Spring Is Here So Let's Meet and Bead

Olga's Creations Fatima's Hand in Bead Embroidery

Already the third month of the year is unfolding so get your beads, crafts and tools ready for tomorrow as we gather yet, again for our monthly get together.  The perfect way to unwind, be inspired and get some beading done amongst friends and like minded folks.  Whether you have never seen a bead, are an avid hobbyist or one of our avid regulars all are welcome as we delve and celebrate the fruits of our eyes, hands and creativity.  We look forward to you joining us.

BIBA Art Polymer Clay Earrings

Date:  Friday March 1, 2013

Masouma and Bettina talk shop

Time:  6:00pm- 9:30pm
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Beading Zone
Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

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

Exhibition| REFLECTIONS by Najat | Thursday October 11

A sneak preview of REFLECTIONS by Najat

Back in the snowy winter of 1991 whilst training at Fort Dix, New Jersey as a volunteer attached to the 199th JAG, we were a small yet determined group of young women from Kuwait eager to be part of the healing, rebuilding and revitalization of our homeland.  Two of us were assigned to the project initially, a seriously intelligent post graduate student by the name of Najat Hussein and myself.  It was an intense two week training and we graduated on the day of liberation.
We worked together for a few months and lost contact shortly thereafter.  Whenever interviews were conducted I made sure to list all the names of the nine ladies who were the first in our modern history to wear a military uniform and serve on a voluntary basis.  I always wondered about Najat and hoped to reconnect.
Well, twenty years later on a spring evening we were preparing for our Venetian Nights evening highlighting the collection of handmade glass focal beads Bettina had discovered in the old cities of Venice, Murano and Burano, as I was stepping out of my car in front of our little gem of a shop an amicable lady with a smile was waiting outside for a friend to attend our event.  Immediately recognizing Najat it was a poignant reunion of sorts and a new connection and friendship ensued.

Two of Najat's REFLECTIONS | Encased in Circular Peyote

Through our subsequent Meet and Beads, her visits to the shop and classes, Bettina and I discovered a painter, a sewer, an Economics Professor and so much more creative energy along with being a committed mother of four unique and vibrant children.  One Meet and Bead evening, Najat opened a huge box with treasures and little sculptural surprises.  It was a magical gathering and we both agreed that these special pieces needed to be celebrated, viewed and shared.  Besides the fact that we wanted to get our hands on at least a few of these extraordinary cabochons to include in our own work!  Please join us as we celebrate another unique creative voice in our midst. 

Najat amidst three of her four children

Date:  Thursday October 11 and Saturday October 13

Time:  9:30AM - 1:00PM and 5:00PM-9:30PM

Venue:  LB o J'zazz Shaab Al Bahry

 Block 8 Mohammed Darwish Al Aradi Street ( Street 90)

Shaab Complex Ground Floor (Near Executive Flex and behind Costa Del Sol Hotel)

REFLECTIONS cabochons will be available for purchase and we are KNET friendly.  For more information you can contact us at 2261-0686. 

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.

Turkish Cotton Yarn Delights for Tarachi Bint Yagout Class Debut

A few days back as Madhawi has been preparing the kits and samples for her debut class at LB o J'zazz, we went on our excursion to select the main component of beautiful cotton yarns from Turkey that she had introduced me to and I had fallen in love with a while back.
Originally she was thinking about creating four distinct colorways, well as soon as we got to this home based shop of Um Nasser that notion quickly evaporated as we delved and were mesmerized by the array of skeins on display. 

Just seeing all the skeins was a treat!

Madhawi was gracious enough after my eyes were feasting on all this eye-candy to help her select the colorways for the project, that will combine our LB o J'zazz selection of Czech Crystals and Miyuki triangle beads and findings.  So, I started with a whole lot of colors, about fifteen thinking how to narrow them to four and that was very difficult.  Madhawi being the trouper and ever the consummate crafter said we could have more colorways.  So, this is what we came up with, the palettes were to be vibrant and bold and to evoke jewel tones along with bright summer days full of intense floral hues.

Final selection of ALIZE Cotton Yarn for the class

  This morning Madhawi had already created the base in exquisite crochet for all of the six hues!
Now, the next step will be her selection of beads to embellish this amazing set of earrings. Which will be taking place this week. 
Many of the nomenclatures we have in our Kuwaiti dialect derived from other cultures and languages that Kuwaitis dealt and traveled to such as India, Persia and Turkey. 
The word "Tarrachi" indeed came from India and as many Kuwaitis of old were heavily involved in gold smuggling, many of the terms related to adornment and jewelry became a part of our local dialect. 

That morning the crocheting bug bit me again and there was just no way I was going to leave without my own selection for projects with the intention of making beautiful, comforting afghans for friends and loved ones.I can only imagine how yummy and welcoming these yarns will be when created into throws and afghans. 

Final selection for the Afghans

"Tarrachi Bint Yagout" class will debut this June 30 at the LB o J'zazz Beading Zone and is a first in terms of technique and our Guest Teacher.  So, take a look at the palettes and we will be posting the samples soon. 

Miyuki | Haiku Celebration Monday January 9th at Shaab

In the 1940's which was considered the Showa Period in Japan, seed beads were being made and in 1949 on the island of Hiroshima, Miyuki Shoji of Japan was established.  The world of ornamentation, embellishing, off loom and on loom beading has never been the same.  They consider the making of bead a fusion of artistry, hand crafting and technology.  Creating new shapes such as the world renowned Delica Beads and Tila Beads has changed the face of how we are creating beaded objects to treasure and to transcend the times and to resonate. 

