Nomad Bead Merchants: Boulder jewelry making & classes

Quick and easy, elastic bracelets are fun to make and to wear. No clasps! No findings! No tools beyond a pair of small, sharp scissors! We'll cover the basics of all the different types of elastic, how to do Nomad's favorite compact knot, and the use of crimp covers to conceal and protect the knot.

For this class, we'll be using colorful glass and polymer clay beads. This is a perfect intro project for kids - create a custom piece in the colors and style of your choice!

Class fee covers instruction and materials for two bracelets.

This is a morning session starting at 10am. Wan Norby will be teaching.

Step up to the challenge of one of the classic wire workers' projects, the bezel wrapped pendant. This technique creates a custom-shaped frame around the outside edge of a cabochon or flat-backed stone. Square and half-round wire combine for a sleek, elegant design.

Materials are included. Students will use copper-based wire available in a variety of finishes - silver or gold plated, bronze, and more. Choose a stone from Wan's vast collection of cabochons to create something unique.

Welcome to Nomad's weekend basics class! This is an introduction to simple jewelry construction and is a great entry point for new beaders.

This week we will work on STRINGING - methods and tools for putting together basic bracelets or necklaces. There are many stringing materials available, and we'll discuss several in class. One of the easiest to use and most durable is 'beading wire', which is really a tiny steel cable.

Students will string beads on flexible miniature cable and learn to finish a small sample bracelet with a clasp and folded crimps. This simple technique works for necklaces, bracelets and pretty much any other flexible beaded project. This is a foundation technique and worth knowing if you want to construct beaded jewelry!

Please note that while we'll be making sample pieces throughout, students will not be making any finished jewelry - this is purely a techniques class. Loaner tools and practice materials are provided.

Depending on how quickly the group progresses, we may be able to discuss more advanced techniques. If you've got questions, please ask away!

This is an afternoon session starting at 12pm. Catherine Phillips will be teaching.

Introduce yourself to one of the great basic techniques of beading! Learn to knot snugly and accurately between pearl or gemstone beads using Griffin beading thread and narrow tweezers. Choose from among Catherine's collection of pearls, ranging from off-rounds to baroques, from white to near-black.

All projects involving this kind of intensive knotting call for patience, but nothing flows like a well-crafted necklace using this technique. Be warned: Some of our students have become knotting addicts.