BIG THANK YOU! to the creative members who shared their work with us.

The challenge was to create a piece of art using a Starbucks coffee drink bottle.  There was quite a range of work, which is always the fun part.  It was great to see the creativity and the wide range of materials and final results.  The winners from our members voting were:

First: Jillian Maresco, for her bottle decoupaged with dark blue tissue paper and images of birds and butterflies. The neck of the bottle was encircled with rhinestone chain and seed beads.

Second: Jill Bartel, for her bottle covered in various beads, cabochons, rosemontes, crystals, chain, and rhinestone chain. The bottle was crowned with painted wood pieces and a winged goddess trophy top.

Third: Jeanette Easley, for her bottle combining beads and spirals of copper wire that were grouted in place. The lid of the bottle was decorated with copper foil tape and a cabinet knob.

Our January 2018 meeting was our annual BSNM party.  This year, the theme was "A Night at the Academy Awards".  Our members dressed in red carpet style and wore their best jewelry. We enjoyed fabulous finger-food provided by BSNM members.  Each table was decorated in the theme of an award winning film, and our members had a wonderful time playing movie themed games and winning some great door prizes.  

At the August general meeting, Cael Chappell, founder of Baskets of Africa (www.BasketsOfAfrica.com), gave a fascinating presentation on krobo glass beads, which are handmade in Krobo and Obumase, Ghana, West Africa. 

Cael’s company deals in free-trade goods and buys directly from the bead (and basket) makers. A bead company that Cael deals with is operated by a famous bead maker, “Mr. Cedi,” whose full name is Ebenezer Cedi Nomoda Djaba. Mr. Cedi advertises his company as “A place where beads talk.” Not only does Mr. Cedi make these powdered glass beads, he teaches people around the world how they are made. For the Krobo people, Cael told us, their culture is based on beads. 

We had a full house at our June meeting!  Three of our own beading experts, Geri Verble, Sandy Johnson, and Linda Davis were on hand to answer all of our toughest questions about how to finish jewelry.

Linda Davis demonstrated a variety of innovative techniques for finishing seed bead projects.  In particular, she provided some excellent tips for how to finish chunky cellini spiral ropes.

Geri Verble is an expert in stringing finishing techniques, and she gave a great demonstration for how to properly use tricky crimp beads.

Finally, Sandy Johnson gave us all sorts of tips for those times when all else fails, including some great ideas for how to make professional looking knotted jewelry.

Sandy and Linda have generously written down some of their tips. You can download them by clicking here and here.  Thank you Geri, Sandy, and Linda for sharing your expertise - our members appreciated it!

Bead Time on June 7th featured a 16-person capacity-crowd for Mary Ellen Merrigan's "Knot to Unknot" class. New member Mary Jo Baucom was first to complete her project.

One person said, "I find it fascinating that the simple act of tying a knot stopped my monkey mind in its tracks and forced me to go to a different place. It was both humbling and illuminating."

Another said, "I never knew knots could create such beauty."

Member Kenny Halstead did a fabulous job setting up our display booth!

A close up of some of the gorgeous work that was entered:

Fran teaching about lampwork at the education booth:

Kenny and Laura Sandison, winner of the first place bead embroidery prize for her piece, "Love Blue"

The winners of the "Elements and Principles of Jewelry Design Contest" sponsored by Mama's Minerals were also announced at the April Meeting.  11 BSNM members submitted pieces to the contest.  The three winners each received a gift certificate from Mama's Minerals.  Congratulations to the winners!  

Coming in first place, Margo Yee for $25;

in second place, Maryellen Merrigan for $15; 

and third place Sandy Greenfield for $10.   

The winning pieces are currently on display at Mama's Minerals in Albuquerque, so go check them out!  Thanks to all members who participated in the contest.

 

The April BSNM meeting was hosted by Mama's Minerals, and featured guest speaker David Mueller (aka "David The Geologist" on Facebook).  David gave a fascinating talk to a full house of BSNM members on the formation of gemstones in the earth, how they are mined, and the chemistry that generates their unique colorations. (Who knew garnets = Ca,Fe,Mg,NF,Al,Si,O3?)

 

With a B.S. in Geology from UNM, David specializes in mining and petroleum geology. His research includes the Rio Grande rift, Colorado Plateau, and geomorphology of the Grand Canyon. He is passionate about geology as well as sharing his information, inspiring a number of us to go rock hunting locally!

Spring has definitely sprung here in Albuquerque, and the members of the Bead Society have been busy!  

The end of March brought BeadFest to Santa Fe once again.  Everyone had a blast taking classes and (of course) buying beads at the expo.  Below is a lantern made by one of our members during a metalworking and enameling class with instructor Steven James:

A few of our members also taught classes at BeadFest this year!  Kenny Halstead and Margo Yee taught their fabulous beaded bird class:

 

On March 29th, the talented Susan Lenart Kazmer taught a class all about different techniques for using resin in jewelry making.  Our members really enjoyed themselves!

  

We also learned how to make this beautiful beaded rope with Kenny Halstead during the April Bead Time.

Last but not least, we spent our March meeting making memory wire bracelets that will be sold to benefit Susan's Legacy at the 2017 Fiber Arts Fiesta.