New Date Set for Meet the Teachers

The Meet the Teachers Reception is your chance to visit with your favorite teachers, get acquainted with others and take an up-close look at the wonderful array of class projects being taught this year. Shop for kits, classes and specialty products directly from the Bead&Button Show instructors.

Date: Wednesday, August 26
Time: 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Cost: $20.00 per person
Location: Wisconsin Center Ballroom

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Instructor Spotlight: Heidi Mandich

We are so excited to have Heidi Mandich confirmed for the new August Bead&Button Show dates!

Heidi Mandich first discovered her passion for metalsmithing while taking a class at the Indianapolis Art Center in 2006. Using hammers, saws, fire and creativity, Heidi enjoys taking simple sterling silver sheet and wire and turning it into unique jewelry for people to enjoy and treasure. She still continues to learn from experts in the field every year. “Metalwork…reshaping and reforming metal to become something envisioned is exciting … especially when it becomes what was in your head.” In 2010 Heidi was asked to teach at the Indianapolis Art Center in the same studio where she first learned.

Her greatest joy is helping adult students discover the same joy of using fire and tools to create jewelry from simple pieces of metal. In 2011, Heidi took early retirement from her “day job” to follow her passion full time. She does art fairs throughout the Midwest, some in Florida and Pennsylvania as well, and continues to teach at the Indianapolis Art Center. In and around these, she pursues learning opportunities to continue to grow creatively. In 2014, Heidi was selected to join Indiana Artisans, an organization representing the best of art in Indiana as well as CCA Gallery, the oldest member owned gallery in Indiana.

Updated class dates & times are coming in early May, but check out her 2020 Bead&Button Show class options online now!

Moonlight Madness Returns This August

It’s 2 hours of concentrated shopping madness as our annual Moonlight Madness mini-market returns on Tuesday evening after classes.

Participating exhibitors will display and sell their new and unique products at small tables. This is not a replacement for the Expo Preview Night, where the complete run of products is available, but rather an appetizer to what the Bead&Jewelry Expo has to offer from exhibitors this year. Admission is FREE for all attendees.

Date: Tuesday, August 25
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 PM
Location: Hilton Milwaukee City Center, Wright Ballroom & Foyer (Note new location from last year)

Tuesday evening classes run from 6:00 to 9:00 PM to give all students the opportunity to do some Moonlight Madness shopping. A cash bar will be available, as well as complimentary cookies for shoppers!

See the full show schedule here.

Exhibitor Spotlight: i-bead.com

Amy Loh Kupser’s i-bead is back for the Bead&Button Show this August! With original peyote amulet kits, books and patterns; bracelet and necklace kits and patterns, Czech glass buttons, the often requested Traveling Bead Boards, wearable task lighting, and a variety of clever tools and beading accessories, you’re sure to find something that makes you think “that’s brilliant and I need it!”

With their “Stay Home, Stay Healthy...Shop Online Virtual Show Special,” now is the perfect time to check out their website and get free shipping on orders $75 and up.

Please consider supporting the exhibitors in our Bead&Button Show community by ordering your project materials from them online during this strange and difficult time.

Now’s the Time to Book Your Hotel for August

The Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee. Image courtesy of Visit Milwaukee

With no cancellation fees until 7 days before your scheduled arrival, now’s the time to reserve your hotel room for the Bead&Button Show.

Room blocks at our show hotels are now available. You can find more information, including dates, rates and direct reservation links on the Hotel page of our website.

If you already have a reservation for the old show dates, please call the local number for your hotel and tell them you wish to switch to the August room block. We ask that you be patient with our hotel partners as they are operating with very limited staff at this time and you may experience some delays.

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Free Content Fridays on Social Media!

Did you know we’ve been releasing FREE projects every Friday to provide you with some additional creative and inspirational outlets to fill those long hours at home? We’re doing our best to find things you can do with materials you might already have on hand.

Make sure you like our Facebook page or follow @BeadAndButtonShow on Instagram to see this week’s free projects, and to find out when new free projects are released.

We’d love to see photos of your work in process (especially if you get extra “assistance” from some furry friends at home) and the variety of finished products we’ll all have. Make sure to tag @Bead&ButtonShow so the whole community can share in the experience.

These free projects are courtesy of Facet Jewelry. You can check out FacetJewelry.com for hundreds more projects and ideas for while you're hanging out at home, or any time.