This to That - What glue do I use?

If you are trying to glue two or more disparate items, metal and plastic, for example and not sure what type of glue to use, then surf on over to: www.thistothat.com

This super-easy-to-use site lets you know exactly what type of adhesive you need. All you need to do is type in the two materials you are trying to attach and it recommends the proper adhesive for your project.

The site also has links to glue trivia (like who is that cow on the Elmer’s glue bottle - her name is Elsie) and their FAQ page.

HBS Needs You!

Hey HBS Members - annual memberships expire in April so, it's time to renew your HBS membership.

Annual membership dues are:

• Individual - $30.00
• Family (living in the same household) - $40.00

Send in your renewal today so that you don't miss out on any programs or beady news. For more information, go to the "Join Today" page or click on the HBS logo to go to the website.

Support Houston Bead Society and renew or join today!

Free Beading Projects from Lark Crafts

Lark Crafts is offering two free projects from its latest beading book Beautiful Beaded Ropes written by Jill Wiseman (who is a Texan by the way).

The book includes 24 beaded jewelry rope projects using a variety of beading stitches like spiral, peyote, netting, herringbone, right angle weave and more.

One of the free projects is this pair of way cute Bohemian Earrings.

Bohemian Earrings from Beautiful Beaded Ropes
Written by Jill Wiseman

And, this bracelet.

Flirtation Bracelet from Beautiful Beaded Ropes
Written by Jill Wiseman

Click here to download your PDF copy of these projects and to read more about this soon to be released book.

Battle of the Beadsmith

If you want to look at some seriously, drop dead gorgeous, beady eye candy, then head on over to the Battle of the Beadsmith Facebook Page!

Yep, beadwork like this:

"Carnival" by Sharayah Sheldon

Sponsored by Beadsmith, here beaders from around the world submit their battle-ready beadwork in a single elimination competition for no prizes - just the glory and title of Beadsmith 2012.

And, these are some serious battle ready beadwork submissions!

"Sedona Sioux" by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

"Sedona Sioux" (back) by Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Click here to visit these pieces and more at the Battle of the Beadsmith Facebook page.

Whoa!

JULY 2012 MEETING

It's time for beady summer fun at the HBS meeting on Saturday, July 21, at Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

PARKING:
Please remember to park in the UNCOVERED spaces in the rear of the gated lot. The covered spaces are for residents of Bayou Manor only. After parking, walk back through either the pedestrian or vehicle gate and access the building through the main entrance. Check in with the receptionist for an ID before proceeding to the auditorium.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
If you would like to make an announcement during the meeting, please see Diane Mayes, HBS President or Shirley Nowlin before the meeting starts to be placed on the agenda.

INFORMATION TABLE / MEMBERSHIP:
Sign in at the information table and check out the printed matter available for everyone. Our Membership Coordinator, Kim Butler, will be glad to accept dues for new or renewing members. Dues are $30 for individuals and $40 for a family membership (two people living in the same household). Please remember that renewals are necessary for previously established members to continue attending the meetings and take part in the monthly programs. First-time visitors are welcome to attend one meeting and participate in the program at that meeting; however, membership is required to attend subsequent meetings.

LIBRARY:
Our Librarian, Lillian Skogsberg, maintains a fantastic library, offering new selections on a continuing basis. At the June meeting, she announced that more new books are arriving so be sure to check out the latest. Any member whose status is current may check out materials for a one-month period, returning them at the next regularly scheduled meeting so that others may enjoy them, also. A nominal fine will apply to overdue materials.

RAFFLE:
The library raffle is held monthly to provide Lillian with operating expenses. Check out the cool, beady offerings on the table next to the library. Tickets are 6 for $5.00. Please buy your tickets pre-meeting as sales will cease once the meeting is called to order.

VENDORS:
Any person with current membership status of one month may be a vendor at the monthly meetings. Members should contact Shirley Nowlin by Friday, July 20, to reserve space. The cost is $10 for one 6-table and is payable when HBS Treasurer, Carolyn Slater, comes by to collect. No exceptions! Vendors may arrive no earlier than 9:00 a.m. and may sell until HBS President, Diane Mayes, calls the meeting to order. At that time, vendors are expected to cover their tables and refrain from selling until the meeting is adjourned. Please remember that we must vacate the auditorium by 12:30 p.m.

PROGRAM:
"Five Fast and Easy Pairs of Forged Earrings" will be presented by our own Tish Reed. This is a great way to take out your aggressions - on metal - that is, so get out your hammers, screwdrivers, punches, bench blocks, etc. and join Tish as she gives fast and furious demonstrations on how to use simple hardware tools to texture metal and create five pairs of super easy, cute earrings!!!

