The Inherent Beauty Of Stones And Peyote Bezeling

It seems that as the weather cools down, our body clocks and biorhythms make a shift that seems to trigger a flurry of creative energy.  In the past few weeks, new pieces are coming to fruition in addition to a whole new set of projects for upcoming classes that are being tested and concocted in the LB o J'zazz Beading Kitchen.

  
One piece is this Jasper cabochon that reminded me of the island of Cyprus in it's outline and the the ridges and rings the rich history and condition of this beautiful land.  Again, as a beader we say "You can never have enough seed beads and Delicas" however, as my personal stash is waning the limited palettes available have pushed the creative envelope a bit further.  Many times I will apply certain design restrictions such as the standard template of the beaded collar, limiting the palette to a very tight color range, assymetrical placement of the focal points to name a few.  This has allowed the objects to break out of the norm and define itself in a fresh and new way.  
Bezeling with Peyote Stitch is probably one of the most rewarding techniques in this process.  Whenever I see the claw like prongs holding onto a beautiful stone it leaves me cold.  However, when the Delicas Size 11s surround, envelope and encase the stone mimicking and echoing the original shape it enhances and intensifies the inherent qualities of the stone or cabochon as seen in the image below.

 

I will post the completed piece as it will include special Tierracast findings and clasps in Antiqued Copper and hammertone finishes. 

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. 

Iriquois Echoes - In Limbo

This beaded collar had a few new approaches within the Kindred Spirits Series.  When I began to approach the layout of the focal stones, I was not satisfied with the shape of the beaded collar template that was being used, instead I wanted to create a hand drawn base to move forward from so, for a few days the exercise was to come up with a pattern that would accomodate larger stones yet was not over stated.  This is what I came up with.

I began collecting special cut stones and fossils by the talented lapidary artist Gary Wilson thanks to Sherry Serafini's strong recommendation at the Bead and Button Show in 2005.  Ever since, it has been hard to find anyone who is as masterful in his acquiring beautiful stones and his unbelievable talent at cutting and creating these masterpieces.  These special stones have been extensively used in this piece.  

Two main stone types, the first is Chrysolite and the second being Labradorite.  The Chrysolite looks a lot like Turquoise as it has high traces of copper.  The Labrodorite is the luminous bluish stone on the upper left hand corner of the image below.  After that the secondary focal points are mother of pearl disks.  The mother of pearl disks are the ones on the lower right corner.  
As I started my collaging the stones and placing beads on the template, the stones were so mesmerizing that it was appealing to have seed beads echo the shapes and offset the hues as in a rippling effect. So the amount of seed beads in Size 11, 15 and 3 cut 15's required are much higher.  

Rarely do I show people what the back side of the beaded embroidery looks like, so today I took some extra shots to share, really two beads stitched and then backstitched at a time.  It looks like a maze of threads crisscrossing on the back.  It's too bad it ends up being covered once all the bead embroidery is done.

At this point, the main body of the piece is almost complete, and actually today I was so ready to complete it except for one simple reason........ I ran out of the seafoam luster green Delicas that dominate the overall color scheme!  

So, now along with all the other LB o J'zazzers I am eagerly awaiting the first ever shipment of seed beads, Delicas and Czech beads to satisfy my need to bead.  This has been one of the most rewarding beaded collars in terms of the end result and am considering entering the piece in competitions such as the Bead Dreams by Bead and Button and The Saul Bell Design Awards by Rio Grande.  

Will keep you posted as the project nears completion.

 

Crystal Clear Fireline Back By Popular Demand

For those of you who took the Peyote Cuff, the Flower On The Serpentine or our recent Viral Spiral Class were able to sample and use the Fireline.  However, what was available at the time was limited to the Smoke color and as many beaders are opting for lighter and brighter color palettes, your request for the Crystal Clear Fireline has been served!

We now have Crystal Clear available in the 4lb and 6lb version.  Fireline is ideal for off loom weaving, securing your pieces, embellishing and fringing when you want the tension to be a bit tauter, or your working with machine cut beads such as our Czech Machine Cut Bicones and Spacers.  

Just What Are Findings?

