Beading Bee - NOVA Women's Friendship Beadin and Brunching

First jewelry making event relating to the Meetup group NOVA Women's Friendship Circle.  All who came were beginners at beading/jewelry making.  Several managed to bring their own pliers, a massive help!  And, of course, energy boosters in the form of food!

As an intro, we did three basic projects to cover a good deal of the fundamental concepts, culminating into a good all-around way to finish off and attach clasps. 

1. Project 1:  Basic earrings on a jumpring/split ring and ear wires.  Teaches the overall tools used, discussion about matching stringing materials to beads, etc., how to use/open rings, essential attaching.
    
2. Project 2:  Elastic Bracelet, including design planning ideas, crimps, stringing and finishing.
    
3. Project 3: Single strand necklace. Discussing cable, cutting, closures.

Most got all three projects done (I'm amazed!)
Here are some other things to consider when you plan to do a Beading Bee!

• Lighting - i had lots and we still could have used more!
• magnifiers - i don't use them and forgot to tell ppl to.. dun make the same mistake!
• temp clamps - those little squishy coil things that you attach to a string while you bead so that things won't fall off the string.