Earth Hour 2013 This March 23 at LB o J'zazz

It's all about creating the connections of awareness and commitment throughout our communities and this year through our outreach program and support of other organizations and groups we are taking Earth Hour to another level.  LB o J'zazz in conjunction with the Youth Association of Kuwait will be organizing our Lights Out event at our Shaab Al Bahry location.

Renew your commitment to action  beyond the Hour with the"I Will If You Will" Challenge it is not just about turning the lights off for one hour but reminding ourselves of how the little things we commit to can lead to dramatic change for a better world to live and co-exist in.  This year LB o J'zazz began an initiative with some forward thinking restaurants such as the folks at En Mexico and began collecting their glass soda pop bottles and bottle caps to upcycle with our Decopatch range and into the Soda Pop Bling Earrings in addition to having our waste recycled through MRC.

LB o J'zazz as a small business is always searching for eco friendly products as well as sourcing from manufactures that are moving towards green practices as well as avoiding the use of toxic products.  We avoid any nickel and lead elements in our findings as we work with Tierracast and Vintaj ranges in addition to the Soft Flex Wires in a select range that are considered Green Products.

So join us for some good company, live music and celebrating the only planet we have.  For more information on the global movement Earth Hour you can go to http://earthhour.org/.

EARTH HOUR with LB o J'zazz and Friends

Date:  March 23, 2013 Saturday

Time:  7:30 pm 

Venue:  LB o J'zazz Shaab Al Bahry

Block 8 Mohammad Darwish Al-Aradi Street Store #4

Tel:  2261-0686

Lights will go out for one hour at 8:30pm 

  

Solar Flare.. expected this Saturday August 13

A lovely gem of a necklace| Photo by Bettina Al-Bakhit

In tandem with the astonishing activity happening on our Sun planet, I thought there is no better time to introduce this 'astronomical' class to our wonderful students and to Kuwait then now. 

Albight it may look simple, creating an Open-back Bezel in this class will require previous experience in beading, patience and love.  An advanced class, this encapsulating technique mainly requires precision in details and appreciation of working with high quality Japanese cylindrical and tiny round seed beads.  With that receipe,  I assure you the outcome can only be termed as priceless.

The pendent of all pendents, this bezeled focal piece spur life| Photo by Bettina Al-Bakhit

All the credit for learning this advanced beading technique goes to my teacher and Master Beader extraordinaire Laura McCabe about 5 years ago.  During a marathon of workshops in mid-2000's, i came across a photo that made my eyes tickle.  And even though the class was 'Advanced', I was not about to let that deter me from learning how to create such exquisite, "living", and detailed pieces.  This Saturday, I share the core of what I learned with you.

I will show you how to cradle and center this Rivoli pendent with seed beads, embellish with sparkling vivid crystals, suspend off strun Soft Flex heaving wire with more crystals andaccented by Tierra Cast's fine findings and beads, and lastly the proper, clean way to close your piece.  Solar Flare Necklace class is rich with techniques and will opening doors to endless possibilities for you to create high quality jewelry of your own.

You will be learning 5 major techniques in this class.

Technique/s:                      Open-Back Bezel; Circular Peyote; Tubular Herringbone/Ndebele; Embellishing;   Stringing
Class Level:                       Advanced
Prerequisite Required:       Peyote; Herringbone/Ndebele
Time:                                 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Venue:                               Jabriyah, Block 9, Street 6, House 13 (Side entrance to Basement)

As usual we will be offering several colorways to select from. 

To register, kindly visit Mr. Chaminda at our LB o J'zazz shop in Shaab Al-Bahry.  And if there are any questions, please email us at info@lbojzazz.com or call 2261-0686.

