USA show in Cincinnati, OH.  It was wonderful to get out of the solitary world of the beadmaking studio and interact with people--and of course it's always fun to share our beady addictions!  Thanks to all my customers for their support. 

   The second day of the show was cut short, as Cincinnati was hit by hurricane-force winds up to 74 mph, and the power was knocked out.  Some shoppers wanted to brave the storm and shop in the dim emergency backup lighting, bless 'em! :-)  But the winds sounded like they might take the roof off the convention center so it was best to close.  It was scary to move our show displays and wares on dollies in the wind--fortunately there wasn't a heavy rain to deal with as well.  I spent the night in the local Hilton without power, but at 5:38 am the lights and air conditioning blasted me awake when they came on (what a wake-up call!).  My drive home was a long peaceful one, calm winds and only a few raindrops. 

   Congratulations to Diana Holthaus, who is the winner of the free custom beadset from my drawing after the show, for those who signed up with their emails.  I've written to her and look forward to making her bead set this week.