Everything you need to know about online beading classes through Zoom

In 2020, our world changed a lot. Because of the limited possibilities to travel and safety and health being our highest priorities, all the workshops of Erika Sandor – The Storytelling Jeweller moved online. It’s different than a real-life workshop, of course, but in many aspects, it’s actually an improvement.

You can participate in a workshop no matter where do you live. You will meet beading friends from all over the world. You don’t have to pay for a plane ticket, accommodation, meals from a restaurant. Many of us actually can focus better if we are in our usual surroundings.

Of course, beading together through Zoom is a new phenomenon for all of us, and it has its limitations. I won’t be able to walk around and check out your beadwork, and we can’t share a typical Dutch ‘stroopwaffel’ that I usually bring to the classrooms. However, there are plenty of possibilities to work around these limitations, and this article is here to make you feel comfortable during your upcoming Zoom class.

You can register by visiting this page, selecting the workshop you’d like to attend, adding it to your shopping basket, and checking out. A successful checkout means that your seat is safe and secure.

Please remember, that signing up for a workshop is like attending a concert. It is not possible to ask for a refund. If you can’t participate for some reason, you can bead the design at your own pace and ask for help in the dedicated Facebook group. Moreover, since free spots at workshops are offered to previous participants (about a week before the workshop is happening), you’ll still have a chance to sign up without an extra fee, see my demo beading and ask all your questions.

First of all, you’ll receive instructions to select the color of your kit.

All the online workshops happen through Zoom. It’s free software available for all kinds of devices (PC, notebook, Mac, tablet) that can be downloaded and installed to your computer easily. You need to download the software, install it and create an account to use it, but as long as you don’t opt for a ‘business account’ you don’t pay for it, only us, organizers do.

To participate in a Zoom class, you need a special link in order to join, sometimes a password, too. We will send it to you in advance by email. Watch out for your spam folder, too, as sometimes our emails land there. To get rid of this risk add our addresses [email protected] and [email protected] as a contact.

After registration, you will be invited to a dedicated Facebook group. The group is a ‘learning group’ with lessons. Between the lessons, you can find the specific skills you need in order to complete the design successfully, with links to Youtube videos and other tutorials to help you prepare.

If the kit was mandatory, then together with your beading kit you’ll also receive the printed instructions, full of pictures and illustrations. We use thick, good quality paper to give it a prime feel and to make sure that all the thread paths and beads are visible.

You will also be able to download the beading tutorial in electronic form. It’s always good to save it to your computer (we recommend using a cloud service, for example, OneDrive or DropBox) to make sure you don’t lose it even if something happens to your computer. Moreover, you can open the tutorial on your tablet and enlarge the illustrations if needed.

The electronic version of my workshop instructions contains flipped-over illustrations that you can print for yourself in addition to the normal instructions. Please note, that there is only one version of the text though!

The majority of our classes have mandatory kits since the classes are more advanced and in many cases require special material. Working with a kit is a huge added value during a workshop. There are slight differences in shapes and sizes when you buy beads from different manufacturers, but even different color coatings from the same factory can create an issue. With kits, you can be 100% sure that the result will be as you expect it to be, and you don’t have to stress about collecting material from half a dozen different places.

Depending on your location, it takes some time to receive the kits. We have different shipping options: the regular post is safe (all the packages have tracking numbers), cheap but slower, while FedEx is more expensive but super fast. We had packages delivered in 12 hours within Europe and 2 working days in the USA. Calculate with more to be on the safe side, please!

You can choose the color of your beading kit after you register for a class. We will send you an email with detailed instructions.

Unless specifically written, all kits are already packed and prepared and will be sent to you within 1-2 working days after placing your order. You’ll always receive a tracking number to make sure you can follow its journey!

• First of all, make sure that you have received the Zoom link and registered, if necessary. If you can’t find it, message me at [email protected].
• Install the software and make an account. You can ask the software to remember your login details, so you don’t have to log in each time you would like to use it.\
• Prepare your instructions and check your beading kit.
• It’s nice to prepare and group the beads on your mat in advance. I even like to thread my needle 😀
• You’ll need good light, your beading mat, thread, needle, scissors, or a thread burner.
• It’s handy to have a headset. The echo can be an issue during the class.
• Make sure you have a webcam. Your notebook probably has one, but you need an external webcam if you will join us from a PC.
• Prepare some snacks and make sure to have plenty of water, tea or coffee.

Yes, you can! Navigate to zoom.us/test in your browser and follow the instructions. You’ll be able to test your connection, audio, and video, too.

Please make sure that you have your mobile phone ready, and you are signed in to your Facebook or Messenger account. In case you have a problem, just take a picture and send it to Erika so she can see it.

You’ll always have the possibility to mute yourself when needed. Shouting kids and barking dogs are not a problem this way 😀

No, it’s not necessary. You can direct the webcam at your face. It’s important to have your mobile phone nearby though, so you can snap a picture and send it to Erika when you have a question.

You are highly encouraged to stand up, stretch a bit, walk around when you feel it’s necessary. You don’t have to excuse yourself, just mute yourself if you want to.

First of all, beaders tend to not care if you haven’t cleaned your house. Your mess is probably a beader’s paradise full of shiny, blingy treasures. However, if for any reason you don’t want to show your home or just want to maybe look like as if you were at the bach, try Zoom’s virtual backgrounds.

Dedicated Facebook group

Besides the link to Zoom, the tutorial, and your kit you’ll also get an invitation to join the dedicated Facebook group for the design. In the group, you can share your progress, ask questions, and learn even more by brainstorming together with fellow students.

After workshop care package

I decided to open up the free seats of workshops for those, who have already learned to make that particular design with me. I will post about the possibility to join the workshop again in the Facebook group dedicated to the design, about a week before the workshop, when regular registration closes.

This offers you more time to ask questions, hang out together, develop new ideas and variations. The basic design is just the first step, and you can always take it further and further!

Online classes are not recorded. As some of our fellow beaders have protected identities or simply wouldn’t like to have a picture, please respect this rule and don’t make any screenshots or recordings on your own, either. At the end of each class, I will ask the permission of the participants to take a group picture, and I take one and share one only if everyone agrees.