As a new board member this year, it has been my privilege to get to work with some great companies who are going to be vendors this year. As a knitter & fan girl, it has been fun to get to know the people behind the products. We will be posting Vendor Spotlights in the days and weeks leading up to the event. I hope you enjoy reading these interviews as much as I did!
First up is Valarie Leland with The Artful Bead in Carrollton, TX. Her shop carries a huge selection of all types of beads, findings, and more. We are most excited about the terrific assortment of seed beads in sizes appropriate for beaded knitting and crochet projects. Whether you are a seasoned “beader” or someone who has never incorporated beads into your fiber projects, you are in for a real treat. Valarie & her team are bringing the warm & friendly vibe of their shop to our event!
DFW FF: Were you a crafter before you got into your current business?
Valarie: My grandmothers taught me to crochet when I was 5 or 6, and I made dozens scarves until I got tired of the frightening plastic hobby store yarn of the 80’s. I started making jewelry in 2000. Beadweaving (yes, with those itsy teensy ickle beads!) hit me hard, and I still love it.
DFW FF: Do you still have time to do your favorite crafts?
Valarie: Not as much as I’d like. Travel is good knitting time, but I don’t get to go many places. Lately we’ve been developing new seed bead kits, so that means lots of samples and experimentation with colors - fun times!!
DFW FF: You have been a vendor here in the past, what is your favorite thing about DFW Fiber Fest?
Valarie: Meeting people who have never been in a bead store before! It’s so much fun to see their reactions to what we bring. And it’s wonderful to look over their yarn and help them choose beads to go with it. Nearly everybody who works at The Artful Bead in Carrollton knits, so Fiber Fest generates a lot of fiber-lust in all our hearts.
DFW FF: What is your favorite product that you carry?
Valarie: Miyuki’s new Tila double-hole flat seed beads. And the Japanese triangle beads - they add a great texture to everything! And the size 8 triangles will fit over sport weight yarn!
DFW FF: We have a big crochet market here at DFW Fiber Fest. Do you carry any crochet specific items?
We have the ultra-small crochet hook with the long neck, that will fit through a size 8 seed bead and catch lace-weight yarn, to add single beads to the design while knitting or crocheting. And we have lots of size 8 and 6 seed beads with nice large smooth holes to use in crochet and knitting.
Thanks for chatting with us, Valarie! We are looking forward to seeing you in April.
Tasha
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