Southern Bead Retreat

What is the dress code for the event?

Are all of the classes included?
Yes. You will take all four classes and in addition, enjoy the bonus class. You will take one day of classes with each instructor. Each class will be approximately 6 hours. Each instructor will teach the same class in four identical sessions. The retreat attendees will be split up into four teaching groups. Each group will spend one teaching day with each instructor.

I'm only interested in taking two of the instructor's classes, is this possible?
While we cannot force you to attend each instructor's course once you have signed up and paid the event fees, it is your choice to skip any class you want. We would discourage this for many reasons. You must pay the entire retreat fee no matter how many classes you chose to take. The retreat was designed for you to enjoy all five courses. Future Best Bead Retreat events may have an option to choose from a list of classes, but this one was designed for you to enjoy all five. We feel that you will get the most out of this event with full participation.

I would prefer to stay at another hotel. Is this possible?
Yes. We have designed this event around this wonderful Chateau and these amazing instructors. Half the enjoyment of this event will be relaxing at the Chateau with fellow beaders. We believe that staying at another hotel would depreciate your enjoyment of the atmosphere of the retreat. We have negotiated a discounted room rate to include breakfast. We have tried to make this a relaxing and stress free event so that you don't have to worry about driving to and from the hotel, where to get breakfast, etc. There are other hotels in the area. You can find these on line or through your travel agent. If you have questions, you may call us and we will try to help.

I'd like to bring a guest, are guests allowed?
Whether you bring a spouse or friend or the family, everyone is allowed at the resort and this in encouraged. It is up to you. This is supposed to be a relaxing spa resort event. If your relaxing includes your spouse or friends, by all means, bring them. This resort is fabulous and there is so much to do at the hotel and in the area. If you are bringing a golf fan or shopping fan, you won't have to twist their arms to come along. Please refer to the Chateau Elan web site for more information or call us.

Can my guest join me for lunch and dinners?
You may make arrangements for one guest to join you for the gala dinner evening event. There will be an additional charge for the guest joining you and the price will be posted. Lunch events on the veranda are exclusive and for event participants only. You will have free evenings and lunches during the event to enjoy with guest and fellow attendees (refer to the schedule). You can also make arrangements to arrive early or stay later at the Chateau with your guests.

Are spa services included in the event fee or room fee?
No. The spa is amazing and a perfect addition to a bead retreat. There will be plenty of time for everyone to enjoy the spa services, but payment and reservations are the participant's responsibility. We recommend making your reservations early for services during prime times. The Chateau recommends reservations for prime time three months in advance.

What classes will the instructors be teaching?
We don't know at this time. What we do know is that all instructors will be doing something they have never taught before. Don't worry; if you have taken any of these instructors' classes in the past, this one will be new and special. We keep saying this is an exclusive special event, and we are not kidding. The instructors have about a year to come up with something really special, and we have promised not to question them too much. As soon as we know, we will publish the project's finished pieces on the site. We expect the retreat spots to fill long before the final projects are in. As a courtesy, please do not ask the instructors about their class as they have promised to only let us know first. As soon as we know, participants will be made aware and the projects posted.

Do we have to buy kits from the instructors, at the event, or will we be given a supply list to bring our own?
Everyone has a different preference for this one. We are still discussing this with the instructors. Because we want this to be as relaxing as possible, we would like to have kits available for everyone. This way, no one has to worry about tracking down all the materials necessary for the event. We also plan to have a large supply of materials and amazing retail specials at the shopping venue.

I am a beginning beader, what skill level is necessary for this event?
For this event you must be an intermediate to advance in beading. This means that you must have completed two or more projects with peyote, right angle weave, brick stitch, and endebelle. If you can do three of the four you may be able to get by for this event. Instructors will not be able to teach these beading styles during the event and they will expect you to be up to speed. Please go to the instructors web sites for examples of their work.

I have to attend this event, how do I get up to speed?
We want all attendees to enjoy this event to the fullest. We do not want to exclude anyone. We have a year to get every attendee up to speed. The Beadcage will be having a series of beading classes throughout the year specially designed and for the sole purpose of getting participants up to speed and honing skills for this event. Classes will be listed in time in the on line class schedule at www.thebeadcage.com. If you are unable to attend these, we recommend attending similar classes at your local bead store. They will be able to look at the classes we offer and recommend similar classes that they offer. Your local bead store is your best recourse for learning these techniques and we request you support your local beads stores. If this is not possible then we recommend you purchase kits from our instructors. Use the links found here to get to their web sites. Spend time on your own practicing and learning the required techniques over the next year. If you have signed up for the event and do not get up to speed we would request you kindly relinquish your spot at least three months in advance so that someone else may fill your spot. You should not attend the event unless you are comfortable with the required skills. If you cannot get up to speed for the 2008 Best Bead Retreat's Southern Bead Retreat, plan on working hard so that you will be able to attend the 2009 Best Bead Retreat's Southern Bead Retreat.

