Have you...

signed up for any classes at the Bead&Button show?  After carefully perusing the catalog, I did find three classes that interest me, but there certainly aren't many classes being offered this year that are geared to advanced metalsmiths or beaders.  Once again, I decided against taking a lampworked beads class - I really am spread too thin already with all of my interests pertaining to jewelry making!  Instead, I'm taking a class with Susan Lenart Kazmer again because her classes are such fun and I always leave with new ideas to incorporate in my work.  We'll be banging away at metal to create non-traditional forms with wire.  The second class I've signed up for is with Richard Salley and we will be etching, sawing, shaping, and riveting using copper, brass, and Faux Bone™.  The third class is with Katie Baum and we will make rings with silver metal clay that are set with stones.  One of the things I like about the above classes is that the projects will be finished in class, whereas most  projects from beading classes are not.  In fact, I have more than a few unfinished beading projects from previous shows that are tucked away in a cabinet waiting to be worked on, and I seriously doubt I will finish them.  If I do pick them up again, I will deviate from the patterns and create my own designs.   I'm hoping that next year's show will offer more advanced classes, but there may come a time when I will register for the show just to attend the floor show where hundreds of vendors sell their wares.  Considering I mail-order virtually all my materials and supplies, it is a rare treat to be able to purchase what I hold in my hand!