The big day has finally arrived! Our Web-site experts promised a Bead&Button blog and now it’s here. I have more ideas than time or space, but isn’t that always the case? I’ve been thinking about trends in beadwork and how they vary from place to place. Of course, where we wear jewelry influences our designs: An office setting calls for different look than a party. But what about where we live geographically?
 
I thought about this as my husband and I recently drove from Wisconsin to eastern North Carolina for a little R&R. I love this region of the Southeastern United States for its mix of beautiful, accessible mountains and people who make art and craft a way of life. We spent a day in Berea, Kentucky on the way to North Carolina and browsed the studios and shops to check out the pottery, woodwork, handmade glass, quilts and beadwork.

In Asheville, we had more opportunities to shop for everything and anything handmade. One of my favorite stops in Asheville was the Chevron Trading Post & Bead Co., which is the vision of a classic bead shop brought to life. Cases and displays in different rooms overflow with all types and sizes of beads from many parts of the world.

Chevron Trading Post employee Melissa Terrezza took a few minutes to give me some insight into the current market. The company has a strong presence on the Web, but I didn’t ask Melissa about online trends, I wanted to know what was selling in North Carolina, in the shop. Here’s what she said. Drusy gemstones that Chevron Trading picked up at the Tucson Gem Show are really popular right now – in all different cuts, sizes and colors. Amber, turquoise and stone are also in demand. And, there has been a run on components for making oversized earrings in recent months. Melissa also pointed to Amolia Willowsong’s freeform peyote necklaces as big sellers in the finished-jewelry case, and I noticed that Amolia teaches this technique at the shop.

After all the shopping, I needed to give my wallet a rest and spend some time in the mountains. My husband and I spent several days hiking in the high country, cooled by the lush trees and waterfalls. We did make one last stop in Dillsboro, where we went a little crazy at Treehouse Pottery and had to make two trips to the car with our purchases. But throughout the trip and the drive back to Wisconsin, I wondered: what’s selling where right now? Bead&Button has access to hundreds of designers, lampworkers, suppliers and instructors at our Bead Show, and that gives us insight into American trends in general, and also international work, but I wonder what’s going on in your region? I’d like to know! Send me your list at editor@beadandbutton.com.