A Better Bead & Crafts
"We aid and abet your obsessions."
244 West Main Street
Brevard, North Carolina 28712
828-884-5920
questions@abetterbead.com

 Classes

Classes are taught on an on-going basis as listed below.  We also schedule classes by request.  If you don't see what you want on the list below, just ask and we will arrange a class to meet your needs and schedule.

• Cost for classes varies from $15 to $25 for a 1½ hour session + the cost of beading supplies.

• If you wish to buy tools after your class, they may be purchased at a 20% discount.

• Reservations are required but we will do a class on the spur of the moment if we have a teacher available in the shop.  We teach many more types of classes than we can list.

• All classes including Basic Beading and Basic Earrings are scheduled on demand.  Our class size varies from one (1) to six (6) students max.

Specialty Classes

Bead Crochet

Bead Crochet Pouch

Bead Knitted Pouch

Bead Knitting

Beaded Beads

Brick Stitch

Business Card Holder

Button Crochet Necklace

Caterpillar Bracelet

Crochet

Egyptian Collar

Eyeglass Holder

Fabric Embellishment

Fall Leaf Necklace

Fiber Necklace

Lariat Necklace

Miniature Teddy Bears

Mother's Bracelet

Ornament Cover

Pearl Knotting

Peyote Stitch

Peyote Setting for a Stone

Polymer Clay

Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

Sewing Class

Soldering

St. Petersburg Stitch

Tassels

Tennis Bracelet

Viking Stitch

Vintage Remake

Wire Crochet

Wire Wrapped Rings

Wire Wrapping Stones

Wire Work

The above list represents some, but not all of our class offerings.  In addition to instruction on the creation of specific projects and specialty class samples pictured below, we also offer basic skill level classes that teach a specific set of skills rather than focusing on a particular project.  For more detail, please call Alethea at (828) 884-5920.

Learn to Make Either One or Both of These Stunning Pieces

Herringbone Spiral Set

Pearl, Gold Ball and Chain Necklace Set

Soldered Bracelets and Earrings

Chain Necklace

Large

left

Large Oval

below

Medium

Fun with Crystals and Seed Beads

Swarovski Crystals and Seed Bead Rings

Swarovski Crystals and Seed Bead Bracelets

Swarovski Crystals and Seed Bead Necklace

Peyote Stitch 

(Even Count Flat or Tubular)

FreeForm/Tubular Peyote

Learn to Make Pieces Like These

This class is not a basic level class.  It will take two, ninety minute sessions with a possibility of a third.  The class fee is $40 for two sessions and $50 for three, plus cost of supplies.  Students must know the basics of even count peyote stitch.  In class, they will learn how to do the following:

• increase and decrease

• start a new thread and how to tie one off invisibly

• drop stitches and how to pick them up

• connect standard strings of beads to free form pieces

• mix different sized and/or different shaped beads into the pattern

• shape free form pieces around cabochons and other extra large beads.  

New Knitting Supplies

Stitch Markers in 3 Sizes, 6mm, 8.5mm & 14mm

(Class available to learn to make your own.)

Stitch Markers

set of 5 markers, beads or buttons

$10 per set

Custom bead or button markers available on request. 

Price depends on bead/button choice.

Annette Made This Hat Band

She'll be happy to teach you how to make one of your own.

Wire Coils

Netted Bracelets

Caterpillar Bracelets

with Shelley Bossert or Annette Holbert

Egyptian Collars with Amanda Kohring

Wire Work with NoraLynn

Precious Metal Clay

with Barbara Stock, Level III, certified instructor

The designs below are a representation of what is taught in class.  You may design a drop or pendant that is different from the ones pictured.

Textured Drop Earrings

3 - 4 Hour Class $95

maximum 4 students

Tuesday August 19, 10am - 2pm

Includes all clay and silver wire

 needed to finish project.

Accent beads are extra.

Simple Textured Pendant

3 - 4 Hour Class $95

maximum 4 students

Saturday August 23, 10am - 2pm

Includes all clay and silver wire

 needed to finish project.

Tennis Bracelets by Annette Holbert

 Annette will teach you how to make any one of the these.

Lampwork (Level 1)

with Cathyrn Rice, certified lampwork instructor

11:00 - 3:30

Maximum 3 students

$125 (includes materials)

Sample Projects
for
Some Currently Available Classes

Scroll to bottom of the page for details.

Vintage Re-Makes and Swarovski Crystals

Directional Beads

Bead Knitted or Crocheted Pouches
Click on the above underlined link to see more pictures of pouches.

Tassels

The variation on a theme below is made with a single Venetian heart bead, an amethyst heart bead and two freshwater coin pearls shaped like hearts.  The accent beads are Swarovski crystals in three sizes, and faceted opalite rondelles.  The rest of the lariat is made up of two different types and colors of size 11 seed beads.

• 1 1/2  hour class

• Class cost is $15 to $20.

• Material costs vary with bead selection.

Other lariats are available as
finished jewelry, in kits or as classes.

Student Projects

This wonderful necklace was made by Nancy Bell with Swarovski crystals on sterling silver beading chain with a focal mille fiore donut bead from Luigi Cattelan.

Sue Boxill

Sue had a favorite saucer, when it broke, she couldn't bring herself to toss the shards.  After some time, it occurred to her that she could repurpose those shards as necklace pendant pieces.   We think she made a positively wonderful, one-of-a-kind piece.  What do you think?