Bead Embroidery 101: Paloma Pendant Class This Saturday June 16

Free Form Paloma Pendant in Fiery Opal

With a handful of beads one can create a miniature painting. We will explore basic composition, color placement, textures and patterns in this class. Each pendant will look completely different based on your vision and explorations.
The Paloma Cabochon created by Czech Glass Master Jindrich is a rare find and was created in only two colors. Paloma meaning 'dove' in Spanish harkens us to dream and fly as we build layers of beauty and meaning. An introduction to Bead Embroidery that will allow you to explore the wide array of techniques and applications in addition to fringing and embellishing.
You can bring your own favorite stash of beads, findings and elements to add to the project. We hope you can join us for a rewarding morning and painting with beads.

Date: Saturday June 16
Time: 9:30am - 1:00pm
Technique: Bead Embroidery Level: Foundational / All levels
Venue: LB o J'zazz Beading Zone Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance) 


Kits will be available at day of class for selection. There will be four different kits to choose from. For more information please contact us at 2261-0686.

Debut Design: Vintage Au Provence Earrings Class Saturday August 20

One of the most requested designs, this is a great way to spend some creative time in the LB o J'zazz Beading Zone before Futoor for some quality meditative beading. 
With a needle and thread you will learn how to create an embellished cabochon from scratch and assemble the earrings all the way to the earring posts. We will be working with celebrated Master Jindrich's hand crafted cabochons from the Bohemia Region.

Cabochons made by master Glass Craftman Jindrich

This specific fringing technique will enable you to create a symbiotic flow between the main design and the embellished portion of fringing.  We have three special colorways in this debut design that are available to reserve and pre-register for selection at our LB o J'zazz shop.

Date:  August 20 Saturday
Time:  11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)
Technique:  Bead Embroidery /  Bezeling / Fringing
Level: Intermediate

For details on materials, tools required and class fees you can contact us at the shop at 2261-0686 or send us an email at info@lbojzazz.com 

Gearing Up for Saturday April 30 Class: Fab Cab Ring In Sage Green

Fab Cab In Sage Green Photo Maryam Al-Rashed

When we originally posted the write up for the class, the response was overwhelmingly positive.  However, as I felt the design needed some modifying, it was off to the Beading Kitchen this morning and this is what unfolded.  The cab was so wonderful to work with as colorways were subtle, layered and rich.  There will be four different colored kits available: Sage Green, Golden Roses, Blue Skies Opal and Cool Turquoise.  It will be interesting to see who chooses what in terms of the kits.
If you are interested in this class, to ensure kit availability we recommend you Pre-register at the Shaab el Bahry store location.  This class is filling up quickly so head on over. 

Introduction To Bead Embroidery 101: Fab Cab in Peyote

Master Jindrich in his glass studio

We will be introducing some of our new cabochons by the great master Jindrich along with some kits that have our selection that Bettina and I chose while visiting him in his studio and home in the Czech Republic.
Today, there are a handful of artisans who are still committed to this craft and soon it will be very hard to find these beautiful cabochons that have been made one focal bead at a time for the last two hundred years. 

Some of the beautiful cabs that will be used in the Fab Cab Ring

The Fab Cab Ring is an introduction to Bead Embroidery basics along with Circular Peyote.  You will learn how to work with the cabochons and foundation material and how to manipulate the surface with Bead Embroidery and embellishing.

Date:  April 30, 2011 Saturday
Time:  9:30 AM- 1:30 PM
Venue: LB o J'zazz Workshop Studio
               Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

Level: Foundational

We will be posting fresh images of the sample shortly.  For more information on class details, materials and tools list along with class fees kindly send an email to info@lbojzazz.com or contact the LB o J'zazz shop at 2261-0686.  You will be able to register and select your kit at the shop by Thursday April 21. 

The Czechs Are In The LB o J'zazz House

Glass Cabochon in  process by Master Jindrich

Handmade Cabochons by Master Jindrich

Eastern Europe and in particular the Bohemian Region within the Czech Republic has been renowned for hundreds of years to be high quality producers of glass beads reaching as far as Africa, South America and the Far East.  What differentiates this sector in this region is that it truly is a cottage industry.  Despite serious attempts during the period of Communism to nationalize and force consolidations and the mass production approach of the  post-Glasnost era, the cottage industry still remains and luckily is being maintained due to global demand.