Miyuki's New Galvanised Seed Beads in Size 11/0

As a child all the way in the US I was taught Haiku Poetry as a concept that came from Japan and it has different constructs from Japanese to English yet still holds the same depth and accessibility to approach.  Haiku tends to use nature and seasonality to evoke moods and moments of reflection that are quite symbiotic to the contemplative practice of beading.  In the English version of Haiku, one will have a total of 17 syllables so to speak broken into three lines whereby the first line consists of 5 syllables, the second line of 7 syllables and the last line of the poem is 5 syllables. 

Here is one of the most famous Haiku poems in Japanese by Matsuo Basho " The Old Pond" and then transliterated:

Furuike ya
kawazu tobikomu
mizu no oto

An old silent pond...
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.

Translated by Harry Behn

So, we would like to invite you to contribute your hand at Haiku poetry, we will be showcasing the poetry amidst the beauty and new range of our Miyuki beads as they feed our desires for beauty and poetry.  Themes of nature, seasonality, moods and colors can be your starting point. It can be in English, Japanese or any language as long as it fits the syllable construct.  You can email your Haiku poem to info@lbojzazz.com and it will be showcased in the shop during this month as we celebrate life, beads, Haiku and Miyuki. 

In addition, for our Miyuki passionistas we will be celebrating the whole new range with over 72 new beads ranging from Delicas, Magatamas, Seed Beads and Bugle Beads so mark your calendar and please join us for some Japanese Tea, Edamame, Japanese Music, Haiku and the breathtaking beauty and luster of  Miyuki Beads.

Date:  Monday January 9th
Time:  6:00 PM- 9:30 PM
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Shaab el Bahry
Block 8 Mohammed Darwish Al Aradi Street (formerly Ibn el Khatib)
Shopping Complex adjacent to Executive Flex


For more information you can also contact us at the shop at 2261-0686.

A New Year To Discover Through Our January Meet & Bead

So much of what we have known in the world up until 2011 changed dramatically and at super sonic speed, yet the stilling of the mind and being present is even more meaningful and required in this day and time.  So without further ado, our January Meet and Bead is just around that virtual corner. 
It has been a year where LB o J'zazz gained new friends, shared our passion for handmade and continued to strive to offer beautiful, quality products and a plethora of class offerings.  We aim to continue to create a community of beaders and makers that will enrich our lives and create objects that are satisfying to the eye and nourish the soul.

Detail of Totemic Flights by Lubna

So whether you are a beader or never held a bead before we welcome you into the LB o J'zazz Beading Zone where in an informal and casual environment you can meet creative souls, peruse through magazines, show off your work, receive feedback and just hang out while people are creating.






I will be offering my Cinnamon Spiced Cider which is always in high demand, hot chocolate and other yummies to warm you up this new year. 

Date:  January 6 Friday
Time:  6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Venue:  LB o J'zazz Beading Zone
Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 (Side Basement Entrance)

LB o J'zazz at Buqshat Turath Exhibition August 19-21

We will be participating in our first experience within a Ramadanesque Exhibition called Buqshat Turath that is organized by several young local men and women.  The overall theme and layout of the exhibition is Kuwait in the 1930's.  It will be interesting to see how far they take this concept thematically.

Our exhibit will be located  within a zone dedicated to BPW ( Business Professional Women) and other members . This is a premier launch for our Artist In Residence Extraordinaire Fareed Abdal.  We will be introducing  The 28 Faces Of The Beloved Artisanal Huroof Collection and in a  new precious metal casting, in addition to our standard sterling silver castings. This will be combined in collaboration with our Caftan and Thawb Designer Claudia Shames as she will be echoing and reflecting these interpretations through a Limited Collection of  hemp style vests, mens shirts and Thawbs.  Both The 28 Faces Of The Beloved Rings and the Caftan -Thawb Collection will be available by order and special fitting. 
Wait, there's more! You'll also be able to sign up for our upcoming beading classes and peruse  our beads and findings selection.

Venue:  Mishref Fairgrounds Hall 5
Date:  August 19th-August 21
Booth #:  71

Master Glass Maker Mr. Jindrich Ceska from Jablonec nad Nisou

On our first trip to Prague and the Czech Republic it was the intent of both Bettina and I to get as close to the famed cottage industry of glass makers and artisans in the glass making region as we could. From the standpoint of interaction, learning and having a better understanding and appreciation of the processes and to purchase direct from the artisans rather than increase the profits of huge companies who relied on these artisans but did not compensate them accordingly.

It was truly a journey of firsts for the both of us and the wonderful people that we met, who embraced our approach and were mirroring it in their own business and work attitudes. For all of the wonderful artisans who are honing their crafts in the little sheds scattered across the hill sides, for the families and cottage industry and the manufacturers who cook and make the glass, for the people who toil away in the heat of the furnaces and the kilns day in and day out to produce these objects.... We salute you.

We stayed in a small hotel outside the main town by the river Nisou that served skiers in the area. Anytime, we drove by chimney stacks attached to homes, cottages or larger structures we were informed that someone was up to something that had to do with Czech glass. We stayed in the region for over four days in the beginning of March as over two meters of heavy snowfall began to melt. Two days before we were to head back to Prague by bus, our dear friend and colleague Pavel took us to visit various artisans. To our amazement and surprise, one of the most prominent glass makers in the world of a special range of what is called special glass stones and cabochons lived and worked not more than 200 meters from our hotel!


Our aim, is for our readers, hobbyists, artists and designers to have a better understanding of the craft and to bring these special pieces from the Czech Republic and many other places on this planet to you. Mr. Jindrich Ceska, Master Glass Cabochon maker is our first from J'zazz Beadz highlighted artists.