Welcome to the Beading Academy! This is a dedicated space for both seasoned artisans and aspiring crafters to connect, share ideas, and master new techniques. If you are brand new to the world of beading, please take a moment to review our Supply List post before diving into the tutorials. Together, we will explore a wide variety of stitch work and advanced concepts, including: - Flat Even-Count & Odd-Count Peyote - Warped Squares - Right Angle Weave (RAW) & Cubic Right Angle Weave (CRAW) - Brick Stitch & Square Stitch Beyond the lessons, you can look forward to practical projects and our monthly Live Zoom Bead-A-Longs. These gatherings are the heart of our community—a place where we can pull up a seat at our stations, talk about life, discuss beading, and collaborate on amazing works of art in real-time. Community Guidelines & Rules To keep this space productive and welcoming for everyone, please adhere to the following rules: 1. Be Kind: No hate speech or profanity. This group is open to all ages, including children and young adults, so please keep the language and tone clean and respectful. 2. No Politics: Keep the focus strictly on our craft. There are plenty of other forums on the internet for political discussions. 3. Respect Designers & Intellectual Property: When posting about patterns, always cite the designer. Do not post full patterns or instructions here. Instead, share a link where the pattern can be legally found or purchased. 4. Ask Questions: The only "stupid question" is the one never asked. If you are stuck or confused, please ask away—the forum is here to support you. 5. Have Fun: This is the most important rule. Enjoy the process and the community! We're glad you're here. Let's get to work and start creating!

These materials are essential for beading, I will provide links, mostly Amazon, to where they can be purchased. · Beading thread: I use Berkley Fireline 6lb test, in crystal. It also comes in black, but I find crystal better and easier to use for beginners. I typically purchase the 300 yd spool, it’s a little pricy but 300yds will last through a good many projects. https://a.co/d/bgdF1Vh · Beading needles: Any beading needles will do, but they are not all created equal. If you’re like me and hold your needle in a death grip, then a sturdier needle is best. I use Tulip #11 needles, they’re high quality, come in a package of 4 and have terrific durability. https://a.co/d/5KTHypE · Bead mats: Bead mats are an essential part of beading, without one your beads will just roll away. Mats are made of a soft foam-like material similar to velux. I use Beadsmith brand mats, they come in a package of 3 which is great if you’re working on multiple projects. I use the 11”x14”. https://a.co/d/1gpvXnv · Scissors: A pair of good sharp scissors is necessary to make clean cuts in thread. The beading thread has an almost Teflon like coating on it for durability, this will have a tendency to dull your scissors over time. Great brands are Fiskars and Singer. You don’t need big fabric cutting scissors, a little pair of thread snipping scissors are best. https://a.co/d/5tEdHxE · Stuffing material: For use when stuffing 3d stars, pods, or jingle balls. You can use just about anything to stuff, polyfil stuffing, cotton balls, some people even use plastic shopping bags. I like to use tulle because it keeps it’s bounce so your stuffed projects stay puffy and keep their shape. It comes in a 6in x 100yd spool which will last for many, many projects. It comes in tons of colors, but I use plain white. https://a.co/d/aahpSKr · Lighter: Yes, a cigarette lighter, this is for joining new thread and making knots. This is for ADULT USE ONLY!!! Kids, ask mom or dad for help, never try to use it on your own.