The third annual Customer Appreciation Week was an awesome event! We staged 15 jewelry making videos and discussions with industry leaders and designers. We had fun giveaways and lively conversations on each live show. CAW was our way of saying thank you to the friends and community that have supported our company for thirty years. It was a ton of fun! This was also a celebration of life. Soft Flex Company founder Mike Sherman passed away prior to the event. Mike was passionate about beads and jewelry making. As a small business, the loss was immeasurable. We are all crushed to lose a friend, a mentor, and an amazing spirit. But Mike would not have wanted tears. Mike loved crafting and creative exploration. And we want to share that spirit with you! All of the videos are here, in one spot. Relive a moment and reflect on the creative soul of a beautiful human.
So many talented and creative people! Check out the presenters featured this year. We spent time with Cassandra Spicer of Beads to Live By, Joyce Trowbridge of Just Bead It, Sarah James of Jesse James Beads, Abbi Berta of The Bead Place, Kay Goss of Star's Beads, Tracy Proctor of TierraCast, Danielle Wickes of John Bead, Jill Wiseman of Jill Wiseman Designs, Rebecca Combs of Design & Adorn, Sam Siegel of Sam's Bead Shop, Nealay Patel of SilverSilk & More, and Sara and Kristen from Soft Flex Company.
If you want to purchase any of the kits featured in the videos (providing they are still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. That page will be updated frequently.
3rd Annual Customer Appreciation Week - Creating Joy One Bead At A Time
Meet The Guest Presenters of CAW 2023!
Look at the exciting list of talented exhibitors and creative minds that gathered to help us celebrate this big event! Each company offered a unique kit that you could purchase and follow along on their videos. Each video was a free beading class. You do not need a kit to make the jewelry the presenters made, but purchasing a kit would support their company and you could make the identical piece they made. All of us are truly grateful to have you supporting our companies. We would not be here without you!
Monday, September 11
We kicked off the event with a preview of the festivities. On Monday, Sara and Kristen discussed how hard it has been losing our friend Mike Sherman. We all dearly loved Mike. A good portion of us have worked for Soft Flex for twenty years or more. Mike was more than a boss and company founder. Mike was a great friend and part of our families. We wanted to celebrate Mike's amazing personality and his creative fire. We dedicated this week to his memory and are moving forward to share his love of jewelry making.
If you would like to visit Mike's memorial board, click on the link below.
Michael Sherman Memorial Board
Meet Mike Sherman
Soft Flex Company's Customer Appreciation Week Kickoff with Sara & Kristen
Sara and Kristen discuss Soft Flex Company and share memories of Mike Sherman in this preview video.
Cassandra Spicer of Beads to Live By
Cassandra Spicer, of Beads to Live By, showed us how to make an Origami Pearl Bracelet. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Joyce Trowbridge of Just Bead It!
Joyce Trowbridge, of Just Bead It and Soft Flex Company, showed us how to make a Garden Lane Bracelet. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Sarah James of Jesse James Beads & Sara Oehler of Soft Flex Company
Sarah James, of Jesse James Beads, joined us to talk about our kit collaborations. We offer unique Jesse James Beads collections in the majority of the themed design kits we offer. If you enjoy fun colorways and cute jewelry, our kits are a great present to yourself or any beader in the family.
Tuesday, September 12
Abbi Berta of The Bead Place
Abbi Berta, of The Bead Place, showed us how to make a Long Winding Road Wrap Bracelet. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Kay Goss of Star's Beads/ Beadorea
Kay Goss, of Star's Beads and Beadorea, showed us how to make a Bee Yourself Bracelet. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Kristen Fagan of Soft Flex Company
Kristen from Soft Flex Company, showed us how to make a necklace with our Customer Appreciation Week Fairy Mushroom Design Kit (Sold Out). Our kits are designed to be an all inclusive mix of beads and components. If you have a pair of crimping pliers and cutters, you basically have everything you need to make a bunch of themed jewelry.
Wednesday, September 13
Tracy Proctor of TierraCast
Tracy Proctor, of TierraCast, showed us how to make a bracelet with pieces from TierraCast's Keep the Faith collection.
Sara Oehler & Kristen Fagan for Coffee & Craft Wire
Sara and Kristen, from Soft Flex Company, woke up us up with Coffee and Craft Wire. Learn how to make earrings and a bracelet with our Customer Appreciation Week Fairy Mushroom Design Kit (Sold Out).
Sara Oehler of Soft Flex Company
Sara, from Soft Flex Company, showed us how to make gorgeous earrings with our Customer Appreciation Week Fairy Mushroom Design Kit (Sold Out).
Thursday, September 14
Danielle Wickes of John Bead
Danielle Wickes, of John Bead, showed us how to make a earrings with her Earth Tone Beady Kit. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Jill Wiseman of Jill Wiseman Designs
Jill Wiseman, of Jill Wiseman Designs, showed us how to make a Totally Teardrops Necklace. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory. This kit comes in various colors. Grab your favorite!
Rebecca Combs of Design & Adorn
Rebecca Combs, of Design & Adorn, taught us how to make Kumihimo jewelry. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Friday, September 15
Sam Siegel of Sam's Bead Shop
Sam Siegel, of Sam's Bead Shop, showed us how to make a necklace with curated gemstones from his site. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Nealay Patel of SilverSilk & More
Nealay Patel, of SilverSilk & More, showed us how to make a necklace using SilverSilk chain mesh and Soft Flex wire. If you want to purchase this kit (if it is still available) make sure you visit our Customer Appreciation Week web page. All kits have limited inventory.
Soft Flex Company's Customer Appreciation Week After Party with Your Guest Presenters!
Thank you for joining our 3rd annual Customer Appreciation Week. We are truly grateful to have such a wonderful community of artists and instructive teachers in our community. We are truly grateful to have such an amazing community of creatives on our Facebook group. We love to foster learning and the love of jewelry. If you ever have questions about beading our want to make new friends, make sure you find us on our VIB group and share your designs with us!
Join our Facebook group – VIB. Stay in the know. Stay up to date. From our bead shows to our video shows and sales, you can stay in touch with us. The community is full of artistic and helpful beaders and crafty people. Inspire and be inspired. Share your pictures and get the beading bug from others!
Visit the Soft Flex Company YouTube Channel!
Blog contributor Thomas Soles loves Jazz Age writers and crunchy french fries. His favorite gemstones are Lapis and Pietersite. His favorite hobby is day dreaming. And his favorite mustache is Freddie Mercury's. As you can see, he has a healthy (or possibly unhealthy) sense of humor. You can write to him at Thomas@SoftFlexCompany.com