Beki Haley
Beki Haley has been in love with beads for more than 50 years. She was introduced to the enchanting art of seed bead weaving by her grandmother as a child. That early introduction to the intricacy and fine detail achievable with seed beads has remained a lifelong passion. Even as a young teen, Beki delighted in sharing her knowledge, teaching others to create beautiful things with beads. She now brings more than 30 years of teaching experience to students in a wide range of venues — from large auditorium settings to intimate one-on-one sessions and everything in between.
Trained as a classic silversmith at a young age, Beki developed a deep appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship behind fine jewelry design. She incorporates those formal skills into her classes, where students learn the importance of precision, detail, and structure while exploring their own natural creativity. Her technical insight and patient teaching style have inspired countless beaders over the decades.
Beki’s lifelong love of beads led her to open her own bead store, Out On A Whim, in 1986. With her husband, four children, and a household full of beloved animals, Beki’s life is filled with creativity and purpose. During stressful times, she turns to her beads for comfort and calm — finding peace and joy in the meditative rhythm of beading. Sharing that joy by teaching others to create is, for her, a blessing beyond measure.
Connect with Beki:
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Kinga Bledsoe
Kinga Bledsoe was born in 1980 in Hungary. At 19, she packed up her life into a backpack and moved to the United States, where she has lived ever since — though never in just one place. She currently resides in Jackson, Michigan, with her husband, Jamie and her beloved furbabies, Nancy and Shirley.
Creativity has always been part of Kinga’s life. Before discovering beads, she painted murals while living in New York. Although mural work was enjoyable, painting didn’t feel like her true calling. That changed in 2007 when she picked up a Bead & Button magazine, discovered bead embroidery, and — slowly but surely — a lifelong obsession took hold.
After that first project, Kinga began developing her own designs and quickly found a distinctive artistic voice that allowed her to translate imagination into beadwork. Her mind is always buzzing with new concepts, and her whimsical perspective fuels a continuous flow of fanciful bead embroidery creations.
Kinga’s work first gained international attention during the inaugural Battle of the Beadsmith. She went on to become a BeadDreams finalist (2013), earn 3rd place in 2014 in the Swarovski category, and be featured in Marcia DeCoster Presents (2014). The following year, she won 1st place in the Crystal Category of BeadDreams (2015). Kinga has also produced instructional bead-embroidery videos for Interweave Publishing (2016–2017) and been featured in numerous U.S. and European publications.
Since 2013, Kinga has been teaching bead embroidery worldwide and hopes to continue for many years to come — sharing not only her technical expertise but also her belief that the world is a magical place filled with endless possibilities.
Cascade
This breathtaking necklace is a wonderful mix of light and texture. The collar is composed of several sparkling oval stones, each one surrounded by crystal montees to create an all-encompassing brilliance that catches the light from every conceivable angle. The dramatic central teardrop section cascades down the neckline, drawing the eye and adding undeniable elegance. Overall, the luxurious mixture of varied stones, pearls and crystals elevates the piece, culminating in a magnificent aura of timeless grandeur.
Kit Price: £125
(which I believe is currently around $170)
We're looking forward to beading with you!
Lexsa – A Beaded Keepsake 💜
Created in loving memory of my dear friend Lexsa, this beaded Keepsake is a small vessel with a very big heart. Every stitch is infused with intention, honoring her spirit, her sparkle, and the way she carried light into the lives of those who knew her.
This Keepsake is beaded using DRAW, forming a strong and elegant cylindrical body. It is adorned with shimmering crystal and pearl embellishments to catch the light. Flowing from the base is graceful RAW fringe, adding movement and a sense of gentle celebration…just as Lexsa herself did.
This piece is as meaningful as it is functional. It can be used as:
- A needle case for your beading journeys
- A pill case for daily essentials
- A tiny container for essential oils
- Or a sacred place to carry notes of encouragement, prayers, or blessings—or just positive intentions to remind yourself how amazing you are!
Whether worn, carried, or kept close, Lexsa is a reminder that love endures, creativity heals, and the people we cherish never truly leave us. It is a Keepsake from the heart…meant to hold what matters most.
Kit Price: $85
The Monkey of Versailles
Having visited the Palace of Versailles on a grand adventure in 2025 with Beki, I was struck by the opulence of the place. There were many aspects I appreciated, most I found ostentatious and overwhelming. The sunburst emblem of Le Roi Soleil repeating throughout the place must have left a mark though because upon returning, I kept on thinking about it. Meanwhile, I have been experimenting with ceramics and used a small antique sculpture I inherited from my grandma to make molds. The sculpture is of the three monkeys: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Somehow the monkey and the sunburst merged into a pleasing whole. After showing Beki the initial pictures, she kept on referring to it as the Monkey of Versailles. I loved the irreverence of the name and thought it summed up the spirit of the piece.
A lush and seriously chunky bracelet that can be customized to any wrist size, covered in luxurious mulberry silk velvet. The project will come in at least the two color ways shown and possibly more (to be determined). You will be working with a handmade porcelain focal and will have an option to pick one that suits you best. There will be freshwater pearls and Czech pearls depending on the color way, semiprecious stone beads and tiny crystals, rare 3 cut Japanese seed beads, some with gold luster, and beautiful Italian lambskin. As usual, my kit contains only the most rare and luxurious quality materials carefully curated to spoil the discerning beadykin. Your kit will come with professionally printed instructions and life time access to a full length video course.
Supply list
- E6000: 2 small tubes or one bigger tube
- Beading needles: I prefer size 11 Tulips, anything else you like to bead embroider with will do
- Thread of your choice (Fireline 6lb test, Forward low vis green 8lb test, Nymo, OneG, KO, etc.. would all do whatever you like using as long as the color blends)
- Small, precision scissors
- White gel pen
- Beading surface
- Light and magnification as needed
Your 2026 Beaders Dream Retreat
San Francisco Class Lineup......
Vicky Roberts
Vicky Roberts is a UK-based bead artist who has been creating exquisite beaded jewellery for nearly 15 years. With a deep love for all things sparkly, Vicky’s designs often feature a dazzling variety of crystal shapes and sizes, woven together into intricate, multi-layered works of wearable art. She thrives on discovering innovative construction techniques that give her pieces depth, movement, and dimension.
Over the years, Vicky has taught countless classes and participated in both national and international beadwork competitions. Her creative energy, patience, and technical expertise make her an inspiring teacher who enjoys sharing her passion for the art of beadwork with others.
Recently, Vicky launched her YouTube channel, where she shares projects designed for beaders of all skill levels — from beginners to advanced. Her videos highlight the same warmth and enthusiasm she brings to her live classes, always encouraging others to pick up a needle, embrace the sparkle, and conquer the world one bead at a time.