Plan a Beading Party

It's time to sit down, relax and let the beading begin! Keep an eye out for struggling beaders, but don't come "to the rescue" too quickly. They may be able to figure out the problem and thus become a little more confident with the beading. Demonstrate for others as you provide assistance on anything that your guests find really tricky. It sometimes surprises experienced beaders to learn that caertain things that we take fro granted can be very tricky for a new beader. I can do a wrapped loop in my sleep now, but when I first started beading, it was a complete mystery to me for a couple of months, at least! Go slow and be available to help.

Make sure that you and your guests take a little time to relax and enjoy the food, drinks and one another's company. Don't worry if some your guests have a varied interest level. Some may simply stop beading and choose to enjoy the company. Don't let it worry you. Have extra chairs or a sofa nearby so that the guests who choose to stop beading can gather and not distract those guests who really do want to bead.

Another point to consider: if you do want to invite a few crafty friends who are not interested in beading, have them bring a portable project in a craft they love (knitting, crochet, embroidery) so that they may work on that while you and the other guests bead. That way, you can all visit together and you can use the opportunity to explain to your guests how beading can be incorporated into other forms of needlework.