Artists' Block Bye Bye

A term I am not certain I have ever come across before other than in the literary world, but "artists' block" or "creativity block" was something I encountered over the last few months.  But I am happy to say that I found my "cure" in Italy.  Bye bye and hello Italy.

Todays' class was the first class inspired by that journey and it holds tribute to the absolutely phenomenal physical and spiritual beauty I absorbed in Tuscany (Toscana-Italian version).  And luckily I was able to share some of that energy with the amazingly brave students who attended this mornings Toscana Dutch Spiral Earring class.

Photographs will do more justice than my words.  So here you go...


6:30 am Tuscan Morning. No camera lense filter. No Photoshop. Just plain, raw, real Toscana beauty




A view my eyes saw and my brain attempted to process while we hovered in a hot air balloon 2130 feet above with Stephano from http://www.chiantiballoon.com/

  

Birds-eye view of breath-taking Toscana




Students today eagerly finished a major portion of the class and showed off their hard work.

Here are special moments caputered by Mr. Sony:

Sameera and Mariam in full concentration

Madhawi proudly finishes the body of the 1st earring and begins the next

A special blue color way just for Mariam. Her completed earring.



Creative Sameera brilliantly displays some finished earrings on my special yellow rose



Madhawi proudly walks out with her finished earring

Need I say more?  So hello and halla wallah.. E6aliya!

Workshop: Toscana Dutch Spiral Earrings this Saturday

New to our workshop series is a beautiful beading technique that opens your creative sphere into a whole undiscovered realm.  LB o J'zazz is happy to introduce the Dutch Spiral.  I must admit that although it can be challenging, the end results are just majestic.  What makes this such a unique technique is how the repetitive movement naturally forces a 'spiraling' form to take shape as though the 'twist' is forced and yet the follow is graceful.  Endless possibilities of applying different sizes and shapes of beads into this one technique allows you to enjoy an entirely fascinating new look in addition to opening up fresh opportunities.

Also to compliment "Toscana Dutch Spiral Earrings" workshop, we will also be showing you what you can do when you just can not get to a store to get the basic earring hook you need to complete your home project.  So a little stitching and a little wirework will be on the table this weekend.

Workshop:      Toscana Dutch Spiral Earrings
Date:               Saturday May 7, 2011
Venue:             Jabriyah, Block 9, Street 6 (Side basement entrance)
Time:               9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Level:              Advanced Beginner
Prerequisite:    Peyote Stitch
                     (NOTE:  It is preferrable those who choose to attend are familiar with the Peyote stitch).

Because we will be doing a little wirework, you will need to bring the following tools:

1.  Round Nose Plier
2.  Chain Nose and/or Flat Nose Plier
3.  Wire Cutters or Flush Cutters

As classes are growing, pre-Registration at our  LB o J'zazz shop in Shaab Al-Bahry is recommended.  You may either drop a comment here, email us at info@lbojzazz.com or call our shop at 22610686 and speak to Chaminda and he will gladly assit you. 

(The dress code is Casual and comfortable and drinks and light snacks will be offered)

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. 

The "How Ya Doin?" Ring

Created by Lubna Saif Abbas

After the kick off the New Year and season with last week’s Kashmiri Dreams Cuff that Bettina had developed and concocted, Lubna was intent to continue with the benchmark raised. This class continues to celebrate the Peyote Stitch adding the new technique of bead embroidery and creating a beaded bezel with Circular Peyote Stitch.

This class will focus on embellishing, some more embellishing, and then some! Special Vintage German Cabochons have been selected for this ring. We will be using our sought after special Japanese Cylinder beads, to create a captivating bezel and the ring strap. More embellishing will be introduced with Czech seed beads and special Precious Metal coated charlottes. Our Czech crystals will create the showcase. This ring is a definite eye catcher and conversation piece.

Once you master this technique it can be modified as a pin, a pendant or the main focal point for a bracelet. The kits will come in a range of opal blues and turquoise in celebration of all things blue.

Six seats will be available for this class that will be introducing a whole new technique.

Workshop registration will be taken until Thursday January 28th. You may either leave a comment here or email us: info@lbojzazz.com

Kashmiri Dreams Cuff Workshop (Rescheduled)

The long-awaited beading workshops are finally in the pipeline. Our 1st workshop/class for year 2010 will be focusing on the very therapeutic stitching technique called Peyote. And to make it even more interesting slight twists here and there have been added to embellish and enhance the learning experience and give you a more celebratory piece.

In this workshop the basic Peyote stitch we will be teaching is called the Two- drop. Almost identical to the regular Peyote stitch in technique but the end product comes out more vivid in its pattern. My design and color palette inspirations have been the very joyful, and uplifting Kashmiri art culture with all its vibrant energy and ever-enduring beauty.

I look forward to teaching this workshop along with my beading partner Lubna:

NEW TIMING

Date: Saturday January 23, 2010

Time: 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Only a few more seats remain. If anyone is interested in experiencing something different and walking out with a similar piece as what is seen in these photos, and made by "YOU", or just getting more information, you can visit us at our shop, or contact us via email at info@lbojzazz.com.

Workshop: Bohemian Delight Earrings

This is one of our first workshops on offer this season and will be repeated throughout. You will begin with basic stringing techniques and exploring color palettes through the project. There are over 10 color palettes to choose from and you will be able to complete your pair with ease. All the beads and crystals in this project are from the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic and were hand selected by both Bettina and I, hence the name Bohemian Delight.

Once you have completed the set, you can easily transfer the technique to other projects such as pendants, bracelets and necklaces. All tools, materials and workshop details will be coming your way in an upcoming post.