Tish will have a limited number of kits available for $8.00 each. Embossed/etched metal pieces are priced separately. Please see Tish pre-meeting if you would like to purchase these pieces.

Please note that all participants must bring enough beads for ten dangles to fit on 20-gauge eye or head pins and 2 large hole beads to fit on size 12 or 14 gauge wire.

Check out the PROGRAM PAGE on this site for more information.

"Pimping Your Ride Via Indigenous Traditions"

Back in 2010, eight members of two Huichol families used more than 2 million glass beads to create an amazing piece of art using a vintage Volkswagen as their canvas. Seven months later, this was the result - an amazing piece of beaded art that was inspired by the designs of Francisco Bautista, a patriarch of one of the families.

The Huichol is an ethnic group of people that live mostly in western central Mexico along the Sierra Madre mountain range in the Mexican states of Nayarit, Jalisco, Zacatecas and Durango. 

These incredible artists included some traditional cultural symbols such as serpents (which represent rain), the sun (on top), four eagles and “ofrendas” (offerings) of fruit to their gods into their design. The car was shown at the Museo de Arte Popular in Mexico City and then sold to benefit some of the museum’s programs.

Click HERE to visit the website and read more about the artists behind it and to view a video.

Color Hue Test

Did you know that 1 out of 255 women and 1 out of 12 men have some form of color vision deficiency? Take this fun online color challenge, based on the official FM100 Hue Test by X-Rite by clicking here.

Cleaning Silver Wire - The Easy Way

Here’s a tip to help you both clean and straighten sterling silver wire at the same time.

Simply place a small amount of baking soda on a cloth and then run the wire through it.You may need to run it through more than once - depending on how dirty the wire is.

The baking soda will not only remove any tarnish from sterling silver wire as well as that dull coating that often accumulates after time, but you will also straighten it at the same time.

This technique also works for cleaning liquid silver necklaces.

Flexible Beading Wire





Photo courtesy and with permission from Beadalon - http://www.beadalon.com/

 Flexible beading wire is known by several brand names - Beadalon, Softflex and Acculon, to name a few. It is made up of a certain number of tiny stainless steel wires twisted together which are then coated with nylon. It is the combination of all those tiny stainless steel wires that allows you to create flexible and, just as important, durable designs.

The higher the strand count (i.e., 19 strand), the larger and more flexible the wire. Today, it is available in many different colors - including sterling silver and 24k gold. Many teachers recommend that you match your wire to the beads in your project unless you want to make it a part of your design. You can finish beading wire designs with a crimp bead.



To keep flexible beading wire a little more manageable, I cut a strip of clear, plastic tablecloth the width of the spool and a little longer than its diameter, then wrap it around the spool to keep it from tangling. The plastic strip sticks to itself and prevents unraveling. You can buy it by the yard at the larger fabric stores, but I recently cut up a large, clear plastic tablecloth that I found at the dollar store.

My first experience with flexible beading wire was with Beadalon and although I’ve tried some of the other brands, it still remains my tried and true favorite.

Congratulations Pat Powell!

Congratulations to HBS Member, Pat Powell! Pat’s bracelet, Starfruit Punch was accepted into the "Green Jewelry: Recycled/Upcycled" exhibit at 18 Hands Gallery .

Pat says "The technique is kumihimo and it is made with recycled sari silk. I just loved the colors in the silk and found some beads to accent the piece…"

The second annual Green Jewelry show features an array of exciting jewelry fashioned from unexpected materials and all work consists of at least 75% recycled materials.

The Green Jewelry: Recycled/Upcycled exhibit opens with a reception on Saturday, July 7th at 249 W. 19th Street, Houston, TX 77008 (in the Heights) from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Starfruit Punch by Pat Powell

The show was juried by Jan Harrell, nationally known jewelry artist, enamelist and instructor. Jan exhibits jewelry scale and small object work nationally and internationally and has been the recipient of numerous awards. Her one woman show, Offerings - Gifts for the Muse, runs through August 12, 2012 at the Mesa Art Center in Mesa, Arizona

For the last nineteen years, Jan has been the enameling instructor at the Glassell School of Art.

Quicky Patriotic Project

Here's a really cute and quick project you can make right in time for you to wear to your July 4th celebration. It's called the Spangled Banner Bracelet and was created by the folks at Fusion Beads.

It's created using flat, even count peyote stitch and uses only 3 different colors of beads.

To find out how to make this bracelet, click on this link: http://www.fusionbeads.com/inspiration/inspiration_detail.php?ipid=2620