I don't know about crafting groups but I'm a crafty person! I just moved from Concord to North Charlotte so I'm back and forth all the time right now.

  and the name's Laura

yes the pins with a flat end are headpins, for chain, I  get really cheap necklaces at Ben Franklin (local craftstore) for around a dollar and use the one necklace for several pairs of earings, saving the clasp for something else

well it depends on what you're stringing the beads on. Wire or tigertail require a crimp bead, but with thread or string you have several options. you can get knot holder (not what they're called.. maybe covers? I don't remember right now) that are little cups that you put the knot in then metal loops that you attach to the clasp.  my personal favorite way though, is to tie several knots on top of each other to make one biggish knot (small enough to not be obvious but more than one knot) and then touch it with clear nail polish. 

beaded a clasp though I don't know what you're talking about, sorry

I'm on facebook too.. a couple of friends talked me into joining.. I'd add you,but the link sends me to the mainpage.. weird

gotcha   

math and science     oh how I love art school and the lack of math and science   this was for my three dimensional design class

for one of my classes we had to make a hat or piece of headgear that would bounce a golf ball off of a surface and catch it three times in a row, I decided to crochet mine and thought you guys might enjoy it.. 

(sorry if they're really big)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/pnkcurly/babysnooksandhattwo.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/pnkcurly/babysnooksandhat1.jpg
tothe golf ball goes into the basket part, and is thrown up by tossing my head...

my uh *lovely* model is a sculpture I made last session.. I wasn't up to modeling it last night...

last year i made a giant (around two feet) tall light house out of pony beads woven together.  but you can make all sorts of containers weaving them, I'd look on google or something for instruction of weaving, the site i learned from has been defunct for a year or so, but it's quite easy once you learn how to.  i wired the light house with a bought night light and it looks amazing in the guest bedroom.