So, here's my confession: I've never taken a class at the Bead&Button Show. Appalling, I know. Especially since there are great teachers from all over the world teaching more than 500 classes, all within a 15-minute drive of my home. Considering that some of you fly across the globe to attend the show, my failure to seize the opportunity is shameful — I know, I know.

For those of you who are new to Art Jewelry magazine and wonder what a bead show has to do with the media we write about — metals, wire, metal clay, polymer clay, enamel, resin, chain mail, etc. — here's the skinny: The Bead&Button Show may have started for beaders, but it's grown so large (370 vendors, more than 500 classes) that there are now many classes for anyone interested in Art Jewelry-type media. To search the list of classes, click here. Yes, there's still time to register!

Why haven't I taken a class before? Because while many of you were elbow deep in potter's clay or oil paints in your youth (or in metals, like these lucky kids), I was elbow deep in books and journals (the lined ones, not the blank-paged ones). I've identified for years on our staff as the non-maker, the litmus test for whether instructions make sense. Because if they make sense to me, they'll likely make sense to a beginner. Or to someone who is spatially gifted enough to intuitively understand, say, why you'll end up with a lentil shape rather than a sphere if you don't dap each half of a metal bead enough. (I learned about that one in the project "Fahrenheit 650: the temperature at which keum-boo fuses," right.)

But the time has come for me to learn a thing or two about what the rest of you already know from experience. So, this year I'm taking "Fusing — The Dewdrop Bangle, left," taught by Janice Berkebile. I'm going to learn how to fuse silver wire, shape it into a bangle, and embellish it with wire wrapping and balled-up wire. This particular class is sold out, but you can click here to check out the other classes Berkebile is teaching.

What classes are you taking? Let me know by adding a comment below! Or click here to visit the Bead&Button Show forum to discuss there!

I hope to see you in June!

—Kristin