Special Free Event Coming Soon

Maria Rypan is well known in the beading community as a specialist of traditional Ukrainian beaded collars.  She has created a beautiful design using the latest Czech beads for a modern twist on a traditional style.  Maria is generously sharing this pattern with one of our suppliers, and so it makes its way to you, dear Customers.  Sylvia Abeyta has beaded up her own collar using this pattern and added a beautiful Czech focal button as the clasp.  This allows you to wear it with the button in front or back.  If you are familiar with vertical netting, you will find this fun and delightful.  If you are new to netting, then you will enjoy rolling up your sleeves and needling up.  We are here to support you during 2 Friday Happy Hours 4/22 and 4/29, 4:30-6 PM.  Please join us at one or both.  April 22nd is the first night of Passover, and so we will have the pattern featured for 2 consecutive weeks.  It is such a great design - we want as many of you to be able to join as possible.  We are happy to send  beads and the design to our remote customers as well. Just send us an email or give us a call.

We have lots of new honeycomb beads and daggers to give you ever more choices in planning your collar.

Stop in and see what's new.  

Click here for the supply list and join us!

Join us this afternoon for a first project with crescent beads.

Happy Hour 4/15/16 - Chrysanthemum bracelet

by Nichole Starman

Bead Crochet Club - Support and Inspiration

Julia's Crochet Bracelet Pattern - Wrist with a Twist

Our introduction to crochet class was jam-packed.  It was a sold-out class and Wendy and I stuffed as much one on one instruction into those 3 hours, as seemed humanly possible.  It had taken me about a month of struggling with this new technique to be able to create something uniform and pretty.  So, I was clear that unlike most classes, where you can leave with the technique under your belt, this was just the beginning.  Now, we have the next phase of instruction to offer.  Beginning Monday, April 4th, our book club is on hold so we can begin our next FREE ongoing event: Bead Crochet Club.  Anyone who has some knowledge of bead crochet is welcome.   I will be present every Monday night for one on one time with anyone who wants to move forward with bead crochet.  It is a great opportunity to  see how others deal with the same challenges, and push past a stuck spot.  Exchange advice, ideas, techniques, pattern resources, or just sit and crochet away.  This does not take the place of an Intro to Bead Crochet class.  I will continue to offer those to get people started.  It is intended to create a community of support and inspiration in bead crochet.  Our book clubs have been so successful in providing both support with beading techniques and inspiration and encouragement in moving forward and taking your creativity to the next level.  I know that we can provide the same for bead crochet.  

The Wrist with a Twist pattern above is a minor variation on the 3 bead spiral.  It is a 6 around pattern and easy to work up.  You can see that I created a new way to finish, that is fully beaded and no end caps are needed.  These advances and variations are what you can get on Monday nights, in addition to help with techniques.  Our Monday night club is from 6-8 PM.  There is no charge and no registration.  Just show up.  As usual, we have bead mats and lighting.  Please feel free to bring your own beads and products or purchase with us.  There is no obligation on your part.  

Remember - in addition to our scheduled classes with tuition fees we have 3 FREE ongoing events every week:

Bead Crochet Club - Mondays 6-8 pm - beginning April 4th

Wire Meet Up Tuesday - 1-3 pm

Friday Happy Hour - 4:30-6 pm 

Hope to see you soon!

Roped In By Ropes

I am all about beaded ropes these days.  Several months ago, I happened upon the beaded crochet ropes of Brigitte Iländer, of Germany.  They are an amazing amalgam of color and pattern.  I quickly realized that there is a level of pattern control and possibility that I wanted to master.  I purchased her book and realized that I needed a primer on this technique before I could jump ahead.  I used Candace Sexton's book and DVD to teach myself the basics (available at Poppyfield).  And in true medical training fashion (see one - do one - teach one) I am ready to teach you all and bring you along on my bead crochet journey.    Saturday, Feb 20th, 1-4 PM you can learn the secrets of the bead crochet rope using size 8/0 seed beads.  

Intro to Bead Crochet - Tri Color Spiral Bracelet by Julia Hecht

This is just the beginning, though.  Here is a preview of Brigitte's patterns from her book:

Click here to purchase her book

As we continue on our adventure, I will be sharing how to read bead crochet patterns, and how to work with thinner thread / cord, and smaller beads.  I have worked some rope with 11/0's and although 8/0's are definitely the way to start, it is pretty exciting to go smaller.

Other Ropey Happenings

I am preparing for my Seeds of Change Necklace to appear in the next issue of Bead and Button (It will be called Springtime Garden in the magazine).  This is an embellished kumihimo rope that I created in 2014 and taught at the shop a number of times.  It uses 2 holed SuperDuos and 2 holed Lentils in the braided rope in order to create a foundation for embellishment.  I am getting some color ways together to sell on our webstore, for remote beaders who can't come in and select the components in person.  To start, there will be a Pacific Forest color way with blues and greens, and a Champagne Garden color way with pinks and greens.  

Seeds of Change / Springtime Garden Necklace - Original Color Way

If you want to join in the Kumi fun, you can learn the ropes (Ha!) with us on Feb 20th 10-noon (for brand new braiders), and then how to add beads to your braiding on March 5th 1-4.  You'll be all ready to make your own Springtime Garden necklace when the magazine arrives in March.  You can call the shop or come by in person to register and reserve your place.  

Braiding with Beads - Intro to Beaded Kumi
Sat, March 5th 1-4 PM