Mucha's Flowers bracelet in pastels of Czech bicones

We began  our offerings last year, with our extensive range of Bohemian Machine Cut Crystals in bicones, drops and spacers.  More items were added with our handcrafted Cabochons, farfalles, peacock beads and pressed glass.  Now, we are very excited to offer a new range in seed beads in various finishes and sizes.

Size 13 Charlottes

The first unique type of bead is our range in Size 13 Charlottes.  These beads are created by beginning with long tubes of glass that are cut in a round shape and then given a 1-Cut edge that creates a glimmer effect and is also called True cuts.  When used in combination with other beads they provide a vintage feel to beaded objects.  The beads come in 6 string hanks and the weights vary depending on finishes.


The most popular seed bead size is 11 and are available in various finishes such as AB, Luster, Matte AB, Silver Lined, Copper Lined, Ceylon and Standard classic finishes. What makes Czech beads an essential addition to your bead stash is that some colors are never made again, in addition to their crafty feel as the shapes are rounder.  Czech size 11s are slightly smaller than what you will experience in Japanese ranges.

This piece made by Lubna exclusively employs Czech seed beads

So feel free to come by and ask us for all things Czech for they are truly great finds and are great values for avid beaders and beginners alike.

Store Hours

Saturdays-Thursdays 

9:30AM - 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM-9:30 PM

Store Address

Shaab el Bahry

Block 8 Ibn el Khatib Street Shop 4

Adjacent to the New Executive Flex

 2261-0686

Foundation Materials For Bead Embroidery

Some of you took our class called "The How Ya Doin?"  Ring that was a major introduction to bead embroidery, cabochon bezeling and embellishing.  The two main components that were necessary to create a polished and high level of finishing were:  Lacy's Stiff Stuff TM and Ultrasuede TM. We will provide an overview of the amazing qualities of Lacy's in addition to how Ultrasuede is an essential part of finishing and embellishing in the bead embroidery technique.

Lacy's Stiff Stuff TM comes in A4 size and has several qualities that make it a joy to work with.  It comes in white, however you can dye it with fabric dye to match the palette you are working with, so that the white does not come through the bead embroidery.  Doing that allows you to actually create a canvas that acts as a color filler in the background.  You can also use markers to fill an area for the same effect.  One sheet of Lacy's can go a long way, and all the leftovers and scraps can be used for smaller projects.  You can also draw a pattern or designs directly onto Lacy's after it has been dyed.  

What's great about this foundation medium is that it is stiff enough whereby, you do not require embroidery hoops and if you have to pull out beads after applying them, the material retains it's integrity and shape.  It also cuts very well and creates a smooth edge for finishing.
When adhering focal stones or cabochons it is very strong and retains it's shape particularly during the bezeling process when employing the backstitch.  Once the piece is completed on the foundation material of Lacy's it can even be glued to a brass base.  

The piece is then finished with UltrasuedeTM  whereby, the piece is cut out and creates a soft and plush backing and is sandwiched with a special back stitch technique employing beads. Ultrasuede is available in four colors:  Black, Tobacco, Silver Gray and Turquoise.  It too goes a long way and can be used for several projects. 




This is the end result, all of our class participants had approached this elaborate technique for the first time .  By using materials that work with you and are of the best quality allows you to invest time in pieces that will last and retain a high level of craftsmanship and artistry.  Both Lacy's Stiff Stuff, Ultrasuede and lots of beautiful artisanal glass cabochons are exclusively available for you at our LB o J'zazz shop in Shaab El Bahry. 

This is a Gary Wilson Semiprecious Stone: Lacy Jasper that was set on the foundation material and then bezeled one bead at a time in circular Peyote Stitch with vintage and Contemporary Seed  Beadsand Delicas.  Piece by Lubna Saif Abbas.Copyright Image 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.  

Rare Handmade Cabochons to Feast the Eye and Soul

We had featured our Czech Artisan Jindrich Ceska from the glass making region of Bohemia a while back and are now showcasing and displaying his work available for you to acquire, horde and purchase to your heart's delight.  These are ideal to attach to Lacy's Stiff Stuff and to embellish and secure with bead embroidery. The cabochon designs may never be repeated as some of the molds are over 50 years old. 

If you are interested, we will be offering a class using Jindrich's rare cabochons to make a beautiful set of earrings and to embellish and fringe with new techniques. This ancient technique is rarely used today, LB o J'zazz are one of the few establishments globally who are still willing and committed to maintaining this important component in our repertoire of rare and special finds.  These are collectibles in their own right.