New Class: NIRVANA Pendant Saturday February 23

Before | After NIRVANA Pendant

Many times I will create a component in particular closures for my bead embroidered collars.  In this case, a Swarovski 27mm Rivoli Button in Crystal AB was used.  The pendant was just stunning however, for over a year the project was not complete due to the closure overwhelming the piece.
So, on one of our monthly Meet & Beads Najat and I were looking at the beaded collar and we both agreed it was just not working.  So, setting my beading ego aside, I took the scissors and cut it from the collar.  The NIRVANA pendant was born from that moment on and liberated.  It was such a life affirming powerful piece she just had to be showcased and stand alone.
It is a large fancy stone that shimmers and reflects the colors of the various beads encasing the Rivoli in circular peyote employing Delicas.  Layers and layers are added for embellishing and showcasing the piece employing beads as small as size 15, exquisitely shaped Magatamas and lastly 5mm Czech Bicones that actually elevate the piece so that the pointy part of the Rivoli does not poke.

Interchangeable applications cuff, pin or pendant

The pendant can then easily be converted into a brooch, a bracelet, a component, a necklace with some leather, suede, hand dyed silk ribbon or off loom weaving, it is very beautiful on the wrist.
Each kit is a NIRVANA of it's own, not one kit is alike and is a limited kit series at this time.  There are six kits to choose from.

Date:  February 23, 2013
Time: 9:30am- 2:00pm
Technique:  Circular Peyote -Bezeling / Embellishing
Level:  Intermediate (should be comfortable with flat even count Peyote)
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Beading Zone
            Jabriya Block 9
            Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

The kits will be available at the Shaab Al Bahry shop from Tuesday morning onward for pre-registration whereby, a deposit is required once you reserve your kit.  For more information on class materials, fees and other details you can go to  http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=960aae156d11fbb85189284e3&id=caa1a71f48

LB o J'zazz 

Shaab Al Bahry

Mohammad Darwish Al Aradi Street

Mujama Al Shaab adjacent to Executive Flex and nearby Costa Del Sol

(Store 4) Telephone:  2261-0686

Craft Talk, Ideation and Great NimNim Creations

I have to say, all of our Meet and Bead evenings are enjoyable, and whenever one is coming up the family knows well in advance that the first Friday of each month is solely dedicated to preparations during the day leading up as we welcome new faces, regulars and guests in to the LB o J'zazz Beading Zone for several hours sharing creations, ideas, talking about inspiration perhaps over a cup of tea, homemade lemonade or one of my homemade hearty soups.
However, our last gathering in September was even more special, in that many new visitors joined and really added new ideas, dimensions and gave insightful feedback upon seeing the various work of the group.  It makes one feel optimistic when you meet other like minded individuals who take pleasure in simply creating with their hands.  One of our new guests Amina when asked when she started working with paper and color she answered:" Ever since I could remember as a young child in grade school."  

Some of Amina's latest handmade cards

She provides a wide range of paper art solutions through her business called STELLA.  Her designs are vibrant and lively and she's really responsive to hearing requests and is opened to new ideas.  I was able to select from what she shared with us and can't wait to see what else she will be making in the future. 
We had several new faces grace the Zone, a master diver Tareq  who is creating his own visions and was keen on receiving design and form feedback along with sharing how he came about his concept and his passion for nature and diving. Along with those who just enjoyed the company of craft makers and the conversations that came along with it.
Here is some more beautifully handcrafted objects that were shared last night.  Reem Al Hajri of  https://www.facebook.com/ARAMQ8  excels and is delving in off loom weaving.  She seems to enjoy Dutch Spiral, Spiral Stitch, Ndebele, Brick Stitch and Peyote as can be seen in some samples of her work. I got two of the rings.  They look like insects getting ready to alight and float away.  I like how my  'Seen'  from the "28 Faces Of The Beloved Collection" by Fareed Abdal contrasts the shape of the ring.

