Bead People are simple to make once you master the "twist" of the wires. I have found that when running a Bead People for any age, it is best to twist all the wires yourself or with your wire twisting team.  Otherwise most of the wires will just overlap the beads and be scratchy and unfinished. You don't need jewelry-making experience--just a little practice before running a project.  And they don't have to be perfect. In fact, part of their charm is that no two ever seem to come out quite alike. Watch the short how-to video, gather a few beads and a piece of wire, and practice making several before hosting an event. Note: Each Bead Person requires 5 wire twists so be prepared if you have a classroom of 30 children all with their hands up waiting for a "twist." They are very patient when you explain it. 

If jewelry making is not your thing, don't let that stop you. Find someone who already knows their way around beads, wire, and a pair of pliers. There is usually a jewelry maker hiding somewhere in every community that would be willing to help,

Use a combination of larger beads for heads and bodies and smaller beads or seed beads for arms and legs. Variety is part of the fun. Old and broken jewelry is wonderful for this. It is also fun to search for flat beads, jeweled crowns, and spacer beads that make lovely hats. 

This is used for the arms and legs. I usually measure a piece about the width of four fingers and cut it. It doesn't have to be exact. I keep gold and silver on hand but colored wire is an option also.  See video for how to twist the arms and legs for your Bead Person. 

These are straight 2 inch wires that have one loop on the top.  These are available in the jewelry-making section of most hobby or craft stores and form the center spine of the Bead Person.  

Small 3-in-1 jewelry pliers are handy because they include a cutter for trimming excess wire. Fine needle-nose pliers and a separate wire cutter work too. If you're working with a group, have several sets available.  I keep an extra pliers on hand that has a flat tip with "teeth" to help me get that top double jump ring on. 

These attach to the eye at the top of the finished Bead Person and make it easy to add a cord, chain, or key ring. Buy the larger kind for ease of use. I prefer these to just an 'O' ring because they are more secure. Nothing worse than a child losing his or her bead person right away. 

Have something ready so each Bead Person can be completely finished and ready to wear, carry, give away, or send into the world. I have a lot of silken cord on hand in several colors. I precut these cords making sure it is long enough to slip over the head. (24 inches). A simple knot will suffice. You can also purchse inexpensive chains or key rings online.  When I sell them at craft shows I usually package them in a clear bag with cord attached, book inside and a chain or cord included.  

Plan for one copy for each Bead Person. The story is what takes the experience beyond making a cute little person and opens the conversation about difference, belonging, and how we treat one another.

The store has Bead People kits packaged for a build of 10. Each kit includes an assortment of beads, tools, pre-cut and pre-bent arm and leg wires, 2-inch eye wires, double jump rings, cord, and enough copies of The Wind of a Thousand Years for the project. We've done the gathering, measuring, and wire preparation for you, so you can spread everything out on the table and get started.

Many schools, churches, and larger groups choose this option because it can make the project more affordable.

Order the books, then hold a bead drive and gather the rest locally. Ask families and community members for old necklaces, bracelets, single earrings, broken jewelry, and beads they have tucked away and aren't using. Sometimes gathering the materials becomes part of the project itself. You may discover jewelry makers in your community who already have tools, beads, and a little know-how to share.\

I have a ridiculous number of beads. People have donated beads to The Bead People over the years, and I am always happy to see them find their way back out into the world. I often talk with people who are planning a project, even when they're ordering only the books and gathering their own supplies. I've been known to tuck a starter bag of beads into the box to help get things going. So if you have an idea but aren't quite sure what you need, reach out and tell me what you're thinking. And if you're the person with boxes of old beads looking for somewhere for them to go, you can reach out about that too.