For small groups of 2-4 students

With Etta Mae

I am happy to offer 1 or 2 hour Bead Weaving Lessons to small groups of 2 to 4 students at a time. Adults and children age 10 and up are welcome to attend. These small group bead weaving lessons are designed to give students access to a teacher when they have questions or want to learn new skills. During the easier parts of their project, students can work at home independently.  

If this is your first time to bead, I recommend that you start with a beginner bead weaving project: an even-count peyote stitch ring or bracelet. This will support you in easefully and successful entry point into this craft. After you learn the basics with this first project, then you can move on to other more complicated stitches and projects, such as learning the brick stitch or making a pair of dangle earrings. Below I have included a short description of the different bead weaving projects you may feel inspired to make.  

Who: Adults and children 10 years and up.

Time/Date: choose either a 1 or 2 hour lesson, and the time that best suits your needs, options are: 

• after school on Wednesdays.

• Thursday or Friday mornings, ending by 1pm.

• Weekend time slots could also be a possibility as well, if this is your only availability.

Class fees depend on how many people attend (Supplies not included)

• 4 persons = $15 per person an hour 

(1 hr lesson =$15 per person/ 2 hr lesson =$30 per person)

• 3 persons =$20 per person an hour

 (1 hr lesson =$20 per person/ 2 hr lesson =$40 per person)

• 2 persons =$30 per person an hour 

(1 hr lesson =$30 per person/ 2 hr lesson =$60 per person)

What to bring: Students must bring their own beads to these lessons.  All other supplies will be available for purchase at the lesson.  For beginners, it is recommended that you work with size 11 MIYUKI DELICA beads. These beads can be purchased locally at Ben Franklin. If buying beads for the first time, I recommend purchasing a minimum of 3 colors; in either contrasting or blending colors. There is a full supply list included below for your reference.

How to Schedule a Lesson:  Reach out to Etta Mae by text or email to let her know:

• How many people are in your group?

• What is your preferred lesson date and time? 

• What project are you wanting to create?  If there are multiple people in your group, please let me know what project each person chooses. 

There may be other students who have reached out wanting a lesson, and I can couple students together to create small groups; this will lower each person's individual class fee. When there are 2-4 students ready to enroll, the lesson can be scheduled and you will be invited to send in your class fee. Once your payment is received, your lesson is confirmed. All paid fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Be Advised~

• Beading needles and size 11 beads are very small; this craft requires good eyesight and strong fine motor skills.  Students are encouraged to bring their eye glasses or a magnifying lamp if they need. 

• Beading is a very slow craft and takes a lot of time and patience!!  Beginners can expect to spend 5 to 10 hours on their first bead project.  

Choose Your Project

First Project for Beginners~Even-Count Peyote Stitch Ring or Bracelet

This project will give students the opportunity to learn the peyote stitch and get your hands familiar with threading the bead needle, starting and ending a thread, weaving in the loose ends, and using size 11 seed beads. Once students finish this first project and learn the basics, they will be ready to move on to another project of their choice.  

Peyote Stitch Necklace (Beginner)

Depending on your design, students will use the peyote stitch to create the centerpiece of a necklace. You may decide to design your necklace to include a pendant or beaded dangle as well.  

Brick Stitch Necklace (Intermediate)

Depending on your design, students will have the opportunity to learn the single or double brick stitch; and the decreasing and/or increasing brick stitch. You may decide to design your necklace to include a pendant or beaded dangle as well.  

Beaded Dangle Earrings (Intermediate-Advanced)

In this project students will learn the decreasing brick stitch, using either the single or double brick stitch.  After creating the triangle base of the earrings, students will learn how to add the earring hook and make the dangle fringe. For the earring project, I have created a beautiful hand written and illustrated instruction booklet with full detailed step-by-step instructions available for sale.  

Bead Embroidery Pendant (Intermediate-Advanced)

Using a flat gemstone (cabochon cut) as a centerpiece, students will learn how to encase the stone in beads and gemstones using the peyote stitch and bead embroidery. Afterwards, this pendant can be made into a necklace.  

Brick Stitch Wolf or Other Image (Advanced)

It is fun to create images in our beadwork such as a wolf, bird, butterfly or an abstract design. In this type of beadwork students will learn how to design and follow a pattern using the increasing and/or decreasing brick stitch. Designs can be made using single or double brick stitch. These unique bead weaving designs could be made into a pair of earrings or a necklace.  

Bead Weaving Supply list

I buy most of my beading supplies online from Fire Mountain Gems, they give discounts depending on how many items you put in your cart.  Supplies are also available on Amazon or at our local Ben Franklin Craft Store in Hilo. Here is a list of supplies you may need, depending on which project you choose to create.  

• Miyuki Delica beads; size 11 (all projects).

• Beading needles ~ John James is my favorite brand: Size 11 needles are for general beading (all projects) ; while size 13 needles (optional) are for weaving in the loose ends and adding small gemstones.

• Bead mat (all projects).

• Good sharp precision scissors (all projects).

• FireLine Beading Thread, 0.15mm diameter, 6-pound test (all projects) ~ this thread is used for the Peyote or Brick Stitch Foundation. I buy both black and white thread colors, and use the color that matches the beads the best.

• One-G beading thread size 0.  This is a flexible nylon thread specially designed for the earring or necklace dangle.  I buy both black and white thread colors, and use the color that matches the beads the best.

• Precious gemstone beads of various sizes; I mostly use size 2-3mm (for bead embroidery or earring dangle).  For some projects I may use up to size 4mm.

• Cabochon cut gemstones: a gemstone that is cut flat on one side (for the centerpiece of bead embroidery).

• Ear Wire (for earrings); I use Gold, Sterling Silver or Niobium in various colors.  Niobium is completely hypoallergenic (for all skin types).