Heather Collin Design Implemented by ARAM

Luscious pearls dance and play in Reem's Spiral Stitch Lariat

So much was going on and the highlight of the evening was when a few guests came a bit later and we started talking about what it meant and how do we actually feel when working with our hands and beading or crafting.  We delved in the historical aspects along with the therapeutic aspects that physiologically seem to change  and noticeably improve our state of well being.  Anytime, an idea came about, someone would find another interesting object to admire and wonder how and why it was made. So, as much as Nerissa enjoys wirework, re-purposing and Vintage Jewelry designing she also works on what she calls Canvas and what I call Affirmation Word Arts as she shared some of her visions and pieces.

Nerissa's Whimsical Pieces

So as we tend to our daily, weekly, monthly and annual To-Do Lists and life chores so to speak, take a step back for a second to discover so much of creative ideas and people that surround us and create feasts for our senses.

Bead Embroidery By Request: Vintage Au Provence Earrings Class

Bead Embroidery simply put is quite addictive.  As you can see from my own work, it represents a lot of the creations that are in the LB o J'zazz archives and collections.  Taking a beautifully crafted cabochon or semi precious stone cab adhering it to a surface and creating layers of details and color shifts through bezeling with Circular Peyote creates a rich tapestry of painting like approach with beads on the foundation material that acts as the canvas. 
These earrings began as an idea for a birthday gift over a year ago for my creative and business partner and BBF Bettina. It took me a while to complete them with our hectic work schedule but she did receive the pair before departing with her daughter Sara to Ireland.  I wanted to make sure that she had something with her  from me that was handmade as a sort of talisman.  Plus, the selfish part of me wanted her to remember me each time she wore them or saw them in her jewelry stash.
Taking the two main components and assembling the units into a symbiotic fusion will be a new approach.  The grand finale will be the fringing technique perfected, championed and mastered by our wonderful teacher Sherry Serafini that inspired me and  will take the project to yet another level.  There will be no less than four kits available to choose from.

Date:   Saturday October 1, 2011
Time:  9:30AM- 1:30 PM
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Beading Zone
Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)
Technique:  Bead Embroidery / Bezeling / Circular Peyote / Fringing
Level:  Advanced Beginners

Hanan Al Shaye's Version

For more information on tools required, material list and class fees you can send us an email at info@lbojzazz.com or call us at the shop at 2261-0686.  You can pre-register to gaurantee your kit selection by visiting the shop by Thursday afternoon at the latest.  This class fills up very quickly and we do have a limited number of kits. 

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: 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. 

Gearing Up for Saturday April 30 Class: Fab Cab Ring In Sage Green

Fab Cab In Sage Green Photo Maryam Al-Rashed

When we originally posted the write up for the class, the response was overwhelmingly positive.  However, as I felt the design needed some modifying, it was off to the Beading Kitchen this morning and this is what unfolded.  The cab was so wonderful to work with as colorways were subtle, layered and rich.  There will be four different colored kits available: Sage Green, Golden Roses, Blue Skies Opal and Cool Turquoise.  It will be interesting to see who chooses what in terms of the kits.
If you are interested in this class, to ensure kit availability we recommend you Pre-register at the Shaab el Bahry store location.  This class is filling up quickly so head on over. 

Introduction To Bead Embroidery 101: Fab Cab in Peyote

Master Jindrich in his glass studio

We will be introducing some of our new cabochons by the great master Jindrich along with some kits that have our selection that Bettina and I chose while visiting him in his studio and home in the Czech Republic.
Today, there are a handful of artisans who are still committed to this craft and soon it will be very hard to find these beautiful cabochons that have been made one focal bead at a time for the last two hundred years. 

Some of the beautiful cabs that will be used in the Fab Cab Ring

The Fab Cab Ring is an introduction to Bead Embroidery basics along with Circular Peyote.  You will learn how to work with the cabochons and foundation material and how to manipulate the surface with Bead Embroidery and embellishing.

Date:  April 30, 2011 Saturday
Time:  9:30 AM- 1:30 PM
Venue: LB o J'zazz Workshop Studio
               Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

Level: Foundational

We will be posting fresh images of the sample shortly.  For more information on class details, materials and tools list along with class fees kindly send an email to info@lbojzazz.com or contact the LB o J'zazz shop at 2261-0686.  You will be able to register and select your kit at the shop by Thursday April 21.