Immerse Yourself:Tierracast & Taghore Evening | February 15

Findings are those elements that seem insignificant whilst creating jewelry and objects of adornment yet, play a pivotal role in creating, assembling and finishing pieces.  We have been showcasing some of the best findings around made by the folks at Tierracast and this season the selection is breathtaking, whimsical and full of special details.  From clasps, headpins, eyepins, jump rings, spacers, beads, charms, links, pendants all in precious metal finishes over lead free pewter, these elements are a delight to work with.  Creating a poetry of sorts in beading and stringing.

With this in mind, as we celebrated the poetry of Rumi this past week we will shift to an evening with the first Nobel Laureate from India.Writer, statesman and poet Rabindranath Tagore from the Bengal Province of India in the late 1800's was prolific in his work, from drawings to plays, musical scores and poetry he always touched on themes of love within the context of sacred and profane.

Stream of Life
The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth
and of death, in ebb and in flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

Rabindranath Tagore translated from the Bengali

Please join us as we gather to celebrate the beauty of beads, poetry and the creative human spark.

Date: Wednesday  February 15
Time:  6:00 PM- 9:30PM
Venue:  LB o J'zazz
Shaab El Bahry Block 8
Mohammed Darwish Al Aradi Street
Mujama El Shaab (adjacent to the New Executive Flex)
Tel:  2261-0686

Stringing 101 Class: Bali Dreams Bracelet March 12

This season we will be shifting our focus to Stringing and Wirework with select Off Loom Weaving classes interspersed.  The materials used are quite different from off loom weaving in addition to the tools that are specific to these techniques.  Our first offering this season will focus on Stringing Basics, how to balance the design technically, working with Metallic Stringing Wire, Crimp Beads, Clasps and a variety of Beads and Findings.
Create this delicate three strand bracelet and you will be able to move from this design to work on your own creations.

Technique:  Stringing
Level: Beginners / Foundational
Date:  March 12
Time:  9:30AM- 1:30 PM
Venue: Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13 Side Basement Entrance

For more information for class description, materials in kit, tools required and class fees simply send us an email to info@lbojzazz.com.  There are only six custom kits designed in several palettes. We suggest you register at our LB o J'zazz Shaab el Bahry Store in advance to secure your space. 

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.

Class: Spring Blossom Earrings- this Saturday May 8th

This class combines the delicacy of spiral stitch with the formation of spring petals in peyote.  You will be able to perfect the spiral stitch incorporating our new shape of seed beads; the Japanese triangle bead in a new sequence.  The Czech drops end the piece and are then enveloped in a Peyote based petal to create a unique take on the elegance of drop earrings.  Lubna has designed this project and will be leading the session. 

Venue:  Jabriya Block 9 Street 6 House 13- side basement entrance
Date:  Saturday May 8th
Time:  9AM-1PM
Level:  Intermediate Beginners

For more information regarding materials and tools list, class description and fees please email us at info@lbojzazz or contact us at 5555-7745. 

Tri Link Choker Class Saturday February 20

This Saturday in our regular class series, a new lighter and more delicate design will pave the way for sunny days and spring evenings.  This idea came to me, as I imagined what kind of jewelry would one wear on an island in the Mediterranean and this is what came to fruition.  
Combining two ancient off loom weaving techniques and allowing the links to become the focal points with the Native American Peyote stitch and the Spiral Stitch of the Zulus coming together in a new interpretation of the past with hammertone gold as the focal points.  Accenting the circularity of the links, the closure is a contrast in a square deco style.

Participants are also going to experiment with how threads can change and alter the colorways of a piece and how to enhance this feature along with experimenting of color blending of beads to create a subtle but rich palette. 


We have one seat remaining for this class.  
For more information on the class details you can contact either Bettina or myself or via email at info@lbojzazz.com

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.