Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few questions we’ve been asked.
Have a question about the Bead Unique Mountain Retreat? Ask here.
What is included in the cost of the Retreat?
RETREAT PACKAGE:
Your $585.00 Retreat fee includes:
- 3 full-day classes with world-renowned teachers:
Jean Campbell - www.jeancampbellink.com
Sherry Serafini - www.serafinibeadedjewelry.com
Jeannette Cook - www.beadyeyedwomen.com
- Free extra workshops on Thursday, Oct. 7th, taught by CREATE YOUR STYLE Ambassadors Linda Hartung and Laura Timmons. All supplies and kits will be FREE and supplied by Retreat sponsors. (THIS CLASS IS LIMITED TO 60 STUDENTS.)
- Meet the Teachers Dessert Social and Retreat Welcoming Reception
- Your choice of daily lunches specially prepared by various restaurants in the Village at Squaw Valley.
- Morning snack breaks
- Afternoon snack breaks
- Refreshments offered throughout the day
- A gift tote full of beady goodies donated by extra special people in the beading industry, Sponsors, Bead Unique Magazine, and many others.
- Raffle prizes throughout the entire event.
- Hospitality Suite available
- A private exhibit of beads and beading supplies
- Specialty kits offered by your Retreat teachers. SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS will be sponsoring product for many of these kits, which will then be available to retreat attendees only at a reduced rate. Kit fees are payable directly to your teacher.
- A custom bead mat
- Closing Event with a Champagne toast
How can I register for the Retreat?
There are three ways to register:
- 1. Online (click here)
- 2. Mail: Click here to download our printable registration form, print, fill out, and mail to Bead Unique Tahoe Mountain Bead Retreat c/o Joanna Feller, 7 Waterloo Road, Stanhope, NJ 07874.
- 3. Fax: Click here to download our printable registration form, print, fill out, and fax to 973-347-6909 Attn: Joanna Feller.
I’m a beginner beadweaver. Can I attend the Retreat?
Yes, but since the classes in our beading package are designed to incorporate intermediate to advanced techniques, we strongly urge you to take introductory classes in the stitches that will be covered (see “Classes” page) before you arrive at the Tahoe Mountain Bead Retreat. All the teachers and Bead Unique staff will be happy to recommend or provide tutorials in the stitches or techniques the teachers will be using. Don’t worry—we will help get you ready if you’re not proficient in the stitches required.
Will I have time to sightsee during the Retreat?
Your days will be packed with events, and while we will have evening events, you are not required to participate after 5pm. We recommend that you look into either arriving early or staying a bit later after the Retreat ends. The Lake Tahoe area has so much to offer, but you’ll be so busy with the Retreat that you might not have enough time to see as much as you’d like of the area. Please refer to our schedule for a complete timeline of events. Also, click here to see more info about Tahoe and Squaw Valley events.
What beads should I bring to the Retreat?
You will receive a packet in the mail outlining the Retreat events. In that packet will be a list of supplies from each of the teachers for the projects they are teaching. In addition, the instructors will also be offering extra kits for their projects, which make the entire process so much easier! We will also have a vendor booth with supplies on hand.
Should I bring a task lamp?
Please bring a task lamp. The lighting in the Mountain Streams rooms is fabulous! However, we’ll be working with small beads and extra lighting will be needed to alleviate tired and strained eyes. So if you have a traveling task lamp you should bring it along as well as a short extension cord. (You might need it if you’re beading in your room or in the hospitality room.)
Will there be breaks during the day?
Yes, there will be both morning and afternoon snack breaks as well as a 1 ½ hour lunch break. We encourage you to get up and stretch often.
Is there a convenient place to get food?
The Village at Squaw Valley has several wonderful restaurants as well as a fully stocked grocery store. Each of the lodging rooms has a full kitchen should you opt to cook your own meals. You can also click here for a listing of some of the eateries in nearby Truckee or Tahoe City.
Will there be a place to visit with each other outside of the classroom?
Most certainly! We will have the Hospitality room in the ALPENGLOW room. This is available for visiting, sharing, beading and lots of laughs! There will also be many planned activities taking place in Alpenglow Hospitality room.
Where is the best place to stay for this Retreat?
Staying right in the Village at Squaw Valley will certainly be your best option. They have offered attendees of this Retreat fabulously reduced rates for their accommodations. Please check out the Travel page for complete details.
I’ll be flying in for the Retreat, do you have information for me?
The Lake Tahoe Airport is the closet airport to the Retreat. The Village at Squaw Valley has a resource page for travel accommodations here: http://www.thevillageatsquaw.com/gettinghere/Transportation/index.htm.
The North Lake Tahoe Express can shuttle you from the airport directly to the front door of the Village! Last year, many students coordinated arrivals at the airport and a shuttle share. The Bead Unique Yahoo group is a great way to help with this.
Should I rent a car?
The Tahoe Lake area is amazingly beautiful and diverse, so if you’re planning on arriving prior to, or staying for any time after the event, you might want to consider this. Check out our Travel page for information about rental car companies as well as the many sightseeing opportunities Lake Tahoe has to offer.
Can I bring my family or friends?
We encourage you to bring along others on this trip as the Lake Tahoe area has so much to offer. However, the workshops, lunches, morning & afternoon breaks, and the Meet the Teachers event are only open to paid attendees. If your family or friends would like to join you for lunch, they would need to cover their own charges.
What is the weather like in Lake Tahoe in October?
You’ll be surprised at how beautiful the weather is during this time of year considering that it’s in the Sierra mountains with an average altitude of 6500 feet. Days are usually sunny and warm and average in the mid 60s to 70s. The evenings can cool down quite a bit and average in the mid 30s to low 40s. Bring sunscreen AND a jacket! (Last year we did have a morning of light snow that was melted by late afternoon. It can get chilly! Plan to dress in layers.) Also, be sure to bring plenty of skin lotion and Chapstick; the mountain air is VERY dry!
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Bead Unique Magazine reserves the right to cancel this retreat if the minimum number of students are not registered by September 1, 2010. All payments submitted to Bead Unique Retreats will be returned to the registered student in case of a cancellation.
A $200.00 deposit is required to reserve a space in this retreat and $100.00 of that fee is nonrefundable if you decide to cancel.
Total Retreat fee payments must be made by September 1, 2010. For cancellations made after Sept. 1, 2010, 50% of the total retreat fees will be refunded. There are no retreat fee refunds for cancellations made 15 days prior to the event. Registered spaces are transferable.
Lodging cancellations must be made directly with The Village at Squaw Valley. In the event of a natural catastrophe or terrorist act that requires the cancellation of the event, Bead Unique Retreats will be responsible for applying retreat fees to a future event. |
