introduced the Accu-Flex wire they would be using to string the beads. Accu-Flex is a great wire that is flexible and sturdy enough that the bracelet can be worn every day. I showed them the bead hole size, and how it compared to the 8 gauge wire I was using.
“I had no idea you had to keep wire size in mind.” Zelma, Margaret’s momma, fingered the spool of wire, taking a closer look.
For a split second, I wondered why the murderer hadn’t used wire to strangle Doug. He or she had actually used the cat eyes that were threaded on wool yarn. That meant that the murderer had to be really strong.
Learning how to crimp one side of the closure proved to be a little difficult for most of the class. It was hard to hold the wire, put the crimp bead on, add the toggle closure, and double the wire over into the crimp bead before you used the crimp tool to finish it off.
“I don’t understand why we can’t just string them and then put the closure on.” Flora had her phone pinned between her ear and shoulder while trying to hold up the wire and string the beads.
“It’s much easier for you to string the beads with one end finished.” I showed them what I meant by using a bracelet I was working on as an example. “The beads won’t fall off, and it’s easier to complete.”
Each student was at a different skill level. Flora wasn’t making any progress, but she did make progress in her phone conversation as she cackled to the person on the other end. I had to hush her a few times.
Margaret was the student who surprised me the most. She was a perfect crimper. It had taken me several tries to get that good of a double fold when I was starting out. Zelma wasn’t doing as well.
Every time Zelma pushed her reading glasses up on her nose, she would let go of the open end of her bracelet. She lost several beads to The Under . I was glad I had given them the handful of mismatched beads instead of the more expensive ones.
I glanced over at Marlene, who was working the counter as other customers came in. She had Tigertail beading wire wrapped around her pointer finger. She had been working hard on the wrapping technique so she could wrap her yellow Spinel. I had suggested she continue to practice on her finger or other glass beads the size of the Spinel. If she perfected the technique, it would lessen her chances of scratching the precious gem when it was time to wrap it.
She wrapped, unwrapped, and then wrapped again. It was a nice tight fit. Images of the cat eye strand around Doug’s neck popped into my head. I shook it off and went back to the group of students.
Everyone put the finishing touches on their bracelets.
“If you wouldn’t mind cleaning up your clippings and putting them in the trash, that would be great.” I pointed to the trashcans. “And if you don’t mind putting your tools away, hang onto your bead boards along with your beads and wire. I have a spot in the storage room for you all to store your projects.”
One by one, each student came to me with their bead boards, and I walked them back to the storage room, getting chills every time I walked over Doug’s dead spot.
“Feel free to come in between classes and work on your projects or practice.” I wanted to encourage them to stop in any time and be able to get their money’s worth.
But most importantly, I wanted them to come back more often, which would increase the possibility that they would purchase something.
“Are you okay?” Marlene asked when all the students had left. “You look a little tense.”
She was right. I could feel my shoulders creeping up to my ears. I loved teaching class and beading, but I was having a hard time getting the image of Doug’s body out of my head, and the wrapping technique she had used around her finger was, well …perfect.
“I’m just a little tired.” I laughed it off. I didn’t want to give Marlene any inclination that she was on my short, very short, list of murderers. “Teaching really
“I had no idea you had to keep wire size in mind.” Zelma, Margaret’s momma, fingered the spool of wire, taking a closer look.
For a split second, I wondered why the murderer hadn’t used wire to strangle Doug. He or she had actually used the cat eyes that were threaded on wool yarn. That meant that the murderer had to be really strong.
Learning how to crimp one side of the closure proved to be a little difficult for most of the class. It was hard to hold the wire, put the crimp bead on, add the toggle closure, and double the wire over into the crimp bead before you used the crimp tool to finish it off.
“I don’t understand why we can’t just string them and then put the closure on.” Flora had her phone pinned between her ear and shoulder while trying to hold up the wire and string the beads.
“It’s much easier for you to string the beads with one end finished.” I showed them what I meant by using a bracelet I was working on as an example. “The beads won’t fall off, and it’s easier to complete.”
Each student was at a different skill level. Flora wasn’t making any progress, but she did make progress in her phone conversation as she cackled to the person on the other end. I had to hush her a few times.
Margaret was the student who surprised me the most. She was a perfect crimper. It had taken me several tries to get that good of a double fold when I was starting out. Zelma wasn’t doing as well.
Every time Zelma pushed her reading glasses up on her nose, she would let go of the open end of her bracelet. She lost several beads to The Under . I was glad I had given them the handful of mismatched beads instead of the more expensive ones.
I glanced over at Marlene, who was working the counter as other customers came in. She had Tigertail beading wire wrapped around her pointer finger. She had been working hard on the wrapping technique so she could wrap her yellow Spinel. I had suggested she continue to practice on her finger or other glass beads the size of the Spinel. If she perfected the technique, it would lessen her chances of scratching the precious gem when it was time to wrap it.
She wrapped, unwrapped, and then wrapped again. It was a nice tight fit. Images of the cat eye strand around Doug’s neck popped into my head. I shook it off and went back to the group of students.
Everyone put the finishing touches on their bracelets.
“If you wouldn’t mind cleaning up your clippings and putting them in the trash, that would be great.” I pointed to the trashcans. “And if you don’t mind putting your tools away, hang onto your bead boards along with your beads and wire. I have a spot in the storage room for you all to store your projects.”
One by one, each student came to me with their bead boards, and I walked them back to the storage room, getting chills every time I walked over Doug’s dead spot.
“Feel free to come in between classes and work on your projects or practice.” I wanted to encourage them to stop in any time and be able to get their money’s worth.
But most importantly, I wanted them to come back more often, which would increase the possibility that they would purchase something.
“Are you okay?” Marlene asked when all the students had left. “You look a little tense.”
She was right. I could feel my shoulders creeping up to my ears. I loved teaching class and beading, but I was having a hard time getting the image of Doug’s body out of my head, and the wrapping technique she had used around her finger was, well …perfect.
“I’m just a little tired.” I laughed it off. I didn’t want to give Marlene any inclination that she was on my short, very short, list of murderers. “Teaching really
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