Sisters bead show is one of a kind

The art of beading, like quilting, becomes a passion.

An awareness of this passion prompted Sisters Area Chamber of Commerce Events Director Jeri Buckmann four years ago to incorporate a handcrafted bead show into the attractions the Sisters Chamber sponsors each summer.

The event attracted hundreds to Barclay Square in the center of town last Saturday and Sunday.

"I wanted to do something different that is not in Central Oregon - or actually anywhere that I know of," Buckmann said.

To be accepted as a vendor at the Sisters show, a merchant's wares must be strictly handmade.

"You can go to the Portland bead show, and they will have a mix (of handmade and manufactured beads)," Buckmann said.

At the Sisters show manufactured beads are a taboo.

Trade beads are crafted by using European designs that are hundreds of years old. Such beads were historically used as currency for trading between nations and colonies. Original antique trade beads are very rare and extremely expensive.

Each year more vendors submit applications than are accepted into the show. This year 24 vendors from California, Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Oregon displayed their creations. Two Sisters artisans, Lynda Dinneen, who with her son Ken operates Holey Stones, and Kate Aspen, who owns Kate Aspen Studios, exhibited their wares.

Artisans at this year's show displayed brass beads, called lampwork, wood beads and stone beads, which according to Buckmann encompass the "whole array of mined" substances.

"There's also a guy who makes marbles. Those are considered a bead because you can make jewelry out of them," Buckmann said.

Some vendors, like Sven Weir from Ocean Park, Washington, craft jewelry from their handmade beads. Weir was back in Sisters for his fourth year in a row. He told The Nugget that he comes back each year because Sisters offers "... a good crowd. People appreciate our work, and they buy it."

"We love how comfortable it feels here. It's like going on vacation when we come here," said Jim Rindy of Portland who, with his wife Trina, were also exhibiting for their fourth year in a row.

Buckmann plans to keep the event small and intimate. During its first two years the bead show was held at Village Green Park, and according to Buckmann the booths were spread too far apart.

"I realized I wanted to move it to a smaller venue, because you don't want to have 50 bead artists," she said.

Next year Buckmann plans to add more variety rather than more vendors.

"I'm looking to add a pottery bead artist, paper maché and silver - all bead artists. The show," she said, "... is very selective."