International Beading Week 2018: BIP!

The lovely editor of Bead and Jewellery Magazine, Vicky Roberts, asked me to answer a few questions for an interview. The next magazine will have lots and lots of great things to discover, many in relationship with International Beading Week. That made me realize that it is approaching fast. Really fast! If the weather wasn't so lovely, I wouldn't believe that it is nearly June!

It is still very calm in the Facebook group - but I hope that it will soon be lively like last year, if not more!

What about your plans? If you organize something, you can fill out this form to have your event added to the IBW official website (sponsored by the Beadworkers Guild) for others to know. This is valid for everyone - beaders, beadshops, teachers. Let the world know that you're having a special event! Perhaps a beader on holidays in your area will love to meet you!

No plans yet? There are many things you can do. Either attend a meeting, a workshop, or or organize one. Teach to children, do bead bombing, create beaded beads to enter the IBW contest and have them displayed by the organizers during Beading Week... Learn more about all this on the here .

Use the FB group tools to create and promote your own event and find & invite people. By creating an event, you also create a FB page specially dedicated to your event, where you can interact with people, ask and answer questions, etc.

In 2017, Irinel Maria Maranjic from Romania organized
a workshop with young children. They were
all very proud of what they made.

Add friends to the group, to help them and others find people who live nearby. Add photos of the beady creations made. You can create an album. Perhaps you will like to post a video, too.

It doesn't have to be a super fancy meeting. Just a get together with people in your area. Perhaps organize something nice for beginners, because Beading week is about celebrating our Art, but also bringing beading to new people.

Maybe you'll prefer a bead-tea party - perhaps with iced tea if it is too warm in August... Ask the nearby grocery, bakery or tea room to inform the public about your event.

Some peeps like to do a buffet, where everyone brings something to eat. There always is a mountain of remaining food and the extra is taken back home: no cooking after a beautiful day makes it even better. Tip: don't forget the empty lunch boxes ;)

IBW happens the first week of August for a reason: the weather is generally good enough for outdoor beading. Croquet or other outdoor games for the husbands and children who are not interested in beading seems to be a good idea. In France, "Jeu de Boule" is a hit!

IBW is about celebrating and showing our wonderful Art. To people who have never beaded and might want to learn it and incidentally to people who don't understand how much time goes in it. If you can, go out, sit at a table in a park and BIP (bead in public).
3 good reasons:
Beading deserves its stripes. Proudly wear and talk about what you make. 
Beading may not be right for everyone, but it might be for someone. Maybe put a sign: “Free demo” on the table, and have a tiny tin with beads, mat, needle and thread for those who want to try. Hand out a few cards of your preferred bead shop to give to the person who falls in love with it...
Beading helps many people relax, feel good by being creative, cope with chronic illnesses, depression, etc. You might well save someone's sanity or find a new best friend.

In this photo, you can see the malachite
green piece that I made for the
month of May. Only 2 left to make!

Because I am a stuck at home, I will do a bead along on the FB page for those of you who are too (and also for those who aren't - of course everybody can participate!). I will explain to you how to make the pentagon bezels I made over the past months. What it will be when assembled is still a secret, and the final result will be revealed during International Beading Week. I hope that you will like it. Look out for more bead alongs. And visit Kerrie Slade's blog to discover her contest within the framework of this big beading party.

I am looking forward to seeing your photos and videos! I just love to see beady peeps together, smiling and having fun, sharing the love of their Art.

 Until then, bead happy!

Cath