Is there an age limit?
This is an adult event and participants must be over 18 years of age. After that, we accept any age as long as you can see and hit the hole in a size 15 seed bead.

What is the bonus Swarovski class?
Swarovski has generously donated this class and all Swarovski crystal supplies for the participants of the Southern Bead Retreat. This will be a relaxing class and a way to wind down after the classes with our retreat instructors.

What vendors are coming to the shopping venue?

We expect the shopping venue to overwhelm our guests. The instructors will be featuring their kits and specialty products. At the request of the instructors expect to find an amazing amount of itzy bitzy beads. This will include seed beads, tiny semiprecious stone beads, tiny pearl beads, and tiny Swarovski crystal beads. We plan to make this a seed beader's paradise.

We will also concentrate on unusual and hard to find beads of all other sizes. We will concentrate on finding beads at tremendous value. The Beadcage is a Swarovski distributor and will be displaying a spectacular array of common and hard to find crystals at hard to believe prices. We want to make your shopping experience at this event as pleasurable as the event itself.

In addition, the Beadcage buyers will be traveling the world over the next year looking for a selection of beading products exclusively for this event. They specialize in finding unusual beads. There will be 1000 square feet of shopping space loaded with all we can fit. We expect to be sending teasers to event attendees throughout the year featuring products they should expect to find at the event.

What are expected class sizes?
We are keeping the number of students per class small to ensure personalized attention. The small size will allow one on one interaction and personalized attention.

What is the weather like in October during the event in Georgia?
This far away it is hard to predict. Our weathermen have a hard time predicting day to day here. However, it is our experience that it is usually in the 70's dropping into the 50's in the evening around this time of year. It is always a good idea to plan to dress in light layers. This will allow you to shed to meet the actual temperature. Inside, classrooms are usually kept cooler. We recommend bringing a sweater just in case.

I have to have coffee throughout the day or I get cranky. You understand?
Yes we do. Complimentary coffee and water will be available in the classrooms.

Can I nosh in class?
As a courtesy, we request food not be brought to class. You can always step out for a second and grab a bite.

What is the cell phone policy?
We request you not bring cell phones into classes, events, or the shopping venue. For emergencies, please leave the hotel front desk as a contact.

What is the smoking and perfume policy?
Some of the instructors and attendees are sensitive to perfumes. We are sensitive to their needs and request all attendees refrain from heavy perfume use. If you must, do it the Southern way, "mist and dash through," once. Please respect the Chateaus smoking policies. There is no smoking in or around retreat events. Please do not smoke in hotel bathrooms or directly outside hotel doors.

Will you make dietary exceptions for the included meals?
The registration form will allow you to choose from a regular meal, a kosher meal, or a vegetarian meal. The Chateau is known for its exquisite culinary mastery and French style. However, the Head Chef at the Chateau is working with us to come up with epicurean menu with a truly Southern flair. No matter which choice, we expect all meals to be memorable.

I'm ready to pay in full today, why can't I sign up until October 22nd 2007?
Advertisements for this event are planned for many bead magazines. To ensure fairness to the community and not to favor the readers of one specific magazine, we are opening registration on this date. There is no special list or early sign up and no one will receive early sign up. Everyone is special for this event, but everyone must sign up beginning October 22nd 2007. Internet sign-up starts at 8AM Eastern Standard Time. Phone sign-up starts at 10AM.

Will you have a waiting list?
Yes. We will begin a waiting list as soon as the retreat is full. We ensure fairness of the waiting list and your name will be in order, first come first serve. As soon as a spot becomes available we will contact those on the list by email and phone. We will try to accommodate as many participants as possible without compromising class size.

Copyright policy.
Instructors will review their copyright policy at the beginning of each class. Best Bead Retreats supports intellectual property rights and expects attendees to respect the wishes of our instructors.

What is the dress code for the event?
We recommend you dress comfortably for classes. The Chateau is a five star resort hotel but the dress here includes business casual. The gala dinner event is dress to impress. Unlike up North where black is common at such events, in the South colors are common. Everyone will be wearing his or her most spectacular pieces of jewelry and art.