IJL In 3 weeks, lets get organised

[bustagasket]

If I did decide to go, which would be really silly as I know i wouldn't be able to resist spending it would be Weds, the last day as I have heard you can score right bargains.

he did everything he could to avoid going with the riff raff

[MuranoSilver]

Aww thats a shame Linda! we all met up for lunch and then split up again. It was brilliant to meet everyone (Forum note - Nic (Murano) is a complete fruitcake, but we loved her )

Fruitcake me?? I'm as sane as they come, lol
nic x

[Kalorlo]

Where's our feedback??? What did you see? What has inspired you?? What else has been added to your wish lists? What is the one thing that you saw or did that made the day really great?? ....and what was it like meeting each other 'in the flesh'??

Heheh - well, I didn't buy anything at the show, but it did inspire me to get a move on and order some stuff I wanted once I got home. So I should be getting a couple of small hammers, a mini anvil, set of wet & dry paper, steel wool, and 9 colours of Fimo in the next week and I've put in a bid on a hand-crank pasta machine on eBay!

I do stare at PMC with longing, but I'm not going to have a kiln or soldering capability anytime soon, and I want to experiment a bit, so I think polymer clay will keep me happy. I've used Fimo before, so it should be fun to make patterned beads from. And the hammers and anvil are so I can hammer wire

(I'm also planning to order the sample kits of copper and brass wire from wires.co.uk - lots of thicknesses to play with!)

IJL was... enormous. I was suffering from serious shiny fatigue by the end - glittering things as far as the eye could see! I spent a long time looking round all the stalls selling strings of semi-precious stones, but didn't get any in the end. (Not helped by half of them not listing prices in an easily-readable form. Seriously, why are they using random letter codes? It was very confusing!) They weren't cheaper than I can find online - they might have been better quality, and of course you can choose your own strand, but I've been happy with the ones I've ordered online, so I thought I'd stick to that for the moment.

I paid close attention to the box and packaging sellers and have collected catalogues from all of them, and I drooled over the tool sellers. So many things to look at once I'm more practised!

There weren't really any lampwork designers, unless I missed them. I picked up a pamphlet from someone who was doing lovely fused glass, but I didn't see anyone else. Which was a slight shame - I'm really interested in it.

*checks* Her site is http://www.rozetta.info.hu

Everyone was really nice to meet - Su is a hoot and I think I would love to attend one of Nic (Murano's) classes. She's just as lovely (and knowledgeable!) in person

[Solunar Silver Studio]

I don't feel so bad now....knowing that they weren't giving away diamond studded goodie bags at the door! I am a bit of a catalogue junkie though - so I envy you for your collection. It's good to hear you had a good time ...even if you are suffering from 'shiny fatigue'!

[caroleallen]

I went a couple of years ago and agree that the beads seemed really expensive. The thing I remember most though is the heat from all those bright lights. I felt sorry for the traders who all looked like they'd had enough.

[MuranoSilver]

I had a fabulous time, it was brilliant to meet up with you for Lunch
and chatter PLUS see some of the goodies you've been making.
That keyrings so neat Su couldn't believe it was your first saw piercing
(I hate doing interior cutouts)

Plus I got to see Nick Hubbards new lines (one of my favourite supliers)
and found a new supplier of very funky aluminium pieces which will give my shop some Christmas colour!
Also ordered some new Murano Glass for Christmas and finally a few new opal lines.

Didn't even get time to look at tools, the day passed in the blink of an eye
and we got shoooed out by security!
nic x

[Di Sandland]

I am totally in love with Nick Hubbard's work - if only I was buying for me and not to make stuff for others

[bustagasket]

yeah i enjoyed his stand immensely. And thank you Nic, very kind of you

[Ominicci]

I bought lots of bits and pieces mainly cabs and some Labradorite briolette that I have been looking for for ages, but they are still not the cut and size I wanted. I spent a few hundred but not as much as Nic lol!!!

Boy did we miss a trick.... I was on the train homne and someone was taking photos at the station and I thought we should have taken some of us all together - Forum Meet Photos!!! I had my camera in my bag!!!!

[bustagasket]

OMG YESS!!!! Why didnt we think of that!!!