Friday, June 25, 2010

Delicious Freshwater Pearls Samplings at LB o J'zazz




(Fig. 1)





(Fig. 2)

Fig.1: Keshi Purple Iris (10-12mm) and Keshi White (7-9mm)


Fig. 2: Rice Olive Green Iris (6-6.5mm); Rice Silver Iris (5-5.5mm); and Nugget Peacock (5-6mm)


Fresh water pearls add luminosity and shimmer to any beaded object. They also come in rich shades through special dyeing process that creates a broader palette when working with wider colorways. They can be strung in a very simple and elegant fashion or used as an accent bead enhancing silver findings and softening a look. They create very satisfying results when used in extensive embellishment techniques such as fringing and bead embroidery and can be used to create a  layering effect.

Here are some examples of how freshwater pearls create a rich yet subtle contrast when worked with other textures of beads and finishes.

Fig.3 "Ice Queen" by Bettina Al Bakhit employs various sizes, shapes and very subtle variations in freshwater pearls that refract light in a dreamy way. 
  


 




 


Fig.4  Purple Freshwater pearls are selectively used in the fringing to create a rich tapestry of textures and hues in this elaborate beaded collarPiece by Lubna Saif Abbas

We have a limited quantity of designer strands of freshwater pearls and we recommend you come by as these pearls are must sees. Don't forget our new shop hours in Shaab El Bahry which are:


Sundays-Thursdays 
9:00 AM-1:00 PM
5:30  PM- 9:30 PM

Saturdays
11:00 AM-7:00 PM

Thursday, June 24, 2010

LB o J'zazz Shaab El Bahry Shop New Summer Hours

After three months of tedious paperwork, follow-up, paperwork, long and unruly lines while waiting, system shut downs, system chaos, citizen chaos, record high temperatures, new rules and requirements every five minutes, bored and yawning government employees, paperwork, bouts of frustration, going to yet another room another ministry another signature, exasperation and then highlights of elation, of wonderful individuals going out of their way and diligently helping us expedite the newly revised government enhancement processes along the lines of this mythical way of integration called Maikanah..... Bettina and I are done!
On behalf of the LB o J'zazz family, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused when we were forced to cut our hours to deal with this very critical yet sometimes petty requirement. LB o J'zazz is back full force and we've been busy with new orders, working on bringing your favorite items and new luscious colors, beads, tools, freshwater pearls and much more eye candy along with our LB o J'zazz Bead Kitchen concocting some fun beading and stringing kits for classes and new in-store samples for the summer season.

Starting with our new operating hours for the summer, the team will welcome you on the following days and times:

Sundays-Thursdays:

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

5:30 p.m- 9:30 p.m.


Saturdays:

11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.

We would also like to thank those government staff, who greeted us with a smile, believed in our efforts as entrepreneurs ( and self employed ladies) and worked diligently and with something called ethics despite the overall disorganization, chaos and apathy we usually face when getting these requirements done.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Amal's Jasper Pendant

A few weeks back was my very dear friend Amal's birthday and we were planning to meet and celebrate this special time with her and her amazingly beautiful and talented family.  So, I decided to make her a pendant and then she could decide as to whether it would be part of a lariat, choker, bracelet or pin.  Setting the semiprecious stones ranging from fossils,Jaspers, Agates, Chrysoprase and Labrodorites to name a few on the work table and waiting for one of the stones to emerge from the group and say "pick me!"  Well, this beautiful stone seemed to shine amidst all the other stones that I have such a reverence for.

Beginning at 11 in the morning, the stone was prepared and lovingly embraced with small Delicas to encase and envelope this luscious Jasper stone.  By the late afternoon the piece was completed and ready to take with us.  Upon photographing the piece, the colors emerged in a very rich and subtle palette due to the special rings of the Jasper.  Amal decided that she wanted it to become a brooch.

At this point in time, it has become very hard to go and buy something for those dear friends and loved ones.  The caring attention to selecting, creating and finishing a piece has rewards that become magnified from the fulfillment of the creator and the satisfaction that the recipient gets when knowing that someone took the time, to stitch and create something for them with a few basic elements and items.