Bead Society of New Mexico upcoming events

Basic Wire Wrapped Pendant (09 May 2026)

Sat, 09 May 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Deb Cole - Instructor Bio

I started making jewelry for dance costumes in the early 1980s. Later, I learned the basics of metal smithing and then became really interested in wire wrapping stones. In the early 2000s I started beading to make necklaces and earrings to match the wire-wrapped pendants. I love to create jewelry designs using wire, stone, and beads. Through the Bead Society of New Mexico, I am learning bead embroidery, bead crochet, and more. I loved studying geology, art, and art history at UNM, and became fascinated with jewelry through the ages from ancient to modern.

Class Description:

Basic Wire Wrapping that can be used to capture stones of different shapes and sizes. This is a beginning wire wrapping class with variations for finishing the wrap based on the shape of the stone. Instructions will be provided. Students will select a stone cabochon at the beginning of class.

Instructor will provide:

Square Copper wire
Half Round Copper wire
Stone Cabochon

Students should bring:

Round nose pliers
Chain nose pliers
Flat nose pliers
Wire Cutters
Bead mat or work surface
Task light
Magnification eye wear, if needed

Peek-a-Boo Bracelet Class (06 Jun 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Nan Card - Instructor Bio

Nan Card started taking formal beading classes around 2010 before I moved to New Mexico. I learned some bead embroidery and bead weaving doing small projects such as earrings and bracelets. My sister and I retired from our jobs in the Washington, DC area and moved to NM in 2012. I joined three organizations that beaded, including BSNM, and took more classes and learned a lot more about beading. It has become my favorite craft and now I enjoy passing on my knowledge in beading to other people.

Class Description:

This bracelet is made using Right Angle Weave and top-level construction. Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate.

Students should bring:

Two colors of 8mm beads or 6mm beads. They can be pearls, stones, or crystals; just don't mix the sizes! You will need twice as many in one color and half that in the second color. Estimated number of beads for 7” bracelet: 8mm about 28 or 6mm about 38.
Two colors of size 11 seed beads. The lesser bead count color will edge the 8mm/6mm layer, the greater bead count color will be used on the upper layer.
One color of 4mm bicones or fire polish beads to go down the upper layer of the bracelet. Estimated number of bicones or fire polish beads: 13-17.
Your favorite clasp (as you can see, I like toggle clasps)
Fireline or other beading thread you like to use
Other general beading supplies: bead mat, scissors, battery-operated light, magnification, anything else you like to have with you when beading.

Beginning Beaded Embroidery Bezel around a Cabochon (20 Jun 2026)

Sat, 20 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Class Description:

Laura will teach you how to create a beaded bezel around a cabochon using peyote stitch. Once you learn the basics there are endless possibilities as seen in the photos above. Knowledge of Peyote even stitch is required.

Class Day/Date: Saturday, June 20, 2026 (Postponed from March 28, 2026)

Class Start & End Time: 1:00-4:00pm

Location:

New Mexico Bead Company

411 Louisianna Blvd., NE

Albuquerque, NM 87043

Instructor provided Components:

Instructor will have cabs and seed beads available plus Lacy's Stiff Stuff for purchase - or you can purchase supplies at NM Bead Company. If you already have items needed, there is no additional cost.
Come at least 15 minutes early if you need to purchase supplies.

Students should bring:

Flat back Cabochon Round or Oval between 15mm & 25mm in Stone, Resin, or Glass (not high domed)
Glue on backing- Lacy’s Stiff Stuff or similar backing (not felt or reg fabric)
Delicas/Seed Beads Size 11s, 15s, 8s
Needle & thread of your choice such as Nymo, Fireline

Bead mat
Scissors/Cutter
Ruler
Light/Magnifier
Anything else you would like to have to be comfortable when you bead, such as magnifiers, beading light, needlework supplies/tools, etc.

Class Cost: $40

Maximum Students: 8 (waitlist will be available)

Laura Bosch: Laura was born in Washington DC and lived most of her life in Silver Spring Maryland. She & her husband, Jonathan, moved here in 2023. She joined the Bead Society of NM even before moving here! Laura is our Facebook board member.

Majoring in crafts at the Univ of Maryland in the early 1970’s, her main focus was fabric arts like macramé and loom weaving. She started beading again in the 1990s, mainly seed beading amulet bags, earrings, bracelets. Now she does all kinds of beading. After working for a wholesale jewelry business in Maryland for 10 years, in 2002 she left to start her business Multibeadia. Selling first on eBay and now selling on Etsy, her store has a large variety of stone beads, large hole beads, findings, tools, Czech glass beads, 2-hole beads & her own jewelry designs.

Store address is Multibeadia.etsy.com. Bead Society members receive 10% off, and you can even make an appointment to buy in person.

Woodland Keepsake Class - Carrie Tahquechi (10 Jul 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Woodland Keepsake Class - Carrie Tahquechi

Project Options Cabochon Options

Carrie Tahquechi - Instructor

Carrie Tahquechi is a lifelong creative and experienced instructor who is passionate about helping others discover the meditative joy of beadwork. Her approachable teaching style helps students build confidence through technique while encouraging personal expression and artistic instinct. She has taught at Rocky Mountain Bead Society, Enchanted Bead Retreat, Beader’s Dream Retreat 2025, and the Bead Cruise 2026.

Carrie brings a thoughtful balance of structure and intuition to her beadwork. She often begins with a sketch, then allows the beads themselves to shape the rhythm and flow of the design as it evolves. This interplay of planning and spontaneity gives each piece a distinctive, refined, and expressive voice full of creative life.

A distinctive part of Carrie’s work is her use of custom 3d printed frames that give her bead embroidery added structure and dimensionality. She combines these forms with traditional bead embroidery techniques and Native American stitches to create the final piece. The result is work that feels both sculptural and detailed, with a strong sense of form, texture, and movement.