Upon looking at a finished object of beaded adornment, the beads tend to take center stage. However, Findings in themselves are a key component that enables you to achieve the desired effect when assembling and finishing pieces. As you peruse beading magazines and publications the word Findings pops up frequently. So, LB o J'zazz is introducing several key ranges of Findings. This will allow you to see the wide range of what this category consists of.
Findings are basic components that hold, house and showcase your work. Some examples such as Eye and Head Pins, Bead Caps, Links, Jumprings, Crimp Beads, Crimp Covers and Clasps starts the range and can get more elaborate and varied.
Findings can make or break a project literally and aesthetically.  When I first started making beaded and adorned objects it was hard to differentiate if something was shoddy and did not hold the work properly, until I became more exposed to the variety of qualities and the actual materials used.  Unfortunately this took place outside our local market in Kuwait and hence, LB o J'zazz came into fruition for that reason and a bunch of others! 
It also becomes more evident when you start making your own jewellry, so now, for those beaders and artisans when you go to the mall and or see other beaders work you can look at all the components and realize just how much time went into not only making the final piece but the quality of finishing and the actual Findings.
Soft Flex, Vintaj and Tierracast are three key lines that we are very proud to offer.  There are several criteria that we focus on when selecting who we source our products from:

1. Quality and finishing of material
2. Nickel and lead free 
3. Reasonable pricing for the quality we offer you.  
4. Environmental commitments from a manufacturing and managing of resources standpoint.                       

We will be introducing each range and items, how they are used and recommended applications in our upcoming posts.  If you have any questions please post them. 


Image:  Art Nouveau In Pink is an off-loom woven piece by co-founder of LB o J'zazz; Bettina Al-Bakhit.  The technique employed is Peyote Stitch and Fringing.  The clasp and crimp beads employed to secure the piece are considered Findings.

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 Shop will be closed this Wednesday evening and Saturday Nov 14

LB o J'zazz will be closed this evening as we will temporarily be out of the beading coverage area.  For all of you LB o J'zazzers, our Saturday classes will resume shortly.  However, this coming Saturday November 14 you can shop to your heart's delight at the Annual Holiday Bazaar, our beads, tools, Beaders Gift Baskets and Decopatch will be on offer and it's  being held at the Salwa Sabah Al Ahmad Hall from 10 AM-9 PM.  

We would love to see you there!   

LB o J'zazz at Charity Bazaar Saturday November 14

Just to let you know that this coming Saturday November 14, our shop in Shaab El Bahry will be closed for the day.  However, you can find us at the Salwa Sabah Hall beginning from 10 AM to 9 PM.  We will be offering our unique kit designs that are great gifts in addition to our Soft Flex Range, Tierra Cast, Vintaj, Beads, Crystals and tool sets.  

For those of you who are looking for the ultimate gift for a friend who beads, we have created the Beaders Gift Basket in limited quantities.

Back by popular demand we will have an extended Decopatch range with new accessories, objects and paper designs.  

The 28 Faces Of The Beloved by renowned architect and artist Fareed Abdal will also be showcased to place orders that will be delivered as the ultimate gift for the holiday season.  




LOCATION:
Salwa Sabah Al Ahmad Hall
Marina Complex
November 14, 2009
10 AM - 9PM

There is a 1KD entry fee

Al Watan TV feature on just what LB o J'zazz is all about

For those of you who did not catch the LB o J'zazz feature on Al Watan TV you can go to the link.  We were interviewed by Hessa Al Loghani whose main question and focus to us was why would we teach and share our knowledge vs. monopolizing our talents to sell finished pieces? 
This debate of knowledge and technical know how monopolization is rampant in our region and goes to show just how much more we have to promote adult education, personal development and experiential learning.  LB o J'zazz founders promoting learning arts and crafts

Viral Spiral Earrings and Bracelet Class November 7 at 9:30 AM

You will easily master this stitch that looks like a DNA helix ; you will want to use the Spiral Stitch more than expected as it is a very versatile off loom technique.  We will start with the long earrings and then move onto the bracelet.  
Sparkling Bohemian Czech Bicones in rich hues and tones have been created in three pallettes to choose from,in addition to seed beads, Crystal Drops and Pressed Glass will be employed as you also will learn some basic fringing techniques that is an introduction to embellishing in the bead arts.   
The class will begin at 9:30 AM Saturday.  If you do not have the tools listed, we highly recommend you purchase them at LB o J'zazz shop before the class.  
Two seats remain available at this time, so reserve your space to bead in a relaxed, quiet and fun atmosphere.

To register please contact us at 5555-7745 or 6676-7608 and at lubna@lbojzazz.com.