Our Land of Odds...LEARN TO BEAD program
is based on 
The Design Approach:
- Focused on teaching how to make smart choices
- Developmentally-based, where you learn skills in an orderly way, and understand how skills build upon each other
- Easy to follow 

ORIENTATION

REGISTER FOR THE NEXT ORIENTATION TO BEADS & JEWELRY FINDINGS CLASS

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to a common language and understanding of beads, jewelry findings and tools that they will be working with, from The Design Perspective.

This course acquaints the student with the world of beads, and what kinds of choices the bead artist and jewelry designer need to make.

(All students are required to begin our curriculum with this ORIENTATION CLASS.    The Orientation Class is offered once a month.)

An extended 5 1/2 hours of Orientation video tutorials is available online.   Visit here.

BEAD STRINGING

THE FIRST CLASS IN THIS SEQUENCE IS BASICS OF BEAD STRINGING AND ATTACHING CLASPS.

There is an art and skill to stringing beads on cord. First, of course, is the selection of beads for a design, and the selection of the appropriate stringing material. Then is the selection of a clasp or closure, appropriate to the design and use of the piece. This continues with choosing the strategy for stringing beads with cord, including choices about knotting, braiding, using multiple strands and a single tie-off, multiple strands with multiple tie-offs. 

THIS CLASS IS ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.   CLICK here.

BEAD WEAVING

THE FIRST CLASS IN THIS SEQUENCE IS BEAD WEAVING BASICS.

Bead weaving is a collection of hundreds of different stitching techniques and strategies for creating pieces that approximate a piece of cloth.

Stitches and beads. Create simple or elaborate forms using different techniques for connecting, interlocking and embellishing beads and beadwork. 

That's beadweaving, and you see the results in amulet bags, beaded sculptures, beaded vessels, necklaces, bracelets, loomwork, appliqués and more. Many projects attempt to emulate a piece of cloth or textile. 

Other projects are more figural or sculptural.

There are many different techniques of bead weaving. The most popular are peyote stitch, right angle weave, loom work, brick stitch, ndebele, square stitch, and netting.

WIRE WORKING and WIRE WEAVING

THE FIRST CLASS IN THE WIRE WORK SEQUENCE IS WIRE MIX N' MATCH BRACELET.
THE FIRST CLASS IN THE WIRE WEAVING SEQUENCE IS WIRE WEAVE I: W/2 BASE WIRES.

Working with wires of different thickness, hardness, shape, color, materials, strength in fashioning jewelry and other objects is a very desirable skill. It takes experience with the feel of wire, how it is shaped, how it's strength can be structurally enhanced, and how it can be interlinked, interlocked and interconnected with other wire, with beads, with other materials. This "feel" will vary a bit with the type of metal. For example, brass is harder than sterling silver.

There are three approaches.

The first is called Wire Work. In wire working, the artist creates shapes, using various sizes of wire. The artist can create jewelry findings, such as clasps, headpins and earwires. S/he can create chains of linked wire shapes. S/he can create unusual shapes to dangle from earrings, or to embellish pieces as decorative components. SHAPE is the key word here.

The second is called Wire Wrap. In wire wrapping, the artist uses wire to create structural components, then assembles these into a supporting system. This is similar, though on a micro-scale, to building and engineering a bridge. The artist might create a setting for a stone, or a piece of jewelry which depends on controlling the tensile strength of the wire in some way, to hold the stone in place, and keep it from popping out. STRUCTURE is the key word here.

The third is called Wire Weaving.  Here wire is used to create patterns and textures, similar to basket weaving.   Wire weaving can add a level of sophistication and artistry to your Wire Work and Wire Wrap projects.

WORKSHOPS

Several times during the year, we offer more intensive classes and workshops, most often in the interest area of Bead Weaving.

BUSINESS OF CRAFT

Many people learn beadwork and jewelry-making in order to sell the pieces they make. The elective courses here provide skills and knowledges which will assist the student toward this end, whether selling in bricks and mortar settings, selling at craft shows, or selling on-line.

A few of these classes are also available online.  Click here.

JEWELRY DESIGN

THE FIRST CLASS IN THIS SEQUENCE IS INTRODUCTION TO BEADS & COLOR

Jewelry Design is the application of basic principles of artistic expression and construction. The jewelry artist applies these principles or rules when making choices about how best to manipulate the elements of the piece. 

Read about:  Good Jewelry Design: Principles of Composition

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JEWELRY DESIGN DISCUSSION SEMINARS

Beaders' Circle / Meetup Group 

JEWELRY MAKING CLINICS

These one hour classes are usually scheduled on a Thursday late afternoon at 5:00pm.    Each Clinic focuses on mastering a specific skill.    The fee is $15.00, which includes instruction, handout, and materials.   Tools are provided.    You do not have to bring anything except yourself.  You will need to pre-register for these (615-292-0610, or online at https://landofodds.com/jewelry-clinics/ .

CURRENT CLINICS:  (See Google Calendar, or check with store, for schedule.)

1. Making Simple and Coiled Wire Loops

2. How To Use Elastic String to Make Bracelets

3. Let's Make Earrings -- Beads on Head Pins

4. Let's Make Earrings -- Beads off a Chain

5. How to Crimp

6. Apply A Pricing Formula To Price Your Jewelry

7. Kumihimo Basics

8. Peyote Beaded Cabochon Bezel

Mini-Lessons

One or two Saturdays each month, we offer Mini-Lessons. These are 30 minute sessions where we introduce and explain a technique, go over the main choices you will need to make when implementing that technique, and then you get to practice it. We provide brief instruction, a handout, the materials and tools. Typically, a materials fee between $3.00 and $5.00 is required. 

Mini-Lesson, Jewelry Clinic, or Regular Class?

Mini-Lessons differ from our 1-hour Jewelry Clinics in that they are simple introductions to a technique and a short practice time. In the Jewelry Clinics, we spend more time to master the technique, and explore and practice more things you can do with the technique.

Mini-Lessons differ from our Regular 3- to 5-hour Classes in that our classes focus on teaching you about the wide range of art, design and construction choices you will need to make when implementing a technique(s), and then spend considerable time training you in implementing the technique(s) and learning those choices. We review other similar techniques and go over how to choose which technique to use when.