the Bead and Button Show
Milwaukee 2004 - 2019
Every June, Facebook brings back memories from the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee—and I find myself smiling with both joy and a touch of wistfulness. My first show was in 2004. I started as a vendor, sharing a booth with a fellow lampworker. Eventually, I got my own solo booth. Later still, I attended just for the fun of it—to take classes, see friends, and soak in the inspiration without the pressure of selling.
For years, there were four of us who made it an annual tradition. We’d book adjoining rooms at the Hilton Milwaukee which was directly across the street from the Convention Center, then scatter during the day to our various classes and interests—each of us drawn to different aspects of beading. When the show’s marketplace opened, we shopped like our lives depended on it. The best part was always returning to our rooms, laying out our treasures, and showing off our finds like kids at summer camp.
We ended each night with dinner at a local restaurant and a shared bottle of wine, solving the world’s problems, untangling our own, and dreaming up our next beady creations.
My last show was in 2016, and it felt bittersweet. Two friends had stopped coming for personal reasons, and a third could only manage a brief visit due to health challenges. It felt like the end of an era—a closing chapter in a treasured part of my creative life.
I didn’t go in 2017 or 2018, and then 2019 marked the final Bead & Button Show.
I loved being part of that world. I met incredible people, sold and bought beautiful things, and learned more than I can say.
You know the saying—all good things must come to an end. But the memories? They remain. And they’re golden.
Thanks for being here
Louise x
What great times we had!