Our Commitment To YOU continues at 1 Stop Bead Shop

Your Questions/Comments Answered

Did you know 1 Stop has a suggestion box? We've received a number of good suggestions, and thought you might like to hear the answers. Look in this section each week for another answer to your questions.

Last week we answered about Advanced classes. Here's a question about beginner classes:
Question: Some classes are elementary. Could there be too many classes, emphasizing quantity over quality?

Answer: 1 Stop offers a large variety of beginner classes. Currently there are 54 Level 1 or 2 classes on the quarterly schedule. (Level 1 = Beginner; Level 2 = Advanced Beginner - no pre-req)

We have learned in 5 years of offering classes, that while we may "think" we know what people are going to sign up for, we don't always guess right. Frequently, potential students are strongly influenced by color or appearance. So we may offer several different classes that teach the same or similar techniques because people will choose based on personal taste of the final combination of design & color.

New beaders continue to come into the store on a daily basis. The best proof we have of a continued need for next step beginner classes, is that all our core beginner classes continue to fill to capacity nearly every month.

1 Stop Bead Shop has over 26 instructors who teach some or every quarter. Each instructor submits the classes they wish to teach for the quarter. Generally more classes are submitted than will actually fit on the schedule and some classes have to wait. We suggest product ideas, and seasonal theme ideas, and we ask that certain core or favorites classes be taught regularly, but ultimately it is the instructor who designs, creates and submits their choices.

Your Questions/Comments Answered

Did you know 1 Stop has a suggestion box? We've received a number of good suggestions, and thought you might like to hear the answers. Look in this section each week for another answer to your questions.

Comment: As an experienced beader, I would like to see more challenging classes.

1 Stop is committed to the growth of both experienced and new beaders. We try to offer a variety of classes across all experience and interest levels each quarter. It's one of the reasons we offer so many classes. Here are a few of the ways you can find more advanced classes on our schedule:

Look for an instructor who often offers the more challenging pieces. Instructors to look for include:
Bonnie Elliot - Bonnie designs nearly all her pieces. She has a variety of beginning or intermediate classes and is uniquely qualified to give you insights into the design process.
Hannah Rosner - National award winner for both lampwork and Bead Weaving Design. Hannah also does all of her own designing and most of her classes combine a variety of stitches that will help you to learn how to think beyond the one-stitch design.
Peggy Chavez, Robin Brannan & Lisa Noyes all offer a selection of intermediate/advanced PMC, metalsmithing, and "Wire & Fire" classes (also known as soldering and fusing).

Look for the Level # in the "L" column on our class list or posted on our website in the class description:
Level 3 is an intermediate class that requires the pre-requisite knowledge listed. You do not have to take the pre-requisite class here, but it is required that you know it, so that the class goes smoothly for everyone.
Level 4 is an intermediate/advanced class. Level 4 classes usually require 2 pre-requisites or "mastery" of the technique. Mastery means you've done more than just take one class in it - you could do it in your sleep.
Level 5 is advanced and always combines a variety of techniques or design elements that require several pre-requisites.

Current schedule has 17 level 3 or equivalent classes and 9 level 4 or equivalent classes.

Visiting Guest Artist Classes - 1 Stop already has a 3 year track record of hosting the bead world's best and hottest - nationally and internationally known, recognized and often published.

These instructors are the bead world's most qualified and experienced instructors and we bring them to you at lower cost than the national shows. We have given you the opportunity to take classes from nationally recognized designers including:
Sherry Serafini - 3 times
Jeannette Cook - 2 times
Maggie Meister - Coming in 2 weeks for the 2nd time
Huib Petersen
Dallas Lovett - 2 times
Leslie Frumin - 2 times
Shielah Cleary

Coming in 2011 - All of the artists listed below are teaching at Bead & Button this year and many of them will be teaching the same classes here at a lower price and without the travel and hotel cost!
Janice Berkebile - Wire & Metals - Feb 17-19
Diane Fitzgerald - Beadweaving - April
Huib Petersen - Beadweaving - May
Cindy Pankopf - Bead Maille - Jun
Jeanette Cook - Beadweaving - Aug
Sherry Serafini - Bead Embroidery - Sep

That said, I will continue to encourage our instructors, as they make their choices for what classes to submit, to really think of challenges for our experienced jewelry makers.
Thanks for the great question/comment. Keep them coming!