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.

Explorations In RAW*: Byzantine Queen Earrings This Monday February 20

Byzantine Queen In Byzantium  Blues

Explore another variation in Right Angle Weave in this earring set inspired by the Byzantine Period.  The Byzantine Empire emerged when the capital of the Roman Empire was transferred to Constantinople in the 4th Century well until the15th Century. Byzantine fashion took it's color inspiration and decorative tradition from the Orient and Middle East. Due to it's active history of trade with the East, fabrics that were rich oranges, greens, and ochres became more in demand.  However, the one color purple became associated with wealth and royalty.  Hence the work Byzantium for a rich, royal purple came to be. The jewelry  incorporated a fusion of pearls, semiprecious stones and gold in rich layers and details.

Bust of Constantinople

This was a class we had back in 2011 and we've received several requests to bring it back again, another rich and evocative pair of earrings that relives the ornate designs and intricacy of the Byzantine Period.  However, the interpretation is a contemporary take employing Swarovski Round Pearls, our shimmering Czech Bicone Crystals and a new Swarovski Pendant.  Taking RAW to another level with layering and embellishing with Miyuki Seed Beads create a delicate accent to the base form.  This design was created and will be taught by Lubna. 

Last September's Class Lineup

Date:  Monday February 20, 2012
Time:  9:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 ( Side Basement Entrance)
Technique:  RAW* (Right Angle Weave)
Level:  Advanced Beginners

For more information on class fees details, tools required and material list you can email us at info@lbojzazz.com or call the shop at 2261-0686.

January 2011: Beading Classes

2011 is here as we sweep the dust off old projects that need completing and set our sights for new endeavors, experiences and plans, Bettina and I have been creating new kits to challenge, engage and delight your senses and desires to create beautifully adorned objects through the great energy of your hands and mind.  In addition, we will be bringing back our popular designs and classes to introduce the joy of off loom weaving, beading, wire work and stringing to those of you who are new to the process.

Ebraheem perfecting his wirework

From the LB o J'zazz team of Bettina, Lubna and Chaminda we would like to thank you for continuously supporting our endeavors and desire to share with you what we have come to love:  BEADS and oh so much more. We hope you find a class or two or three that will pique your interest.








Tuesday January 11
Peyote Ring Squared

Learn how to create a flat peyote band and make into a ring.  This  technique will enable you to create tubes and beaded beads in no time.  After creating the ring base you will learn how to create layers with a technique we call "Stitch the Ditch" with our beautiful Czech Crystal Bicones.  This is an excellent introductory class to the Peyote technique. 

Level:  All Levels
Time:  5:00 PM- 7:30 PM



Saturday January 15
Luscious Lariat

This is our first class of introducing the lariat necklace.  In five de-Luscious colorways to choose from, you will master the spiral stitch employing our custom coated Farfalles and 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. 

Levels:  All Levels
Time:  9:30 AM- 1:30 PM


To register and for more information on materials, tools required and class costs please email us at info@lbojzazz.com or contact the LB o J'zazz Store at 2261-0686. 

Meet & Bead Evening Friday November 5

Our monthly ritual of first Fridays designated as LB o J'zazz Meet and Bead Evenings is just around the corner.  It seems that the change of weather has affected our creativity with several new projects and ideas underway.  What better way to spend a quiet Friday with fellow beaders and like minded individuals.
You can bring some of your class projects to complete, or start a new one, show off your latest creations, or just hang out leafing through our extensive book and magazine selection for inspiration.  We will also have the essential tools and notions such as beading needles, Fireline, beading thread, thread conditioners and then some for those of you who have not had the chance to pass by the shop lately and replenish. 

Bettina's take on crystals, pressed glass and  Vintaj with a twist

We would also like to let you know that we have a new number for the LB o J'zazz Shaab el Bahry shop should you require any product information, availability or inquiries Chaminda is always ready to assist you which is 2261-0686.

We would love to see you this Friday!

Date:  November 5

Time:  6:00 PM- 9:00 PM

Venue:  LB o J'zazz Jabriya Studios/Workshop 

Block 9 Street 6 House 13 Side Basement entrance.

For more information you can email us info@lbojzazz.com and if you need directions feel free to call Lubna at 5555-7745.

Open Beading Afternoon @ LB o J'zazz Friday July 23

Who says there's nothing to do this summer here in Kuwait!  For all of you beaders, as we promised to arrange for an open beading time at least once a month for starts.  So, what better month than July? You can bring projects that you would like to complete, or new ones you have started.  You may just want to hang out with your fellow beaders.  We'd love to see what you've been up to in the past months.  Any new beaders in town- this is a great way to show off your talents and meet like minded creative individuals like yourself. 

We'll  have some relaxing music, light and healthy snacks, beverages and your company.  Bettina and I will be available to assist you in any of your previous class projects also.  In addition, we'll be providing class schedules for the summer and Ramadan season.

You're welcome to pass by anytime starting from
5:00 PM- 9:00 PM
on Friday July 23 at:

Jabriya
Block 9 Street 6
House 13 Side Basement Entrance

For any questions or directions please call us at either 6676-7608 and 5555-7745

Class: Spring Blossom Earrings- this Saturday May 8th

This class combines the delicacy of spiral stitch with the formation of spring petals in peyote.  You will be able to perfect the spiral stitch incorporating our new shape of seed beads; the Japanese triangle bead in a new sequence.  The Czech drops end the piece and are then enveloped in a Peyote based petal to create a unique take on the elegance of drop earrings.  Lubna has designed this project and will be leading the session. 

Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13- side basement entrance
Date:  Saturday May 8th
Time:  9AM-1PM
Level:  Intermediate Beginners

For more information regarding materials and tools list, class description and fees please email us at info@lbojzazz or contact us at 5555-7745. 

