The Full Moon Al-Bader On Its Way

The Al-Bader Earrings

Have you ever come a cross a beautiful coin or semi-precious stone that every angle you view takes you breath away? Or that crystal stone with a pointy back or that piece that has no hole and you just can not figure out how to capture, frame or use it?  Well, if you are anything like me, then you may have felt it almost 'sinful' to cover the other captivating side of some of those treasures.  Today, i must admit that with some of my own private collection of Gary Wilson Stones, this holds true.

Treasure Stones

Luckily years ago I took a class with the exceptional Beading Artist Laura McCabe, a beading master in her own right, and a flamboyantly, creative being with the open-back bezel.  And as this is a time for new beginnings and growth in our present month of Ramadhan where the Moon guides our lunar calendar to mark progression of time and moments, the opportune time is here to pass this lovely skill on to eager fellow beaders with the introduction of "Al-Bader (in Arabic البدر; meaning: Full Moon) Earrings class this upcoming week.

Bader-Full Moon

Date:                 August 4, Saturday
Time:                11:00am- 3:30pm
Technique:       Open-Back Bezel
Level:                Intermediate
Prerequisite:     Peyote stitch; patience and love to learn ;)
Venue:              LB o J'zazz Beading Zone
                         Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

If you are interested to learn more about this class, please email us at: info@lbojzazz.com or call us at +(965) 2261-0686 or please click on to Full Moon Al Bader Earring Class Info and Fees.  Pre-registration for this class is required and this can be done at our LB o J'zazz shop in:

           Shaab Al-Bahri
           Block 8
           Mohammed Darwish Al-Aradi Street
           Al-Shaab Complex, Shop 4
           Kuwait

This class is created and lead by Bettina Al-Bakhit and will be supported and assisted by Lubna Saif Abbas.  The atmosphere is casual and comfortable and is a place you can just be.

Note: As this class is several hours long and it is Ramadhan, a dedicated private area is dedicated for those who wish to eat/drink, just bring along your own snacks and drinks. 

Upcoming Beading Classes September 28 - October 9

We would like to welcome you all back from Eid celebrations and hope that you are rested, well fed and ready to master some new projects that will surely challenge you, engage you and fulfill the need to bead!  Bettina and I got a chance to revamp some projects, bead some new ones and create new colorways.  Still, we need to guarantee seat availability, ample numbers of kits and times so you are kindly requested to pre-register at our Shaab El Bahry location in advance of the class. This is another reason why we are posting the classes ahead of time, so you can peruse and choose those of interest in addition to planning your own personal schedule with ease.

The first two classes were created and made by Bettina and the subsequent two classes are created and made by Lubna.

Arabesque Earrings
September 28 Tuesday

Technique:  Netting



Inspired by Arabesque designs and geometry, Bettina has come up with a circular design combining seed beads and crystals.  Bettina created this as she was exploring Islamic design and art from the Isfahani tiles during the Holy Month of Ramadan.  Once you master this new netting technique you can create and assemble more elaborate units as the variations and colorways unfold. 
 

Waterflowers Ndebele Bracelet
October 2 Saturday
9:30 AM-2:00 PM
Technique: Tubular Ndebele and Fringing 

This is our first introduction to Ndebele; the famous and resilient Zulu Stitch from South Africa. Bettina has created this delicate piece emulating the shimmery sense of Monet's water flower series. She will be employing color refracting Japanese Triangle beads along with our special Czech Spacers and Japanese drop beads.


Level: All levels

Mashrabiya Earrings
October 5 Tuesday
Time:  5:00PM- 7:00 PM
Technique:  Single Needle Right Angle Weave (RAW)


Inspired by the architecture of the Moors and the geometry of Mashrabiyas that are prevalent and celebrated across the Middle Eastern Region and Spain.  This earring set echoes a poignant reflection of the beauty of the objects of the craftsmen of the period.  This piece combines the rich softness of Czech Firepolished Crystals and Machine Cut Crystals in 3mm along with hand crafted Pressed Glass Daggers.

Mucha's Nouveau Bracelet In RAW*
October 9 Saturday
Time:  9:30 AM- 2:00 PM
Technique:  Single Needle Right Angle Weave (RAW)


Mucha was a pioneer and innovator who triggered the Art Nouveau Movement whilst designing a poster for the great Sarah Bernhardt in the 1800's.  Born in the Czech Republic his style created a romanticism of the feminine form in a garden like setting.   Mucha's stylization, form and use of colors inspired this bracelet. 
A simple yet innovative recipe to create a whimsical and floral style bracelet.  Five luscious garden colorways have been carefully concocted with 5mm and 4mm Czech Crystals.  Inspired by the Art Nouveau's approach to floral motifs you will learn the technique of RAW* (Right Angle Weave) and experiment with patterning and different effects of embellishing.

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. 

Upcycling with Decopatch on Sabah al Watan last Wednesday April 7

For the first time, live viewers in Kuwait were able to see how easy it is to upcycle with Decopatch.  Starting at 8:30 in the morning, anchor lady Fatma Bou Hamed and I started to work on a chair throughout the show.  Celebrating and recognizing that old things can and are more beautiful and meaningful as those things bright shiny and new. 
To the extent that since we only had one brush available during the program, Fatma had the team look for another brush!  I had to give mine over as she basically worked on the chair during breaks.  So, now we have a new project underway with the Sabah al Watan team and that is we will go on a scouting trip to the Friday market and the rest will be a surprise for viewers as the project unfolds. 

