Bead Society of New Mexico upcoming events

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 - Friday Class by Carrie Tahquechi (10 Jul 2026)

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 20:00:00 GMT

Gilded Lagoon Class - Carrie Tahquechi

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

Gilded Lagoon - Sunday Class by Carrie Tahquechi (12 Jul 2026)

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Gilded Lagoon Class - Carrie Tahquechi

Carrie Tahquechi - Instructor

Class Description:

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.