Beady Spines Class: RAW* This Saturday August 25

This Saturday we  have come up with an adorned piece it is what I call a 'Two In One". Once completed, you can wrap around this undulating rope on your wrist or wear as a necklace.  As you showcase  this deceivingly simple piece it appears to be seamless and infinite due to a very new way of creating an almost invisible closure.

Source of my inspiration for Beady Spines Rope

It has a supple fabric like feel that drapes wonderfully.  I usually have books on nature, Jack Cousteau and illustrations of wildlife nearby whenever looking for inspiration.  In this case, the piece was already in my head, yet as the second layer of Right Angle Weave was being added and I folded the piece in a tube, the image of the octopus tentacles slinking across the ocean floor came to mind. The spiny dots were always one of my favorite patterns and never ceased to be incorporated in my designs.
There are four kits available each is unique and will be working with rich hues and finishes in  Czech seed beads as the base and will then be layering in our new Czech Crystal Pearls and Miyuki Galvanized Seed Beads.

Date:  Saturday August 25, 2012
Time:  9:30am- 1:30pm
Technique: RAW* (Right Angle Weave)/ Layering -Embellishing
Level: Foundational / Advanced Beginners
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Beading Zone
Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 ( Side Basement Entrance)

For more information you can send us an email at info@lbojzazz.com or go to http://eepurl.com/oKzTL or call the shop at 2261-0686.  Should you want to reserve your kit in advance you can visit the shop by this Thursday evening with a deposit at Shaab Al Bahry Block 8 Mohammed Al Aradi Street Shaab Complex Ground Floor Store #4.  We are KNET friendly.

The Tierra Frenzy is here

Sometimes design ideas pour out and luckily these past 3 days they have just been overflowing!  And if you are me, you have to be awake at the wee hours of the morning to capture these creative splurges, or better yet, be at the shop listening to Sade while being surrounded by little glass beauties.

With that said, I have come up with a project for this saturday's class- The Teirra Frenzy Necklace.  Using high quality, U.S.-made cast and lead free metal compotents, this copper-plated piece showcases many interesting ways one can use little treasures- from chains, to bails, charms, links, beads, spacers, head pins etc. 

A simple, round, disc-shaped, Murano glass bead with silver dichroic takes center stage.  What a lovely job it does. 

This should be a fun class. 

Those who choose to participate in this class, they will learn techniques in wirework and an off-loom beading technique known as Right-Angle Weave with a 'twist'.

The details are as follows:

Class:   The Tierra Frenzy Necklace
Date:    Saturday July 9
Time:   9:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Jabriyah, Block 9, Street 6, Villa 13 (Side entrance to Basement)
Technique:  Wirework; Right Angle Weave
Level:  All Level

Please be sure you to bring along these tools.  They are:

• Wire cutter or Flush Cutter
• Flat Nose Pliers
• Round Nose Pliers
• Chain Nose Pliers
• Scissors
• Beading Mat
• Bead Aluminum Tray (optional)

(Note:  You can purchase tools either at our shop in Shaab Al-Bahry or at the time of class should you require).

Since our 'boss' Chaminda is on holiday, you can visit Lubna at the shop, email us at info@lbojzazz.com, or give us a ring at 22610686 should you wish to register and attend this class.

Lubna and I look forward to hosting, teaching and sharing our time, experiences, and spirit with you.

Peace n Salam

Back By Popular Demand: Moorish Mashrabiya Earrings In RAW* Tuesday April 5

This class is a Limited Kit Series as we are offering 5 kits at this time.  Hopefully,  soon we will have a new array of delectable Czech Firepolished Beads as more classes in RAW* (Right Angle Weave) come you your way. 

In this session you will master the single needle Right-angle Weave (RAW) using shimmering Czech Fire Polished beads and lead-free crystal bicones.  This romantic interpretation of Arab geometry is a beautiful addition to the up-coming fall season.  To accentuate this piece further, you will also learn to incorporate different elemental glass beads such as the  pressed glass daggers.

Kindly note that this class is an excellent pre-requisite for more of the intermediate and advance classes in this technique.  

Date: Tuesday April 5

Time: 6:00 PM- 8:00 PM

Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 Villa 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

There are major infrastructure works taking place in Block 9 so bear with us as you may have to deal with blocked access and other interesting contraptions along the way. On behalf of the Ministry of Public Works we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  

If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to receive class and new product information, please send an email request to info@lbojzazz.com and look forward to offering you the ultimate beading experience.

Pushing The Envelope: Perfecting Techniques

There are several beading artists who can work in a whole range of techniques, however the artists who delve in three to four main techniques seem to have come up with real innovations and beaded adorned objects through this intense focus and concentration that comes with perfecting a stitch and pushing the envelope creatively.  I myself have explored many stitches yet am more willing to explore the possibilities with a pretty tight range of off loom weaving with Peyote, Ndebele, Spiral,  and Right Angle Weave in various forms in addition to Bead Embroidery that employs these off loom weaving stitches along with the back stitch and embellishing.

Here are some recent examples of my delving in to (RAW) Right Angle Weave which seems to have originated in three different geographic regions, Eastern Europe and Russia, the Phillipines area and Japan.

Mucha's Flowers Bracelet

It is a very simple stitch that employs the geometry of right angles but is limitless in design options as it can be made to look like fabric in addition to being worked in layers, tubes and to also curve.  The one point that may come as a surprise is that it employs a lot more thread than most other stitches.  However, the rewards are worth the thread eating trade off. 

Byzantine Queen Earrings

Many different types of patterning can be established, one has to really play with the options and possibilities and create a lot of different samples before embarking on a complete piece.  In my case, I have created several samples that can give me a head start whenever a new project is started. 

Madha'ad in Celadon 

Here is another example of Right Angle Weave in an interpretation of the Madha'ad or bangle.  The piece is molded and takes structure with a base that allows the stitch and pattern to be presented in a three dimensional mode.
So, when you master a certain technique or stitch, play and explore it to as far as you think you can go and then some. Modify a color, or a size or pattern sequence and the practice and playing will lead to new expressions and articulations.
Beads, finishes and the off-loom weaving stitches will allow for endless and infinite possibilities.

Boho Chic Choker