September Program

This month, the lovely sister/sister team of Audra Gladney and Gwen Higginbotham taught HBS members to create a lovely little beaded pouch perfect to hold a cell phone, credit cards or money - to buy more beads, of course.

And, Happy Birthday Audra!

Sometimes, I don't like beads... she says.

Carolyn told me today that sometimes - sometimes - she doesn't like beads. While you process that statement, check out her work from Laura McCabe's recent workshop.

HBS Member Carolyn Slater
wearing her Renaissance Necklace

Lantern Lighter Necklace designed by Laura McCabe and created by Carolyn Slater

 

Renaissance Necklace designed by Laura McCabe and created by Carolyn Slater

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SEPTEMBER 2012 MEETING

Please join us Saturday, September 15, for the monthly meeting of Houston Bead Society. We'll get together at Bayou Manor, 4141 South Braeswood from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There is some ongoing deconstruction at Bayou Manor in preparation for a move to the new tower across Braeswood. You can probably expect a bit of dust but parking is available in the UNCOVERED spaces inside the gated parking lot. Please remember that 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. Stop by the receptionist's desk for an ID badge before proceeding to the auditorium.

PROGRAM:
Our very own Gwen Higginbotham and her sis, Audra Gladney, will teach us how to make an awesome little pouch necklace. Gwen, who is a seamstress extraordinaire, has already constructed the pouches in lots of cool fabrics. She and Audra will lend their considerable beading expertise in putting together the necklace portion and connecting it to the pouch. The pouch can be used to stow a cell phone, credit cards (for beady purchases, of course), keys, etc. - just lots and lots of possibilities. Too cool to miss out on!

Kits are available for $10 and include the pouch (a variety to choose from), jump rings, eye pins, accent gem and cone. Silver or gold-tone findings kits will also be a part of the kit.

TOOLS AND SUPPLIES LIST:

• Round nose pliers
• Chain nose pliers
• Crimp tool
• Beading mat
• Bugle beads (long, medium or short)
• Complementary seed beads (medium or large or size you are most comfortable working with)
• 5 mm. accent beads
• 30-35 crimp tubes or beads (available in packages at stores like Michael's, Hobby Lobby or favorite beading store)
• Flexible beading wire
• Last, but not least, your creativity

MEMBERSHIP:
Our Membership Chairperson, Kim Butler, would like for everyone who has not renewed their membership to do so at this meeting. Dues are $30 per year for individuals and $40 for a family membership (2 persons living in the same household). Visitors are welcome to attend one meeting and take part in that month's program; however, membership will be required to return to subsequent meetings.

LIBRARY:
Our Librarian, Lillian Skogsberg, has new selections for your perusal. We'll have a book review and one lucky person will go home with a new book from a drawing. Members can purchase library raffle tickets ($1 each or 6 for $5) prior to the meeting being called to order by the President, Diane Mayes. All sales will cease at that time so get there early to see what your library has to offer you and help HBS support the ongoing acquisitions with the raffle.

VENDORS:
Individuals whose membership has been current for at least one month may sell at the monthly meetings. Tables can be reserved by contacting Vice President, Shirley Nowlin by Friday, September 14. The cost is $10 for one 6' table, payable when the Treasurer, Carolyn Slater, comes by to collect, not after sales have been generated. All vendors must provide their own table coverings and may arrive at 9:00 a.m. to set up. Sales may proceed until the meeting is called to order. After adjournment, sales may resume. Everyone must vacate the auditorium no later than 12:30 p.m.

SHOW AND TELL:
This is a special time of the meeting when we get to ooh and ahh over fellow members' creations. Please feel free to bring completed jewelry, accessories, or projects in progress to share with everyone. Cards will be available for members to list their names, description or name of piece, technique, and if the piece was inspired by someone else, please include that artist's name.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
If you have an announcement to make about upcoming bead-related events, teaching schedules, museum openings, etc., the best way to get the word out is to prepare a quantity of flyers for the information table. Other announcements for which flyers cannot be prepared should be addressed to the President, Diane Mayes, at 281-540-1727, no later than Thursday, September 13, so she can determine if there is available time for the announcement during the new business segment of the meeting.

OFFICERS FOR 2013:
The President will appoint a nominating chairperson to oversee the search for new officers for 2013. If you are interested in running for office, have been an active member for at least one year and can attend all of the meetings, in addition to donating lots of hours to nurturing HBS, you might consider running for office. Diane will discuss the details at the meeting. Copies of the bylaws will be available with descriptions of officers' duties.

Soutache Jewelry

I don't know if I've been living under a rock or what...but, look what has come to my attention lately - Soutache Jewelry.

