Our Store Manager and Etsy expert is Judy Sullivan Doerfler, and she returned to work at Theodora’s in the fall of 2007.  Judy is primarily responsible for all the activities of the store, including buying, scheduling classes, running the Etsy store and finding new jewelry designers to spotlight.  She also teaches some of our Basic Beading classes.

Judy learned to bead back when Bead Attitudes first opened and a casual interest in shiny, sparkly beads soon turned into an obsession.  (Sound familiar?)  She has been selling her own creations under the name Ingrid Cary Designs for 3 years and has had an Etsy shop for 2 years…she loves Etsy and is more than happy to tell you all about it should you ask next time you are in the store!

Judy lives in Darnestown with her husband, and two daughters and their beloved little Bichon Frise, Coconut.

Here is your chance to take a start to finish, intermediate workshop with Judy Shapiro and create your very own unique and personal neckpiece.  This 5 part series will teach you 3 Dimensional Peyote, Setting Cabochons and found objects and how to make a customized Fiberworks Necklace to use as your foundation.

See the Class Schedule for more info, or contact the store for a complete description to be emailed to you….Class 1 is the Fiberworks Collar and starts May 4^th!

Let Judy serve as your creative muse as you travel together down the road of creativity and self-expression…we promise you will have fun!!!

We have been working on bringing our fabulous selection of beads and chain to an online shopping environment for a few months now, and we are finally ready to announce our new Etsy store!   Some of you may already be familiar with Etsy.com as a venue for selling handmade, handcrafted items.  Several of our employees and customers have shops set up to sell their creations.  Etsy also makes it possible to sell just supplies…and we have gone live and actually made a few sales already.

Our initial focus will be getting our unique assortment of chain listed, and we will then start moving on to our Czech glass and gemstone beads.  Bear with us as we grow our online store and check back often for new listings.

You can access the web-store through a direct link set up on the top bar of our Theodorasbeads.com website, or you can access it directly at www.theodoras2007.etsy.com.  If you would like to purchase any of the items listed, you simply have to register as an Etsy user (takes just a moment or two) and off you go. 

This will allow all of our friends near and far to continue to be inspired and challenged in their jewelry designs and the art of adornment.

Starting on Wednesday, February 6^th we are starting a Lunch Bunch group for beaders! Join your fellow bead enthusiasts from 11-2 around the work table in the front window while you work on your latest project and make new friends.  This is a great way to get out of the house during those long winter days, meet new friends, pick up a new skill or find a new resource through the great sharing that happens at the bead table.

We will provide the coffee and tea, and perhaps a sweet or two.  You can bring a brown bag lunch, something to work on and your sense of humor!  Our table can comfortably hold 6 people, and reservations are strongly suggested.  Call the store at 301-990-4373.  There is a drop-in charge of $5.00 per visit and the group will meet every other Wednesday from 11-2.  Based on how popular it becomes, we may expand to Thursdays as well.

No instruction will be provided by our staff. this is not a class but an opportunity to meet other beaders, and learn from one another, so you should have some knowledge to complete our own project.

We have had some wonderful classes to kick off the New Year and we are working hard to add more wonderful opportunities to learn a new skill or brush up on something you learned a while ago, but need a refresher. 

We are also going to start offering classes that are “Project based” in addition to our “Skill based” classes…for example, we are offering a Vintaj pendant and Earring Workshop on 2/23 where you will make two pairs of earrings and a pendant using specific components in a kit.  You will also learn basic wire wrapping, but we’ve done all the design work for you!   We are adding Chain Maille bracelet classes, as well as Basic Stringing so please check our calendar often.

To follow your heart and tap into the great well of creativity that lies within each of us.  We had the pleasure this week to meet with Lois Baty, our newest jewelry designer, and her daughter, Lorii.  Lois’s work is vibrant, colorful, joyful and abundant!  When she opened her boxes of work,  they were brimming with necklaces and bracelets, each one different from the other.  This is remarkable for two reasons…Lois has only been creating and selling jewelry for little over a year…and Lois is 86 years young!

She is from that amazing generation of women that did it all and then some…sewing, cooking, raising children, (no appliances folks),  and she told me that she is also a pilot and a sailor…and now a beader! 

So for any of you who have been waiting to take your work further, or to try to learn a new skill…it’s never too late!  

You have seen these beautiful brass findings in all the bead magazines and we are thrilled to be carrying this product line for your inspiration!  Be sure to stop by and see the samples we have made up using these products and to plan your next project.  We will be scheduling a product demonstration on a Saturday in late January as well. 

Judy Shapiro, along with several of our other employees are available and eager to help you brush up on your skills, serve as your creative muse, or offer one on one instruction on advanced projects. 

The fee for private instruction is $35.00 per hour, per person (with a 2 hour minimum) and we can generally match you with an able teacher within 5-7 day time period and as your schedule permits. 

Ask a beading buddy to join you and expand your creative horizons!  Call or email the store to book your appointment.

We're now featuring the LARGEST selection of specialty beads and artists.  You MUST check out this fabulous collection:

Leah Fairbank John Winter Lisa St. Martin

Larry Scot Donna Nova Andrea Guarino

Alithia Donathon Lisa Kahn Nancy Tobey Kristen Franzen-Orr

Tom Boylan Michael Barley Why Know Designs

Sharon Peters Bernadette Fuentes Andrew Brown ......and MORE!!!

Also, the 24K gold charlottes are back in stock (#13), as well as STERLING SILVER and new BRONZE....JUST GEORGEOUS ! ! ! !