Beadtrotters in Harmony
Learn To Make Jewelry — Kits and Classes
Stringing :: Stitching :: Wirework :: Chainmaille :: Polymer Clay
Meet the Teachers
Sue Stachelski
I have been beading since 2001. It all started quite by accident. I was not looking for another hobby, but went to a local bead store to purchase supplies for a project my friend was going to do. I was totally taken in by the vast array of colors and textures. A short time later, I was signed up for class and I was hooked.
I started knitting as a child, with my mother as my first teacher. I started selling my creations in 2003 and began teaching in 2006. I am a member of the Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee, and serve on their Board of Directors.
I also teach private flute and violin lessons and stringed instruments in the local public and private schools.
Cindy Collins
I grew up quilting with my grandmother and developed a love of all things hand made. Several years ago, I took a class learning how to make lamp work beads. A new passion was born.
An engineer by trade, I love investigating and learning new techniques and materials. I find much joy in combining them together to make new creations. I love helping others find joy in these art forms. My favorite mediums and techniques include chain maille, polymer clay and seed bead work.
I am a member of the Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee, and serve on their Board of Directors.
Cheers! Cindy
Paulette Biedenbender
I began beading in 1995 when I was first introduced to Bead & Button Magazine while working at Kalmbach Publishing Co. I took a broken necklace of mine into Editor Alice Korach asking her to fix it. Rather than fixing it, she showed me how to restring it. That's all it took. After several years working at KPC I was fortunate enough to work on the Editorial Staff of BeadStyle Magazine from its September 2003 Premier issue to May 2005.
I was lucky enough to own a bead store for three years and surround myself by other beaders and make many wonderful friends.
Aside from being published numerous times in BeadStyle, my jewelry has been in various publications offered by Kalmbach, Bead Unique Magazine, and Martingale Publishing's; 101 Pairs of Gorgeous Earrings, Little Box of Beaded Bracelets and Earrings, and Little Box of Necklaces and Earrings.
Judy Menting
I grew up crafting with my mother, the fearless 4-H leader. When I married my true love in 2003, I made the clothes and jewelry for our wedding. After discovering a great local bead store and the Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee, beading became my art form.
The word “bead” comes from the Old English word “to pray”. God bids us to pray often, so I bead every day! Often, I use the beads to tell stories of God's handiwork. A physical therapist by training, I thrive on breaking a complex project into teachable pieces, so others can enjoy beading too.
If I am not beading, I am finding just the right color for a website design or collecting a morning prayer from my beloved.
May the beads be with you, Judy
Who are the Beadtrotters? We are a group of friends who love to bead and love to teach. We got together in the fall of 2008 to talk about what kind of classes we want to teach and what skills we want to learn. We discovered that our individual skill sets in beading and business give our team great versatility. Then we found our first venue, had our first event, built a website, and set up a schedule of classes, starting in May of 2009. Come, join the fun!!
How did we come up with the name? We discussed many possible names but none of them seemed quite right. One day we were talking about how we jump at every opportunity to bead even when we have to “trot around with our beads” to do so. Instantly, the seeds for our final name was born. It rang true with all of us. We decided on Beadtrotters in Harmony in tribute to Sue, who had the brilliant idea to pull us together as a group. She noted that our common love of teaching and variety of skills allow us to create a more “beadiful” harmony together than we could separately.
Beadtrotters in Harmony: Kits and Classes © 2009 — Updated 20091102 JM
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Judy Menting, using the Fluid 960 Grid System and techniques from
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