Allegro Appassionato by Anneta Valious

Soutache is a type of braided trim traditionally used in the textile industry for decoration on a piece of fabric (i.e. clothing and/or drapery), but it can also be used functionally as in to cover a seam.  It looks like a flat, shiny piece of braided trim with a groove down the center and is available in hundreds of colors. Today, many people are using soutache to cover the hem of bridal veils or to create floral patterns. And, now - to create lovely pieces of beaded and soutache jewelry - like French Beader, Anneta Valious.

Anneta uses soutache to create beautiful neckpieces, earrings and bracelets, like this one:

Naiade Bracelet by Anneta Valious

And, stunning necklaces like these:

Lys Bleu by Anneta Valious

Romantic Garden by Anneta Valious

For the past several weeks, Beadsmith has been posting pictures of soutache jewelry created by some of their followers and I am completely hooked. Luckily, Anneta has written a book entitled Bead Embroidery with Soutache: 25 Gorgeous Jewelry Projects with Decorative Braid that will be released by Lark Crafts around June 2013 (and I can't wait).

If you can't wait either and want to try using soutache in your work, here are a couple of links to tutorials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omv8dmbWze4 (in Italian)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuwdAEJfmLM (More like a slide show and it's fast, but I really like this one).
http://www.oceaniecreations.fr/blog/schema-bijoux-perles-broderie-a-la-soutache/ (in French, but with great pictures)

And, here's one from Anneta Valious herself.

http://www.mylovelybeads.com/php/class/previewClass.php?num=2&key=soutache&lan=en

In the meantime, enjoy more eye candy created by another soutache beader, Andrea Zelenak of Romania.

Soutache Jewelry by Andrea Zelenak of Romania. Photo courtesy of Beadsmith


(Photos of artwork by Anneta Valious  used with permission of the artist)

Win Swarovski Crystals!

Photo courtesy of Fusion Beads

Fusion Beads has selected an amazing assortment of Swarovski Elements Crystals in the color options that Pantone (the leading authority on color) is predicting for Fall trends to give away to one lucky winner! In fact, the winner will win an assortment of crystals - from bicones to sew-on stones, rondelles to heart-shaped pendants.

For a chance to win this sparkling assortment of Pantone inspired Swarovski Elements Crystals, leave a comment by clicking HERE and telling Fusion Beads what your favorite color combinations from the 2012 Pantone Color Trend are. A winner will be randomly selected on Friday, September 7, 2012, at 4 PM PST and informed by e-mail. Good luck ya'll!

Fall 2012 Jewelry Trends

According to the website, Rocks, Paper, Metal, there are four big jewelry trends to watch out for this Fall:

1. Disco - if you are old enough to remember the disco era of the 70s, then you know we're talking about bold geometric shapes and components, resin and enamel accents, stud and the huge "door knocker" earrings as well as anything in the 70s colors - grey, black, yellow, red, orange to name a few.
2. Creamy Colors - and flesh tones are hot this Fall as you can tell by all the fashion magazines. These colors include milky stones and/or beads, cream, white and light turquoise patinas, cabochon beads  and anything made up or composed of metal, cord, resin and shell.
3. It seems to me that anything having to do with Nature never really goes out of style and this Fall is no exception. Look for earthy and neutral colors, floral and animal accents, animal prints (including textures on metals) and stackable rings. Feathers also continue to be very popular.
4. Like Nature, Tribal doesn't seem to be going out of style any time soon either. One of the key things to look for with this trend is worn, burnished platings and traditional tribal colors like dark reds, oranges, blues, browns and yellows and surprisingly, they're being mixed with - neons! Castings and etchings of natural objects such as feathers, horns and anything floral are also expected to be hot this Fall.

One trend that I'm seeing a lot of that this site didn't mention was the use of Argentium. According to Wikipedia, Argentium is a "modern sterling silver alloy which modifies the traditional alloy (92.5% silver + 7.5% copper) by replacing some of the copper with the metalloid germanium. As it retains the 92.5% silver content of the traditional alloy, it is still referred to as sterling silver."

Because it has the same silver content, you work with Argentium much like you would with regular sterling silver; however, Argentium has some very nice properties that silver doesn't. For example, thanks to its Germanium content, it has a high resistance to tarnish and best of all, it does not get the dreaded firescale when soldered or heated to high temperatures. On the other hand, it has a lower melting point (1410 degrees F) compared to sterling silver (1475 degrees F).

Argentium is patented and trademarked by the Argentium Silver Company, UK.

I've never worked Argentium, but I think I'll give it a try soon. Stay tuned.