The Beadgang

Here's a short introduction and some background on The Beadgang, also known as Cheryl Assemi, Bobbi Assemi, Carol Sweet, Cathy Thomsen and Connie Bell. This lovely crew of beady ladies has generously offered us not one pattern, but FIVE!! And all of them never before published, so they are seen here for the very first time. Get to know these wonderful ladies, I'm sure you'll love them!

THE BEADGANG

Put five talented women together who have an absolute obsession for beads and beading, and it becomes "The Beadgang". Cheryl Assemi, Carole Sweet, Cathy Thomsen, and Connie Bell, are all sisters who grew up on the family farm in the Central San Joaquin Valley. Bobbi Assemi grew up in a small rural town in the Midwest, settled in California, where she became Cheryl's cousin by marriage. They all discovered a common passion for beads.

It all began when a friend of Cheryl's came across some kind of beading project in a store. Cheryl bought a book by Barbara Elbe, two colors of beads and taught herself to bead. Cathy couldn't wait to start. Cheryl taught Cathy, Bobbi, and Connie one simple off-loom stitch and they all quickly became obsessed. Carole lives farther away and took a few classes at a local bead store. We began making amulet bags, designing our own patterns and developing our own unique styles. Soon, people were asking us for copies of the patterns we had made. The next thing you know, we put our favorite patterns together and called it a book.

We love what we do. Our beads and our books are worked in between our husbands, our children, our homes and our "other" jobs. We are lucky to do what we do, and are even luckier to have each other.

Be sure to visit the Beadgang Web page for more really cool stuff! Stop by and say "hi"!

While you're at it, take a look at the wonderful books out out by the "Gang"! Reviews for Beaded Obsessions, Another Beaded Obsessions and Beaded Obsessions III, The Saga Continues, as well as the solo effort and thing of beauty by Cheryl Assemi, Beaded Eleganceare all available here on The Beadsite, with information on how to order these can't-do-without volumes!

Also, don't forget those fabulous free patterns! From Bobbi Assemi we have the gorgeous Grapes and Apples Amulet pattern. Cheryl Assemi offers us her beautiful Mother Nature Bag. Carole Sweet has designed the fantastic Hearts of Gold for us, get out those long held 22KG seed beads or Delicas for this one, it's what you've been saving them for! A gorgeous Parade of the Griffin comes to us courtesy Cathy Thomsen and last, but in NO way least, comes the delightful Woven Madness from Connie Bell.

Please join me in giving the BeadGang a big round of applause, and a huge thank you for being Beadwork Spotlight Artists.