Beading was all the rage when I was in middle school, and I was by no means
immune to the glittering trays of Czech glass, Swarovski crystals and semiprecious gemstones that filled the independent bead shops of my youth.
A family friend would invite me over and demonstrate the finer points of
crimp beads and jump rings. Soon, I had my own formidable collection of beads and spacers that I would use to craft bracelets and earrings for birthdays and holidays. My mom still regularly wears pieces I made for her years ago. When the mood strikes me, I’ll break out my bead organizers and pliers and noodle around with a new design idea. When planning this annual arts and culture issue, I’ve been continuously impressed by how many people turn a hobby into an opportunity to share their creativity with the broader community. For Bilal Mamdani, this meant turning his affinity for Basque-style cheesecake into a new bakery. For Danielle and Shane Vinup, this took the form of transforming a lifelong
passion for theater into