Off Loom and Stringing Fusion: Dancing Crystals Choker Class This Saturday July 2

RAW* and Stringing with Soft Flex Metallics | Photo by Bettina Al Bakhit

Our original design has been revisited and recreated for a new take on one of our most popular classes.  The concept came about when I was recuperating and bedridden for two weeks back in 2006.  The idea of creating a melodic dancing sequence of crystals with the use of beading wire and off loom weaving.  As the crystals jump off their lines they sparkle and play along the neckline.  I wanted to create a piece that would drape and enhance the collarbone area differently on each wearer.   
In this interpretation, the base is created in RAW* (Right Angle Weave) whereby it naturally curves along the neck due to the various sizes employed.  It has a creature like feel and sometimes also reminded me of the cantilevers and structures of the huge wires suspended from bridges.  Employing our Soft Flex Metallics Beading Wire to suspend the crystals in an airy and playful manner. Each time the piece is made it is never like any of the other Dancing Crystals.

Detail with Czech Bicone Crystals | Photo by Bettina Al Bakhit

 Learn how to merge and combine two distinct applications of Off Loom Weaving and Stringing.  This class is an excellent pre-requisite for those wanting to perfect the Right Angle Weave.  In addition, a new application to create the closure will be presented.   

Date:  Saturday July 2
Time:  9:30 AM- 1:30 PM
Venue: Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)
Technique:   RAW* (Right Angle Weave)  and Stringing
Level:  Advanced Beginners
Instructor:   Lubna Saif Abbas with the support of Bettina Al-Bakhit

For more information on class details, materials required and class fees you can send us an email at info@lbojzazz or call us at 2261-0686.  We recommend you Pre-register at the shop as there will be a limited number of kits. 

Dancing Crystals Choker- Class Saturday March 13

Part of Lubna's Signature Series, the Dancing Choker came about during a two week bed ridden bout with the flu back in 2005. I've always been fascinated by insects, cobwebs and cocoons and how these insects and their structures drape and yet are resilient and withstand a lot. So, when I began to play with the Soft Flex Beading Wire, structures that felt like sprouting tentacles and cobwebs that had a cascading effect emerged.
This is a modification and elaboration of the original design and is a show stopper. It is definitely a dramatic piece to be worn with a strapless dress or a square cut as the draping of the crystals dancing takes place all the way around the neck and in the back. Beaders will be introduced to the luscious and verdant colors series from Soft Flex called Trios and will be creating a rich patterning with our Bohemian crystals in sizes ranging from 3mm-6mm bicones. The draping pattern will be suspended from a peyote base of bugle beads.

The class will begin this Saturday March 13 at 9:00 AM and end at 1:30 PM and will be at our location in Jabriya. For more information on materials, tools and cost fees send us an email at info@lbojzazz.com or call us at 5555-7745 or 6676-7608. The class will be lead by Lubna and supported by Bettina; the dynamic beading duo at your service.

Beading Wire: Soft Flex Comes Your Way

We have just received a major collection that both Bettina and I had been eagerly anticipating. If I told you it was a special wire used for making accessories and our adorned objects, you may say- what is all the fuss about. Well, this is an interesting type of wire, in that in some finishes and weights you can knot it and even crochet the wire to create structures. In addition, these beading wires can be used for heavy gemstones and large beads also.

Some of our projects and upcoming workshops will cover the versatility and variations of ideas that this material can give you. To the extent that event designers are using Soft Flex Beading Wire to embellish crystals and beads throughout their projects. Soft Flex Fine Beading Wire was introduced in our first workshop Bohemian Delight Earrings and Necklace set that is featured in the photograph.

The range is quite extensive and offers versatility in terms of affordability and what your final vision for your finished piece is. Six ranges in all beginning with Econoflex, Soft Touch, Extreme in precious metal finishes, Metallics, Original and Trios. Combined with the highest quality and dependable range of crimp beads and crimp covers.

In addition, LB o J'zazz seeks responsible companies that integrate environmental commitments in their manufacturing processes and approach. We are glad to say that Soft Flex is indeed the first wire manufacturer to go Green.