Sunday at the Oasis

Well folks, the Bead Oasis is over for another year. A big thank you to Nancy of NLM Glass Arts and her team for organizing this bead lover's extravaganza. There was laughter, there were tears, old friends cherished and new ones made. It was an inspirational weekend full of ideas and cross pollination of styles.

I was very lucky to have my son Declan, who is 11, along with me today. He was a big help to me, by helping me set up and tear down the booth. In between those two activities, he was handing out promo literature, acting as a runner, monitoring booths for vendors and just being his usual ray of sunshine self. He also helped me immensely by counting out some beads for me and loading them on the wire. He looked dapper in the knitted/beaded tie by Flo Flory.

He bought a lampworked cat bead from Dragonfire Beads and learned how to make a chain from jump rings to attach the bead too. As I update this blog, he is working on the finished the chain and adding a lobster claw. Here are some pics of him learning his new skill from Kimberly Harris.

There is much more for me to blog about but I am a wee bit tired and my feet are sore (not that I blog with my feet!). Stay tuned for all the posts to come about the happenings and people at the Bead Oasis.

Bead Oasis Prep

Ok, so I am home after a long day.... worked at my j.o.b., picked up Declan, came home, grabbed a suitcase full of jewellery, hit Wendy's for take-out, Staples for receipts, and hopped on the subway to have a leisurely dinner on my way to the Metro Convention Centre to get the Toronto Bead Society booth ready for the big opening of the Bead Oasis tomorrow.

Sounds busy, I know.

I was all keyed up and ready to get everything in place as I have to work at my j.o.b. tomorrow and can't attend the B.O..... I forgot how long it takes to get to the south building of the convention centre. I left home at 6:30 and by the time I actually stepped foot into the hall - it was 7:45. That didn't seem bad to me as we had until 9:00 pm to set up.... or so I thought. They cut it short - we had to be out of there at 8:00!

Freak out!

So, obviously, didn't get as much done as expected.

Guess who gets to be there at 7:00 am to finish the set-up?

Yep - the Volunteer Coordinator - and that's me!

God bless Kim and her hubby John for being there and doing some stuff and to Sue as well, who is keeper of the screens.

Tomorrow is looking just as busy as today.

Get up at 5:00 am to leave the house at 6:00 to get downtown for 7:00 am.

Declan has a soccer practice at 8:20 am. Tim will have to take care of that.

Get back up north to Keele and Steeles for my job at 8:30 am.

Work until 4:30.

Pick up Declan.

Go home and eat.

Get changed for softball - Markham Women's Slopitch League.

Declan and I head to Markham for an 8:30 pm game.

Last game of the regular season - drinks after.

I think I am going to slightly wiped out.