This evening after work, a gang of loose women — Loose Bead Society women, that is —  and a few good men will swarm into the Kalmbach offices. The purpose of their visit is to catch up,  talk beads, share dinner, and talk about the Bead & Button show. Unfortunately, I will miss this social, but I want to share with you a bit about the Loose Bead Society in our neck of the woods.

The group meets the third Monday of each month. Benefits of membership include: networking with bead fanatics, participating in programs that improve your bead knowledge, introduction to resources, private shopping and discounts at local bead stores, participating in the Bead & Button show, newsletter, access to website and membership directory, yearly bead retreats, opportunities to participate in community service projects, demonstration of new techniques, challenges and much more.

There are currently 162 members celebrating their 10th anniversary, in the greater Milwaukee area, and there are other societies, bead guilds, classes and workshops around the country. If you currently bead alone, you may want to consider getting together with others to pursue our great hobby. Somehow beading seems so much more meaningful when done as part of a community.