Since 1992
Built around artisanship
Since 1992, under the direction of Anna Johnson, Bead & Design shows have brought together a wide range of artists, artisans, and tradespeople. Over the years, the shows have welcomed approximately 2,500 exhibitors who traveled from 50 countries, along with hundreds of thousands of attendees.
An artisan's perspective
Anna's interest in handmade work began early. As a child, she collected sacred textiles, mosaics, and tapestries. As a young woman, she became a traveling merchant, buying and selling rare kilims, embroideries, and vintage and antique beads.
In 1983, she became a self-taught glass beadmaker, learning old techniques and working with antique tools at a time when artistic glass beadmaking in the United States was still uncommon. That hands-on experience shaped the way she later approached show promotion: with an emphasis on the people who make, design, cut, collect, and trade the work themselves.
From beadmaking to Tucson
Having lived and worked as an artisan and tradesperson, Anna moved naturally into promoting the work she valued. Her first Bead & Design show was held in Tucson and was called To Bead True Blue. Exhibitors were invited with the goal of creating a balanced, distinctly artisanal show rather than a conventional trade-show floor.
The first To Bead True Blue was successful and grew substantially over the following years, eventually reaching 1,000 exhibitors. Visitors came from across the United States and from other countries to buy directly from exhibitors and participate in workshops, classes, and seminars.
The idea that continues
Artisanship has remained central to the shows from the beginning. The focus has been on bringing together people with specialized knowledge, materials, tools, techniques, and original work—and giving visitors an opportunity to meet those people directly.
Today, that history continues in Tucson through Colors of the Stone and To Bead True Blue. For details about the current Fall and Winter shows, including exhibitors, workshops, dates, registration, and visitor information, visit our About the Shows page.