Hello everyone!

 Just putting this out there -- the Bead Fest will be in King of Prussia (near Philadelphia, PA) from August 23 through August 26.  I've attended this show for the past 10 years (when it was in Fort Washington, PA) and it is always wonderful!

Sandra

I am so excited. I'm heading to the Bead Fest later this morning. I called last night and actually made reservations to spend the night at the Radisson. The group rate for Beaders was so good I couldn't resist, so we're making a weekend out of it. Although I was shocked to find there were still rooms available. Last year when this show was at an icky venue in Reading there wasn't a room to be had.

I'm leaving for BF in about 90 minutes!

 Don't be shocked over the availability of rooms...Valley Forge/King of Prussia has a plethora of hotels and the Radisson (attached to the convention venter) is one of the pricier ones.  People can stay a mile down the road for about $35 less per night!  I'm sure that is why there are still rooms at the Radisson!

 I'll have a report either tonight or tomorrow (I am hosting a dinner party tonight, so the minute I walk in the door from BF I need to get cooking!)

There may have been cheaper rooms up the road but you can't beat the room we got for the money I paid, especially when we upgraded to full breakfast buffet for just $3 a person. For me, the fact that I didn't have to move my van the whole weekend was a big plus.

 As far as the convention center, the selling floor was worlds nicer than last years Reading PA venue. Although I didn't take a class I had to walk back and forth past them between the convention center and the hotel and they looked very nice.

I got some great deals and it was great to be back in the thick of things with jewelry making. I've been away from it for a while pursuing another venture, but I couldn't miss the BF especially with it being closer than it's ever  been to my home. We stayed over just to make a weekend getaway out of it. 

 If I have any complaint it's that the convention center  was really too hot and didn't cool down to a comfortable temp until late Saturday into Sunday. I did hear that on Friday the heat on the selling floor was almost unbearable.

 I had a great time though and came home with a rolling bag full of beads for me and my daughter. It's gotten so that some vendors recognize her now.

Isn't that a great feeling when the vendors recognize you in the shows. I always like that feeling.