Upcoming Classes

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• Spirit of the Southwest Full Day Class - Carrie Tahquechi

  • When
    11 Jul 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
  • Location
    Range Café Bernalillo, 925 S. Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM 87004
  • Spaces left
    1
  • Registered
    14 registrants

  Register

  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

    
  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:

  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
  
  

  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.

  
  

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• Gilded Lagoon - Sunday Class by Carrie Tahquechi

  • When
    12 Jul 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Range Café Bernalillo, 925 S. Camino del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM 87004
  • Spaces left
    7
  • Registered
    8 registrants

  Register

  Gilded Lagoon Class - Carrie Tahquechi

     

       
  

  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:

  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.

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• Crystals in Epoxy Clay Pendant Class

  • When
    01 Aug 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    NM Bead Company - 4111 Louisiana Blvd NE Albuquerque NM 87109
  • Spaces left
    6
  • Registered
    3 registrants

  Register

  Crystals in Epoxy Clay Pendant Class

  
  

  Saturday, August 1, 2026

  1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  New Mexico Bead Company, 4111 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Albuquerque

  You will learn how to make a double-loop bezel component (that can be used as a pendant or bracelet) using crystals and glass cabochons embedded in epoxy clay. This technique is similar to creating mosaics. No prior experience is needed.

  Kits containing everything you need to make your pendant will be provided. Several colorways will be available to choose from at the beginning of the class.

  Total Cost: $35 - Note Bead Buck Points can be used to pay for the class fee but not for the kit fee.  To use your Bead Buck Points, contact Twyla by sending email to BeadSocietyNM@gmail.com.   

           - Class Fee: $25

            - Kit Fee: $10 

  Class Size limited to 10 students.

  Instructor provided Kit Components:

  - Double-loop bezel

  - Crystals and cabochons

  - Epoxy clay

  - “Pick-up tool”

  - Alcohol wipes

  Items students need to bring to class. Note “optional” items such as Eyewear and Lighting.

  - Beading mat

  - Beading light

  - Magnifiers, if needed

  - Magnifying glass, if you have one

  Instructor Information: Jill Bartel 

  Short Bio: I like to create my own components to make the jewelry I design unique. I've been beading for about 50 years (yes, really!). I'm interested in all types of beads and their history but especially pressed (molded) glass beads made in Czechoslovakia, Germany, and Austria. I also have a large collection of books on beads and bead history, charm bracelets, costume jewelry, beaded jewelry, and jewelry instruction. In other words, I'm attracted to just about anything to do with beads!

  
  

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• Beaded Crochet Bracelet Class

  • When
    10 Oct 2026
  •  
    1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    New Mexico Bead Company, 4111 Louisiana Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, NM
  • Spaces left
    7
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  Mari Mikkelsen's

  Beaded Crochet Bracelet Class
  
  

  
  

  Class Description:

  Students will learn to create a beaded crocheted bracelet with beads and a button closure. This is a beginner/intermediate crochet project in which the basic crochet chain and single chain stitches will be used.

  After making one bracelet, each one becomes much easier (I can make one in less than an hour). These bracelets would also make wonderful gifts.

  Note: the student must know how to crochet.

  Instructor Provided Materials:

  Students can choose from several thread and bead colors.

  The kit includes:

  • 5 yards of size 3 crochet thread
  • beads in two colors and sizes
  • closure bead or button
  • big eye needle
  • darning needle
  • needle threader
  • small bead tray
  • written instructions

  Students should bring:

  • Scissors and if needed: beading mat, beading light, optical magnification
  • Crochet Hook, Size 3-1/2 (Note: the instructor will have ergonomic crochet hooks for purchase at $4. Or you can bring your own.

  This class is limited to 8 students. A waitlist is setup and another class will be scheduled as needed.

  Cost $45 ($20 for Instruction and $25 for kit)

  
  

  
  

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