Fly My Butterfly

It's a time like this that a hand-made item made with love can never be replaced by anything purchased.  For my 18 year old daughters' Prom night I wanted to make jewelry she would cherish and which would hold many emotions and feelings starting from the hands that made them to special moments spent that evening with her friends.

Starting off, I thought to make her a necklace that would be elaborate and striking.  Her request was miles off the mind track I was on! 

"Mommy make me something elegent and simple.  I don't want a necklace, only a bracelet".  Talk about throwing me totally off track! 

Frankly, I must say I thought about it for 2 weeks.  Looked through magazines in hopes of getting inspired.  Three days before Prom, it dawned to me what materials I would use for the earrings first.  A Swarovski Rivoli I purchased years ago from one of my trips to the United States would be the focal.  Thanks to Laura Macabe class, I decided to implement the circular Peyote technique around to frame and encase the Rivoli. 

As my daughters' request was for the color blue, I decided to introduce two different blues, sky blue and torquoise seed beads. For an accent color I used dark topaz AB seed beads at the inner most frame circling the Rivoli.  When that was done, I strategically introduced Swarovski crystal pearls, bicones, and butterfly beads in order to give warmth, softness, youthfulness and character to the earrings. 

Thankfully, after showing my daughter the first earring I got her blessings and went straight ahead to complete the second.

"Fly My Butterfly" earrings was born.

Drawing a complete blank the next day, I decided to approach it the way I always have and just create as I go along.  I laugh as I recall my little bracelet journey only because I ended up learning something new myself. Naively I thought I would be able to finish a bracelet faster if I used wirework rather than off-loom.  Ha! The joke was on me.  But I must say, I like the outcome.  A complete row of wirework with butterflies. So delicate and liberating just like the feeling a young person has when graduating.  Perfect.

As more color and softness was needed, I decided to string 2 rows of crystals;  one crystal pearls and the other  row bicone crystals.  All strung and connected to a 3-loop sliding clasp, I made the deadline and was extremely pleased.  Most importantly, my most important and precious client was pleased too. 

The past 11 years of beading all came down to this one critical moment- making something with my own 2 hands for my daughter to compliment her beauty on this special day in her life.  Allah ya7fetha.

Fly My Butterfly...

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. 

Back By Popular Demand: Moorish Mashrabiya Earrings In RAW* Tuesday April 5

This class is a Limited Kit Series as we are offering 5 kits at this time.  Hopefully,  soon we will have a new array of delectable Czech Firepolished Beads as more classes in RAW* (Right Angle Weave) come you your way. 

In this session you will master the single needle Right-angle Weave (RAW) using shimmering Czech Fire Polished beads and lead-free crystal bicones.  This romantic interpretation of Arab geometry is a beautiful addition to the up-coming fall season.  To accentuate this piece further, you will also learn to incorporate different elemental glass beads such as the  pressed glass daggers.

Kindly note that this class is an excellent pre-requisite for more of the intermediate and advance classes in this technique.  

Date: Tuesday April 5

Time: 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM

Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 Villa 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

There are major infrastructure works taking place in Block 9 so bear with us as you may have to deal with blocked access and other interesting contraptions along the way. On behalf of the Ministry of Public Works we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  

If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to receive class and new product information, please send an email request to info@lbojzazz.com and look forward to offering you the ultimate beading experience.

Class: Penta Earrings Tuesday March 22

How many times do you have a specific outfit in a colorway but you just don't have the right earrings?  Well in this Tuesday class you can whip up a stunning five petal pair of earrings.  Our Penta Earrings uses a new technique called Triangle Weave that LB o J'zazz is introducing  which allows you to create something to wear or to gift in an afternoon.  With just a handful of beads you can make several sets to match your moods.

Technique:  Triangle Weave
Level:  Beginners / Introductory
Date:  Tuesday March 15
Time:  5:30- 7:30 PM
Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 Villa 13 Side Basement Entrance

For more information that includes a detailed class description, tools required and material lists in addition to class fees please send an email to info@lbojzazz.com.  There is a limited number of kits for this class therefore, we are requesting you register in advance at our LB o J'zazz shop in Shaab el Bahry.

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

Off Loom Weaving: Introduction To Peyote Stitch

There are several techniques that have proven to be favorite by artisans and craftsmen generation to generation. An ancient technique, Peyote Stitch perfected and expressed among native Americans is still employed today. This stitch is created using an "off-loom" method and initially was created to hold the hallucinogenic dream creating drug Peyote in a special pouch styled pendant. From a creative standpoint, this is by far one of the most rewarding and versatile techniques in "off-loom" weaving.

We will be offering an introduction class, on Saturday September 12 introducing the technique and some variations and applications. Participants will be able to make and complete a Peyote Cuff in addition to acquiring new embellishing and finishing techniques that can also be creatively employed in other objects of adornment.

Limited Seating Availability

For more information contact Lubna 5555-7745 or at lubna@lbojzazz.com