Learning Beadwork with CraftArtEdu - Giveaway

Peyote Button Design by Jean Campbell

As beaders, we have a great many resources for learning new techniques. Online there are blog tutorials, downloadable PDFs, and instructional videos. Offline, we can learn from books, magazines, and even classes and seminars with an experienced instructor. We never have to look far for new ideas and inspirations.

Imagine if you could combine the one-on-one attention of a live class with the convenience of an around-the-clock website. You could learn and practice new techniques at your own pace, any time you want. That is exactly the type of instruction you get from classes on CraftArtEdu.

The online learning community at CraftArtEdu is designed for the modern crafter. Classes in everything from beadwork to woodworking are available, all created by experienced artisans and teachers from around the world. Some of the beading instructors include familiar faces like Margie Deeb, Jean Campbell, Sherry Serafini, Marcia DeCoster, and Donna Kato.

A typical CraftArtEdu course includes downloadable PDF ‘class handouts’, but instead of sitting in a classroom, you can bead along with a detailed step-by-step video on your laptop, in your pajamas, or on your lunch break. The class videos are highly professional and easy to follow, and include the added convenience of a pause button. Once you purchase a class, you can watch it again and again, as often as you need to.

After viewing Jean Campbell’s Peyote Buttons class, I gathered up some beads, and followed along a second time while creating the most ingenious little beaded component. Named for the actual cactus button as well as the stitch, these cute little forms combine tubular and circular peyote stitch to make perfect hexagons for pendants, bracelets, or bezels.

In addition to the classes themselves, each instructor also has a forum on CraftArtEdu.com, where students can post photos of their creations, ask questions, and get additional help with projects and techniques. You get all of the personalized instruction of a live class, but without the gas mileage of attending in person!

If online classes sound like your cup of tea, you can try out some of their free tutorials for jewelry and polymer clay techniques. Better still, CraftArtEdu is having a fantastic sweepstakes giveaway this month, with $4500 worth of jewelry making prizes up for grabs, including free online classes, supplies from RioGrande.com, and custom CraftOptics telescopes. To learn more, check out the My Dream Jewelry Studio Sweepstakes, but do it soon - the draw closes on September 30th!

Bonus Giveaway

I really enjoyed the learning experience at CraftArtEdu, and I’m really exited to be sharing it with you! One lucky Inspirational Beading reader will receive a free class of their choice, courtesy of CraftArtEdu.

To enter, simply leave a comment on this post, and tell us which CraftArtEdu class you would most like to take - from the jewelry category, fine art section, anything goes! You can browse through classes by media, materials, or instructor. One winner will be drawn at random on Monday September 24th. You can enter both the My Dream Jewelry Studio Sweepstakes, and this giveaway.

Important: If you do not have a Blogger account or profile with email contact enabled, please make sure to include a website or email address in your comment, so I can contact you if you win!

Good luck!

I would like to thank CraftArtEdu for allowing me to sample some of their fantastic classes, and for offering a free course to Inspirational Beading readers. Inspirational Beading does not receive a commission for featuring CraftArtEdu products or services.

Copyright 2012 Inspirational Beading and CraftArtEdu
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