Life, Art & Love; A Collaboration

The past two weeks, the LB o J'zazz family has been experiencing a whirlwind of activities at the business and personal level. For the founders, creating an extension that reflects our life philosophies has been instrumental in our development and evolution.
Lubna and Bettina have been running the store, administration, government paper work, marketing and school events in addition to gearing up for a life changing event of one of the partners; as Lubna is getting ready to tie the knot.
Creatively and personally, the demands have never been more challenging as a small entrepreunerial outfit. We were able to use this very personal day and incorporate meanings and nuances at several levels.
Whenever I had the chance to communicate with my dear friend, creative inspiration and designer Claudia Shames, I would say: " Claudia if I ever decide to take the plunge, you will have to design and make my wedding dress." Due to the short notice this was not possible and I had to find something that suited my persona fast. So, the focus then moved to creating a bridal veil that would be the focal point of the whole ensemble. So just three days ago, Claudia, Bettina and I began a creative and material collaboration. We selected the tulle, a silvery beige dream of a material. Then Bettina seeing my anguish when Claudia asked if I could create a bejeweled band, jumped in and offered to design and make it for me.

As ideas were thrown around, both Bettina and I realized that as we have been espousing quality materials in the textile realm here in Kuwait, we saw this as the ideal opportunity to only use LB o J'zazz Czech Crystals, our Premium Japanese beads and C Lon thread as the perfect sampler combined with my favorite designer who has a keen understanding and sensitivity of how to enhance our individuality in her creations.
We will share with our friends and readers the joys of colloborating in a field that will end up creating an adorned piece that will be part of our memories, joy and celebration of a special day of matrimony. This is what makes us tick. Artfully living, and creatively loving. This is who we and this what we do.

To Condition Or Not To Condition: Protecting Your Thread and Fireline

Flower On The Serpentine Class and Kit

Whenever I am teaching a group of beaders, Bettina my beading partner is constantly used as a reference.  We both love to bead and have a passion for things that are hand crafted.  Yet, our approaches to beading could not be more different.  This actually allows us to collaborate on class projects with ease and a lot of ideas emerge because of our varied methods.  
So, whenever I recommend using something, Bettina ends up either not using that specific item or if she does it is used in a completely different way. As I say to our class participants, at least try and experiment your self and then you develop your repertoire of techniques and tips to creating your objects in the manner that suits you. 
Which brings me back to the subject of thread conditioning.  Thread conditioning you say?  Yes, just like we moisturize our hair, soften our clothes and other daily rituals, thread conditioning has it's merits.  With my own projects, particularly the bead embroidery and the off loom weaving which takes time, my egoic self imagines that when I am long gone, my pieces will be found, dusted, analysed and studied and the idea that the thread conditioner actually prolonging the life of the thread that is holding the beads makes this far fetched concept all the more appealing.  
In reality, it protects the thread from sharp edges of certain types of beads such as bugle beads and machine cut crystal bicones.  It also limits the development of knots and kinks which can lead to frustrating sessions of untangling, resorting to cutting the thread and having to start a project all over again.  The beading thread and Fireline are literally the lifeline of your projects and they weave the basis of the underlying structures that keep the piece together and in the pattern or weave that is being created.  So, I stretch the thread when measuring and then condition it.  

Which conditioner is best for your thread?  Well it depends on what technique you are working on and what is required of the thread or Fireline.  I use two products and they have different effects in terms of output and how they feel when you are beading.  The two products are Microcrystalline Wax and Thread Heaven. The image above left actually shows the technique of conditioning your Fireline with Microcrystalline Wax.  It is excellent as it allows your beadweaving to have a bit more structure and protects the stringing material more often than not from snapping and breaking.  With Fireline when bezeling cabochons and semiprecious stones I tend to pull the Size 11 Delicas firmly so the conditioning allows this to be done more easily.  It also ideal when you need to try and avoid tangling of a single or double threaded segment as it makes the sides stick together and act as one strand rather than two.  The wax is also used when double threading C-Lon and off loom weaving with the beading thread especially in repetitive stitches such as the Spiral Stitch. 

Thread Heaven on the other hand is a completely different creature and leaves a silky, buttery feel to your thread.  We  use C-Lon and another thread by Toho.  A little goes a long way as you run your needle and thread through as it also creates an electrostatic state that makes threads move away so it is not recommended to use when you are double threading.  I use both items and my little tub of Microcrystalline and little blue box of Thread Heaven have lasted me for years actually.  On that note, my beading partner in crime Bettina rarely uses the wax as she does not like the tackiness it creates when she is working and will use the Thread Heaven on occasion.  Both conditioners are available at the shop should you choose to condition your threads. 

Beading Thread At Its Best

One would think that all threads were created equal, however, after hours of frustrating experiences of constant fraying, splitting, breaking and extreme tangles and knots we would try another brand and keep on going in search of a reasonably priced yet, hassle free and dependable beading thread. After close to five years of experimenting, we can recommend C-Lon Beading Thread in AA and D sizes as ideally priced and dependable, in addition to having an amazing range of colors. It is manufactured in the USA and LB o J'zazz now offers it at our shop. For any projects requiring beading thread and in our workshop kits, C-Lon will be the thread of choice.

I use it extensively in my elaborate bead embroiderered objects, off loom weaving such as Peyote suffs, Ndebele stitch and the Spiral stitch to name a few. Depending on the project and stitches employed, you can condition your thread with Thread Heaven or Microcrystalline Wax. In many cases, beaders prefer not to condition their thread.LB o J'zazz offers over twenty two colors to choose from.