Class Description:

Woodland Keepsakes is a charming half-day class in which students will create a warm, fall-inspired piece featuring Carrie’s adorable baby animal cabochons. Each focal begins with a peyote bezel using your choice of original autumn-themed animal images, set onto a metal blank and transformed through bead embroidery into either a necklace or a decorative bag embellishment. Students will work with a peyote stitch cabochon setting, beaded backstitch, pearl cup chain, and fall-toned beadwork to create a finished piece full of cozy woodland character.

Designed for beginner to intermediate students, this class is a wonderful introduction to combining structure, texture, and playful imagery in bead embroidery. The project offers flexibility in both color and finish, allowing students to choose a necklace or bag format while creating something uniquely their own.

Additional Information:

Woodland keepsakes is listed as beginner/ intermediate. Students that are true beginners, never beaded at all, will likely make it through most of the peyote bezel and practice on brick stitch edging. A beader that perhaps has only done beadweaving will get a bit farther. A beader with peyote and embroidery experience will learn refining techniques, more embellishment ideas and may well be finishing or close to it in class. Full project instructions accompany each kit and Carrie will tailor the class experience to each student’s level so they will be able to finish at home.

Students should bring size 11 needles, thread of choice, scissors, a work surface, task light, magnification if needed, and adhesive.

Skill Level: Beginning to Intermediate

A beginner has very little or no beading experience. An Intermediate learner has a knowledge and some practice with basic bead embroidery skill such as backstitch, peyote, and brick stitch edging.

Class Costs:

Kit fee $50.00 (Your kit choice will be purchased from Carrie at the class.)
Class Fee $40 (paid at registration)

Maximum Students: 15

Note: Complimentary beverages and snacks will be provided courtesy of The Bead Society of New Mexico.
The Range is open from 7:30am to 8:30. Feel free to enjoy a full breakfast or dinner before or after class with friends or family.

Gilded Lagoon Class - Carrie Tahquechi (10 Jul 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Gilded Lagoon Class - Carrie Tahquechi

At least one additional colorway will be available at the class.

Carrie Tahquechi - Instructor

Class Description:

Gilded Lagoon invites students to create a richly detailed statement necklace centered around a one-of-a-kind hand-poured paint cabochon. In this class, students will explore bead embroidery techniques to build a beautiful focal piece featuring a peyote stitch cabochon setting, beaded backstitch, sparkling cup chain accents, and flowing fringe. The project is finished with a handmade neckband that brings the entire design together into a cohesive and wearable work of art.

This intermediate-level, half-day class is ideal for students who enjoy detailed beadwork and want to expand their skills while creating a dramatic focal necklace. Each finished piece will reflect the individuality of the hand-poured cabochon and chosen colorway, making every necklace unique.

Additional Information:
For Gilded lagoon intermediate - Peyote bezel experience is very helpful but not a strict requirement. Those that do not have some peyote experience will be well behind others by the halfway point of class, but they will again see and discuss all steps. In this class we will need to move fairly quickly from one step to another to cover the full project and give fringe and finishing the time it needs for demos. Beaders will need to be able to step away from their project to watch demos and discuss next steps. Especially with the neckband beading at the end.

Students should bring needles, thread of choice, scissors, a work surface, task light, magnification if needed, and adhesive.

Skill Level: Intermediate
An Intermediate learner has a knowledge and some practice with basic bead embroidery skills such as backstitch, peyote, and brick stitch edging.

Class Costs:

Kit fee $85 (Your kit choice will be purchased from Carrie at the class.)
Class Fee $40 (paid at registration)

Maximum Students: 15

Note: Complimentary beverages and snacks will be provided courtesy of The Bead Society of New Mexico.

The Range is open from 7:30am to 8:30. Feel free to enjoy a full breakfast or dinner before or after class with friends or family.

Spirit of the Southwest Full Day Class - Carrie Tahquechi (11 Jul 2026)

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Spirit of the Southwest Full-Day Class Carrie Tahquechi

Carrie has designed some Southwest Images (the Roadrunner and the Cactus specifically for our class – however you may select any of the kit samples below.

All kit options will be available during the same class and taught using the same bead embroidery approach, giving students the opportunity to work in a style that best suits their personal taste while still enjoying the full class experience.

Carrie Tahquechi - Instructor

Class Description:

Spirit of the Southwest is an intermediate bead embroidery class where students will create a necklace inspired by the colors and imagery of the high desert. Students may choose between a roadrunner or prickly pear cactus design (or other option), then use bead embroidery techniques including beaded backstitch and fringe to build a finished piece with texture, movement, and Southwestern character. The result is a bold and wearable necklace that celebrates iconic desert forms through beadwork.

This intermediate, full-day class is suited for students with some bead embroidery experience who are ready to build dimension and detail into a finished necklace project.

Additional Information:

The Spirit of Southwest is listed as intermediate mostly due to the amount of time spent doing backstitch and making it lay in a beautiful way, refining technique and fixing problem areas. Peyote takes a backstage here. Beaded back stitch is the primary stitch and most of our morning will be spent on this. Once students have some lines down on their frame we discusss problem areas and how to fix those. Putting things together, the small bezel and finishing will be the afternoon tasks.

Students should bring needles, thread of choice, scissors, a work surface, task light, magnification if needed, and adhesive.

Skill Level: Intermediate

This intermediate, full-day class is suited for students with some bead embroidery experience (such as backstitch, peyote and brick stitch edging) who are ready to build dimension and detail into a finished necklace project.

Class Costs:

Kit fee $65 (Your kit choice will be purchased from Carrie at the class.)
Class Fee $85 (full day class fee paid at registration)

Maximum Students: 15