Mark Your Calendar: Friday June 3 Meet & Bead

 Soup Last M&B | Photo Maryam Al Rashed

A movement of beaders | photo by Maryam Al Rashed

Another month has rushed by, as we had offered four workshops, Venetian Night at the shop and some extracurricular celebrations this May.  The first Friday in June is just around the corner, so clear your calendar for another monthly gathering of fellow beaders and friends. You can share your latest creations, finish off a piece that you just did not get a chance to complete, or start a new one if you like.

Lubna & Bettina sneaking in some beading time | Photo by Maryam Al Rashed

Serving my Cashew Nut Soup | Photo by Maryam Al Rashed

It's officially summer season as the temperature rises and then gets a bit hotter, so Bettina and I will cool you down with one of my Summer Soups, Avocado Gazpacho (cold) and some other refreshing drinks to inspire your palate and senses as you Meet and get to Bead. 

Date:  Friday June 3
Time:  6:00 PM- 9:00 PM
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Workshop Location
             Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)
             Jabriya

They've been excavating around the house and redigging over six times in the past three months, so please expect the unexpected in terms of access and parking.  Sorry for the inconvenience of the maintenance chaos, on behalf of the Ministry of Public Works!

Off Loom Weaving Class: Luscious Lariat Saturday May 28

This was our first class of introducing the lariat necklace.  In five de-Luscious colorways to choose from, you will master the Spiral Stitch as it quickly builds up employing our custom coated Farfalles.  This is one of the most versatile techniques to build and create ropes that are sturdy yet beautiful. You will then begin to learn the techniques of embellishing and fringing with a potpourri of findings, beads and Czech Crystals.  You  are encouraged to also bring your  favorite dangles, charms and beads from your stash to add and personalize your lariat as this will add to the lushness and personalize the piece.

Technique:  Spiral Stitch / Fringing and Embellishing
Date:  Saturday May 28
Time:  9:30 AM- 1:30 PM
Level:  Advanced Beginners / Foundational

For more information on materials, tools required and class fees you can send us an email to info@lbojzazz.com or contact us at our Shaab el Bahry location at 2261-0686.  We suggest you pre-register at the shop well in advance as this class has been a major request. 

Off Loom Weaving Class: Rococo Cuff In Two Drop Peyote

We can never get enough of Peyote!  This coming Saturday we will be offering a class that is based on a cuff that I made over five years ago.  It is a staple item in my layering of beaded adornment and never stop receiving compliments and endless requests to offer it as a class.  So, the design has been modified and will have some added twists and new details.  

This piece was made over 5 years back and is the inspiration of the class

The main body of the Rococo Cuff is in two-drop Peyote and will create a fabric like feel once you wear it.  The project consists of five main elements beginning with the two-drop Peyote and then working off the base into Ndebele stitch and then on to a new technique of fringing. 

The new detailing in this piece will be that you will be creating your own beaded toggle and circular clasp all in Peyote.  So the piece will have an organic flow and allows you to create your own findings just in case you don't have the right closure you will be able to bead your own. In addition the floral element was removed to create a bolder finishing.  The kit will come in several delectable colorways to select from and is an excellent starting point to embellishing. I will post the new design by tomorrow as a preview.

Date:  Saturday May 14 

Time:  9:30 AM- 1:30 PM

Technique:  Two-Drop Peyote / Ndebele/ Fringing / Circular and Flat Peyote

Level:  Advanced Beginners* ( it is preferable that you are comfortable working in flat peyote)

For more information on class details, materials list and class fees just send us an email at info@lbojzazz.com.  You can register at the shop by this Thursday evening while you join us for Venetian Nights. 

Artists' Block Bye Bye

A term I am not certain I have ever come across before other than in the literary world, but "artists' block" or "creativity block" was something I encountered over the last few months.  But I am happy to say that I found my "cure" in Italy.  Bye bye and hello Italy.

Todays' class was the first class inspired by that journey and it holds tribute to the absolutely phenomenal physical and spiritual beauty I absorbed in Tuscany (Toscana-Italian version).  And luckily I was able to share some of that energy with the amazingly brave students who attended this mornings Toscana Dutch Spiral Earring class.

Photographs will do more justice than my words.  So here you go...


6:30 am Tuscan Morning. No camera lense filter. No Photoshop. Just plain, raw, real Toscana beauty




A view my eyes saw and my brain attempted to process while we hovered in a hot air balloon 2130 feet above with Stephano from http://www.chiantiballoon.com/

  

Birds-eye view of breath-taking Toscana




Students today eagerly finished a major portion of the class and showed off their hard work.

Here are special moments caputered by Mr. Sony:

Sameera and Mariam in full concentration

Madhawi proudly finishes the body of the 1st earring and begins the next

A special blue color way just for Mariam. Her completed earring.



Creative Sameera brilliantly displays some finished earrings on my special yellow rose



Madhawi proudly walks out with her finished earring

Need I say more?  So hello and halla wallah.. E6aliya!

Workshop: Toscana Dutch Spiral Earrings this Saturday

New to our workshop series is a beautiful beading technique that opens your creative sphere into a whole undiscovered realm.  LB o J'zazz is happy to introduce the Dutch Spiral.  I must admit that although it can be challenging, the end results are just majestic.  What makes this such a unique technique is how the repetitive movement naturally forces a 'spiraling' form to take shape as though the 'twist' is forced and yet the follow is graceful.  Endless possibilities of applying different sizes and shapes of beads into this one technique allows you to enjoy an entirely fascinating new look in addition to opening up fresh opportunities.

Also to compliment "Toscana Dutch Spiral Earrings" workshop, we will also be showing you what you can do when you just can not get to a store to get the basic earring hook you need to complete your home project.  So a little stitching and a little wirework will be on the table this weekend.

Workshop:      Toscana Dutch Spiral Earrings
Date:               Saturday May 7, 2011
Venue:             Jabriyah, Block 9, Street 6 (Side basement entrance)
Time:               9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Level:              Advanced Beginner
Prerequisite:    Peyote Stitch
                     (NOTE:  It is preferrable those who choose to attend are familiar with the Peyote stitch).

Because we will be doing a little wirework, you will need to bring the following tools:

1.  Round Nose Plier
2.  Chain Nose and/or Flat Nose Plier
3.  Wire Cutters or Flush Cutters

As classes are growing, pre-Registration at our  LB o J'zazz shop in Shaab Al-Bahry is recommended.  You may either drop a comment here, email us at info@lbojzazz.com or call our shop at 22610686 and speak to Chaminda and he will gladly assit you. 

(The dress code is Casual and comfortable and drinks and light snacks will be offered)

Let's Meet and Bead This Friday May 6

Detail of Mucha's Nouveau Flowers II | Photo by Maryam Al Rashed

We had a phenomenal turnout of LB o J'zazzers this past Saturday as we raised the bar and participants worked on their Fab Cabs.  Mark your calendar for this Friday May 6 as we gather to Meet and Bead.  You will be able to bring new projects, complete the ones you've been meaning to complete and see what other fellow beaders have been up to.  You will also be able to purchase any beading essential goodies you were not able to get during the week.  In addition to getting a preview of what we will be offering in terms of upcoming events and classes.
We have another treat as the weather turns warmer you will be greeted with a cool bowl of Lubna's Avocado Gazpacho Soup along with other refreshing beverages.  Bettina and I hope to see you then.

Date:  Friday May 6
Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)