FEBRUARY 2013 MEETING

By Lillian Skogsberg, HBS Vice President - Programs

February 2013 Program 
Pat Powell is going to lead the group in making beautiful Faux Repoussé metal squares into brooches. She is going to supply the materials & additional materials will be available for a small fee. Repousse is defined as shaped or ornamented with patterns in relief made by hammering or pressing on the reverse side of metal. Pictures of squares and program details are available in the Programs page. Looks like it will be fun!!

Bead It Forward Bead Quilt Squares
Don't forget to bring your completed Bead It Forward Bead Quilt squares for Tish Reed to forward to Bead and Button. If you need the base squares to create more, Tish will have a few available. Don't forget, the deadline for getting your squares into Bead and Button is March 01, 2013. The squares are always beauties and fun to do, since they’re a small project. For more information and guidelines go to: http://bnb.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/en/Community/Bead%20Quilt%20Project/2011/10/Bead-It-Forward%20bead-quilt%20project.aspx

Summer Bead Fling and Upcoming Workshop:
There will be announcements about our upcoming Summer Bead Fling scheduled for June 22-23 and Soutache Workshop in September. Details will be available in emails, but come and hear the details and ask questions at the meeting.

Parking:
Please park in the uncovered spaces in the rear of the gated parking lot. 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. Please check in with the receptionist for an ID badge before proceeding to the auditorium.

Vendors:
Any current member can be a vendor at the monthly meetings. The cost is $10 for one 6' table, payable when the Treasurer, Tish Reed, comes by to collect, not once sales are generated. Vendors must provide their own table coverings and may arrive at 9:00 a.m. and sell until the President, Shirley Nowlin, announces that the meeting will begin. Vendors are expected to cover their tables at that time and may resume sales once the meeting is over. Everyone must vacate the auditorium no later than 12:30 p.m. If you would like to vend this month, please contact Lillian at Lillian_skogsberg@earthlink.net, 713-557-7329 by February 14.

Library:
The library will be open for checking out materials. And, the monthly raffle will be underway until Shirley announces that meeting will start. Tickets are $0.50/each. If you have something you would like to donate something for the raffle, please bring it to the meeting.

Membership:
For those beading friends who keep their membership current, we are very appreciative of your efforts. It allows you to attend monthly meetings and have the opportunity to participate in the monthly programs. Dues are $30 per year for an individual and $40 per year for a family membership (two persons living in the same household). Our Membership Coordinator, Kim Butler, can handle your renewal.

As always, looking forward to seeing you at the meeting!

Crystal, Pearl and Wire Heart Earrings

Just in time for Valentines Day from The Daily Bead blog - these adorable earrings.

Oh my gosh... these are so cute and supereasy to create! All you need are some round nose pliers, wire cutters, 24 ga wire, ear wires, a couple of jump rings, a few crystals and pearls - all of which you probably already have in your stash.

Wired Heart Earrings at
My Daily Bead blog 

In fact, they are so easy to make, I made four pairs in about 2 hours. It probably only took that "long" because I decided to ball up the fine silver wire I used on the crystals (I love how it looks like I added tiny silver beads to the ends) - but, you certainly don't have to. Also, while the designer used 24 gauge wire to create the hearts, I used 20 ga fine silver wire and since I'm a fan of all things wonky, I made my heart charms wonky. I love how they turned out and so did my mom and my sister.

Created by Tish Reed

Click HERE to watch the video and make these by dozens as I'm sure all your friends will want a pair when they see you wearing them.

Now, go  bead something!

Call for Art - Showcase 500 Metal Clay Jewelry

Lark Jewelry & Beading seeks excellent photographs of original, contemporary handmade metal clay jewelry to publish in a new juried, international collection in our 500 Series of books: Showcase 500 Metal Clay Jewelry which is scheduled to be published in Spring 2014.

Lark welcomes and encourages submission of excellent photographs of your handmade metal clay jewelry in all design styles. The jewelry must be predominantly metal clay or, at a minimum, have a dominant metal clay focal piece, but other materials of course may be incorporated.

All work must be made no earlier than 2010 and the more recent the work the better; in fact, Lark prefers to see your excellent 2013 work over your 2012 work, 2012 over 2011, and 2011 over 2010.

Lark also strongly prefers images of jewelry pieces that have not been published previously, and please do not submit images of work that have been published in any Lark book. They will accept only high-quality digital images.

There is no entry fee. Entries must be submitted between January 15 and April 26, 2013. Lark strongly encourages early entries. Artists will receive full acknowledgment within the book, a complimentary copy and will retain copyright of their work.

A maximum of four entries per artist is allowed, so submit your best work. An entry may consist of no more than two visuals: an overall shot and one detail (or alternate view); the detail shots are not required. The primary images you submit should each be different designs. For example, do not submit four variations of very similar jewelry pieces; instead, submit one work from each of four series.

Submissions that do not meet the requirements will not be considered.

Check out all the details, including photographic requirements, by clicking HERE.

Beaded I-Phone Case by Mellisa Grakowsky Shippee

A little eye candy to get you inspired on this last day of the work week and the beginning of what looks like a rainy weekend (the most perfect time to be beading or creating something - anything).

Here is an awesomely wonderful, Beaded I-Phone Case created by Mellisa Grakowsky Shippee (MGS Designs). I understand she is teaching it at Beadfest Philadelphia.

Original picture and Facebook post can be
found HERE

Someone please take her class because I am dying to see this in person and up close!

Crystal Heart Pendant for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is only eight days away! So, you still have plenty of time to make a batch of these cute crystal hearts for your mom, sister or sister in law, best friend - or even just for you.

All you need are 44 4mm crystals, 60 3mm crystals and some soft beading wire. Add a chain and you have a sweet little pendant that you can actually wear all year long.

Picture and project by
BeadJewelryMaking.com

Click HERE to get the instructions.

Now go bead something!

Measuring for Beaded Bracelets and Metal Cuffs

Sandy Martin demonstrates how to accurately
measure for custom beaded and metal cuff bracelets.
Still from the video on www.iceresin.com

Here is a neat little video from the website of one of my favorite artists, Susan Lenart Kazmer. 

Have you ever finished a bracelet only to find out that it is either too big or too small? When you spend hours or days on a project and it doesn't fit, it is more than just frustrating - it's maddening. And, in my case, it usually includes a few choice words. 

Well, solve that problem now - before it occurs. In just over 3 minutes, Sandy Martin, from Susan's design team at www.iceresin.com, shows you how to measure accurately for custom beaded bracelets and metal cuffs. 

Check it out by clicking HERE.

Now, go bead something!

Easy Macrame Bracelets by the Crafty Chica

Picture by the Crafty Chica

Remember Macrame? You probably do if you grew up in the late 60s to early 70s. Well,  macrame has come a long way - baby! From potted plant holders and funky wall hangings to some pretty sophisticated jewelry. Joan Babcock, Annika de Groot and Katie DuMont are just some of the macrame artists that come to mind. 

However, if you don't want to go to that level - just yet - and merely want to try out a quick project then check out this video tutorial on some cute plain and beaded macrame bracelets by the Crafty Chica herself, Kathy Murillo. Best of all, you only have to learn one knot and one of the projects even uses pre-strung Mardi Gras beads. 

So pull out some cords, fibers, even C-Lon, check out her video tutorial by clicking HERE and make some macrame bracelets just in time to wear to all those Mardi Gras parties and parades.

Now, go bead something!