Yesterday evening after work a few of us from BeadStyle, Bead&Button, and Art Jewelry magazines joined the Events Marketing team and the Loose Bead Society for dinner. The Loose Bead Society of Greater Milwaukee is a group that began in 1999 with the purpose of sharing and promoting the creation of beadwork. We gathered to discuss the Bead&Button Show.
      I was a little surprised to see a man in the group, and even more surprised to find that we once worked together as high school teachers. I relish opportunities like this. You know what I’m talking about — situations that challenge our preconceived notions and stereotypes — especially when the issue of gender is concerned. I forget sometimes that there are smart imaginative men out there who make jewelry and enjoy the company of beading women. Or, that there are inventive women, like my deck-building-neighbor, who enjoy carpentry. It’s good to be reminded every now and again that women and men have more similarities than we have differences especially in the creative arena.