New Decopatch papers for 2010 will be in the store in the weeks to come and we'll keep you posted. 

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.

Earth Day and our little take on this

 

A succulent in Lubna's Pot Garden 

 

Both Bettina and I have been passionately committed to seeking a healthier and less polluted environment, wise and practical urban planning, sustainability and green building.  In our corporate paths, we worked separately and in parallel without really deciding on the how but rather, on the why.  So, as LB o J'zazz came to be, we were, for the first time able to put our ideas and life philosophy in motion without having to battle the bottom line profit-hungry and ignorant powers-that-be on the immense and critical importance of protecting, saving and nurturing our planet. So, as we are now the-powers-that-be; it took very little convincing. .
Earth Day is just around the corner on April 22nd and we will be sharing with you our stories, practices and ideas that as a tiny entrepreneurial business we live by day to day and share with our customers and friends.  It is a main part of our mission to seek and work with companies that are committed to healthier modes of production, reducing carbon emissions, recycling, upcycling, Fair Trade  and a lot more.
On this note, we kick off our series of blogs leading up and continuing well after Earth Day with a link to Earth Day Network.  You can find Earth Day activities and events across the globe and get access to many innovative and simple ways to contribute to embracing the planet we live on for us now and the generations that will follow.  In addition to tools for teachers and companies to incorporate Environmental education. 
We also welcome you to offer and share your daily acts of nurturing and preserving Mother Earth through our blog and comments.  

By merely buying local and handmade in itself may contribute to this effort. You can go to  http://www.earthday.net/

Resolution Year 2010: BUY AND GIVE HANDMADE

A handcrafted artisanal bead by Dustin Tabor,  part of the  LB o J'zazz Private Collection

One of the ideas that emerged as the art and crafts movement witnessed a recent rebirth and resurgence particularly in the US, Europe and the Indian Subcontinent and countries such as Thailand is that as we are moving away from our fascination with mass production of the remnants of the Post Industrial Revolution that is now witnessing a form of "devolution", the creation of microeconomies that are essential to fostering creativity and innovation in addition to stabilising economies are flowering.
Etsy is all about that.  Established in 2005 with the running mode of existence which is:  Buy, Sell and Live Handmade. It is a market place that enables folks to create their own storefronts and create communities with a common vision.  You can learn more about Etsy at http://www.etsy.com.

As so many gift items today are mass produced, with no unique attributes as retailers scramble to emulate and imitate all the way down in a diluted and trickle down effect, one of the most rewarding activities is buying something that has been recycled, upcycled and created by hand.  Most of the gifts this year that my friends and loved ones received from me were handcrafted.  What happened in the process, is that thinking about what the gift recipient liked and cared about took some time and I had to put myself in their shoes so to speak.  Since making something was going to take considerable time, it had to be worthwhile after they received the gift. This in itself in the moment of gift giving seemed to have an impact that did not feel as short lived, at least not to me!
So, in this vein, when we acquire a piece of art, handmade paper, fiber arts and more, the time that the craftsperson took will outlast the moment of purchase and giving and this is also why vintage and antique beads, fabrics and buttons are avidly sought out. 

The buttons to the left are all vintage and many of us may have beautiful buttons, ribbons and papers stashed away in drawers.  Little treasures to be dusted off and celebrated in a new context.  
You can add them to a sweater or a coat and have a completely new piece.  When making bracelets or necklaces they can also be easily used as clasps.




In the case of the pink flower Vintage Brass Button in the right side of the image above, it was used as a focal cabochon.  By removing the shank and embellishing it became something new.  This piece is a sample of a new workshop that is being concocted in our LB o J'zazz Beaders Kitchen. 

LB o J'zazz at KTAA event Saturday November 21

Pass by this coming Saturday the Sadu House as the Kuwait Textile Arts Association will have an arts and crafts bazaar. 
 

We will be showcasing some of our recent hand crafted off loom beadwork in addition to our creations in Decopatch.  For beaders and crafters you will be able to purchase loose beads,crytals, findings and special Beaders Gift Baskets in addition to the Decopatch range to create your own unique handcrafted projects.  

The event will start at 10 AM and end at 1 PM 
Saturday November 21

Venue:  Sadu House near the Seif and Amiri Diwan and adjacent to the National Museum on Gulf Road, Kuwait City

Above image is Snow Queen Beaded Collar; beaded embroidery by Bettina Al Bakhit

LB o J'zazz featured on Al Watan TV tonight at 9

After the economic meltdown of retail giants at global and local levels it is high time for people to realize the potential of the power of small businesses and buying handmade.  In this vein, LB o J'zazz will be featured on the popular program on Al Watan TV this evening called " Banat wu Bass".  
Although "Banat wu Bass" has an exclusionary feel to it in terms of their subject matter, for the mere fact that the managing partners of LB o J'zazz happen to be ladies, LB o J'zazz offers classes and workshops to women and men alike. 
We welcome your comments and feedback as we will also be seeing it for the first time tonight with viewers at 9 PM and there will be a rerun at 11 PM this evening also.