The jewel of all bead shows returns to Tacoma this weekend.

The Puget Sound Bead Festival, a favorite among local, national, even some international crafters and hobbyists, will celebrate its 15th anniversary at Hotel Murano July 9-11.

The small crafting event founded 15 years ago by The Bead Factory owners Viki and Mark Lareau has ballooned into the largest bead show on the West Coast.

The festival will feature beads from around the world, as well as vendors, artists, merchants and artisans from across the country. Festival visitors will have the opportunity to browse more than 100 booths and participate in more than 70 classes on topics ranging from jewelry making to business basics. Pre-registration for classes is closed, but eager students can sign up for on-site registration on July 8 at Hotel Murano.

Organizers are mixing things up this year by infusing a sustainability element to the festivities. This year’s workshop lineup boasts three different workshops focused on creating jewelry from scraps, recycling, even trash. Joe and Anat Silvera will show students how to turn scrap sterling silver leftovers into gorgeous, handmade rings.

“Upcycling” with Laura Andrews and eco chic jewelry with Steven James will show audiences how to turn recyclables into fabulous jewelry. Between the two instructors, everything from coffee cans to soda bottles to those used-up gift cards you have lying around will be given new life in one of their three-hour workshops.

“The sustainability element is something that just sort of fell into place,” festival organizer Melissa Lovejoy Goldman explained. “So many instructors at the festival hosted workshops of the theme and it’s such a strong trend in the industry right now.”

Festival organizers have noticed a slight increase in the number of participants during the last several years. Lovejoy Goldman assumes the weak economy has been a major factor for the increased participation.

“There’s been an increase in people making their own jewelry or who want to turn their previous hobby into a business,” she said.  

Organizers expect to attract around 5,000 people this year. And although there will be some strangers among the crowd, Lovejoy Goldman also expects to see some familiar faces, too.

“It’s almost like a beading family reunion,” she said. “Everyone there is part of the beading world. It’s great to see those people you only see a couple times per year.”

For more information, visit www.PugetSoundBeadFestival.com.