Bead Challenge in Jewel Tones

What it is…
The challenge is to make a piece of beadwork jewelry or non-wearable out of a bead palette created from contributions by your fellow challenge members. Participants are given 2 months to complete the challenge. When the works are complete, we’ll share out experiences at the April meeting and arrange to have the work exhibited publicly as a group.

What to bring…
Bring at least one handful of a single kind of bead in a jewel tone to contribute to the challenge kits of all the other participants. We currently anticipate approximately 6 participants. However, this number may be more or less. Please consider participants will approach the beads from a variety of techniques ranging from bead stringing, wire working, bead weaving, and beyond.

When to bring it…
February 19th: Bring beads to contribute to challenge kits. Bring small plastic baggies to hold kit beads.
April 16th: Bring your completed piece to share with the group.

Below are  some inspiration images of items in jewel tones. We look forward to seeing what you come up with!

May Meeting Notes

The Meeting
In attendance on Saturday were Colleen, Alyce, Donna, two newcomers Sandy and John and myself. Around the corner the Greek Orthodox Church held their annual Greek Food Fair with barbeque and live music. Upstairs in the library meeting room we discussed our current projects and enjoyed meeting Sandy and John. Deb stopped in briefly bringing in the collection of donated items used for Bead Brigade.  Donna shared her knotted rose quartz necklace. Alyce worked on a new charm bracelet. Colleen shared her current bead weaving projects.

Bead Brigade
Colleen sorted through a box of donated plastic beads which may be used to raise donations to keep Bead Brigade and www.santacruzbeadsociety.org happening. It is about 8lb. in weight with an assortment of bags of beads and I'm looking or a $30 donation—plus shipping if needed.



The Future
• Alyce mentioned the possibility of a cabin space to hold a bead retreat near Arnold.

• We decided to have a bead swap for our next meeting where we'll bring in beads and materials we have not used to trade for other beads or materials.

• The May meeting fell on the same day as the NCBS annual bead show and the possibility was discussed of making the monthly meeting a field trip to Oakland for the 2011 NCBS show.

California Redwood Beads

Anyone have a tip on finding beads made of redwood? Just email us. We were contact recently by one who is looking for such a bead. Thanks so much!

Sea Glass & Ocean Art Festival

www.californiaglassassociation.org 

www.santacruzseaglass.com

The event features sea glass and ocean related artists that all share a passion for the Ocean and the protection and conservation of our beaches and oceans. This is the first event of it's kind; and was founded by Krista Hammond, owner of Santa Cruz Sea Glass. Krista wanted to share her passion for natural sea glass jewelry and her dedication to the preservation of the ocean and beaches in the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, so she decided a Festival that celebrates the beauty of Ocean Art, or so called "Sanctuary Art" while donating a percentage of application fees directly back into protecting the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. Donations will be made to both the Seymour/Long Marine Center and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

The event features sea glass and ocean related artists that all share a passion for the Ocean and the protection and conservation of our beaches and oceans. This is the first event of it's kind; and was founded by Krista Hammond, owner of Santa Cruz Sea Glass. Krista wanted to share her passion for natural sea glass jewelry and her dedication to the preservation of the ocean and beaches in the Monterey Bay Sanctuary, so she decided a Festival that celebrates the beauty of Ocean Art, or so called "Sanctuary Art" while donating a percentage of application fees directly back into protecting the Monterey Bay Sanctuary. Donations will be made to both the Seymour/Long Marine Center and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.

To pick up a postcard and 2 for 1 admission to the festival please visit The Craft Gallery Annex http://www.craftgallery.netor visit the promoter Santa Cruz Sea Glass at one of our shows!http://www.santacruzseaglass.com/shows.html The festival will feature the amazing artists.

2010 New Meeting Day

At least it will still be on Saturday!

Beginning in 2010, we will meet on the 3rd Saturday of each month. Most recently, we've been meeting on the 2nd Saturday of each month. As always, our 'Thanks' goes out to Donna Swedberg who organizes our meeting space at the library.

Meeting time and location remains the same:

Santa Cruz Library, Central Branch
Meeting Room, upstairs (there is an elevator)
224 Church Street in Downtown Santa Cruz, CA

2nd Saturday of the month (2010: 3rd Saturday)
11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Lecture Yemenite Filigree by Yehouda Tassa

Exciting news! Yehouda Tassa of Sabra Jewelry Design has recently agreed to come to a bead society meeting for a lecture on his work of Yemenite Filigree! We met in Palo Alto a few years ago as his wife was attending one of my classes through the Palo Alto Adult School. He charmed the ladies in class and they coerced him into bringing his filigree work in. And, when he did, the ladies were floored with the delicate and intricate work.

Currently, we're deciding on a date which will be added to our website meeting calendar as soon as it is decided. In the meantime, if you'd like to see Yehouda's work check out his website here.

Sign up to receive Santa Cruz Bead Society meeting notifications by clicking here.

Upcoming Speakers & Topics

This Saturday at our monthly meeting a wire demonstration and talk will make up the 2nd half of the meeting. Efforts to gather spearkers for upcoming meetings have garnered a talk by Estelle Drinkhaus-Davey on pearl knotting at our January meeting and we're in talks with Kathy Corby to come speak to use about her jewelry-making. Also, Emails of Inquiry were sent out to a number of local professional jewelry- and bead-makers asking if they'd like to come speak to the bead society in exchange for our admiration. I'll keep you posted!