Open beading allows you to relax and craft with unlimited beads and findings (within reason.) Here is your chance to relax and make something beautiful, whether it be a necklace, earrings, bracelet, key chain or sun catcher.

Resource Person: Nancy Williamson

Our beads are from several sources but we get most of our Ghana beads (Krobo, Recycled Glass, Sandcast beads) from several family run workshops. The owner of the Bead Chest company where we order our beads has had an established relationship with the people who make these beads now for over 15 years. One of them is a woman who built the business with her family and they all employ local people and family members and manage their businesses independently as a cottage industry. The Bead Chest has helped them to expand their business in the form of interest free loans over the years. For the Kenya bone beads, those are made in home workshops by the artisans themselves.

Ten Thousand Villages sells beautiful handmade jewelry from around the world including sterling silver and gem stone settings. We create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to our markets through long-term, fair trading relationships. This means that the people who create the jewelry we sell are able to make enough money to feed their families and send their children to school.

Buy your ticket here, or bring $20 cash or check to the store to save your spot in the workshop. Only ten tickets will be sold for the event.