2011 Programs

December 19, 2011
Our annual holiday event. There was cake, festive dressing, volunteer recognition, and open beading. As usual, it was a fun time!

The Table Talk theme for December was "What would you wear to a holiday party?" We had necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and ornaments that would really make lovely earrings.
November 21, 2011
The last hands on project of the year: The Button Garden project. Mary Hottinger showed us how to create these beautiful little gardens that can be worn on a necklace or as a pin. Here are a few examples:

The Table Talk theme for November was All Buttoned Up! We saw a number of cute jewelry and non-jewelry pieces using buttons in very imaginative ways!
October 17, 2011

A journey to the Czech Republic!

Our presenter for the October program was President Helen Dahms. Last year Helen traveled to the Czech Republic with bead importers Guy and J-ME Lynn from Wild Things Beads. In her slideshow, Helen gave us a brief history of Jablonec (where she visited) and took us on a photographic tour of the glass industry in the Czech Republic. She explained and showed pictures of how buttons are made (very painstakingly!) and how beads are made and faceted (also painstakingly). We were able to purchase Czech beads from Wild Things Beads, and Helen also showed samples of the beautiful products she brought back with her. Unfortunately, her slideshow was cut short - there were technical difficulties, and we ran out of time. We hope that Helen can come back soon to finish her presentation!

Here is a picture of some of the beads available for sale, our beaming presenter, and a gorgeous goblet she brought back (don't forget to check our Facebook page for more pictures):

In addition, we had a business meeting. Our treasurer gave the financial report, and we had a vote for 2012 Board positions. Kathy Willmering will be President-Elect, Kat Feldman will remain as our Vice President of Special Events, and Marilyn Johnson will be our new Treasurer. We're still looking for a Membership Coordinator (Kathy Willmering will be otherwise occupied!). Please talk to Helen Dahms if you'd like more information.

The Table Talk theme for October was Czech beads, and we saw a number of beautiful pieces!
September 26, 2011

Royal Wedding Reception
(White gloves and hat were optional)

The September meeting was a tea party! There was hot and iced tea, plus coffee for non-tea drinkers. The challenge pieces turned in at the July meeting were on display, and we voted for our favorite. The winners (judged and Members' Choice) were announced. See the Challenge page for the results.

While we enjoyed refreshments and discussed the challenge pieces with other members, we worked on our own projects. The Bead Doctors were on call to help any of us that had issues with our projects.

There was also a speech by Kathy Willmering who is running for President Elect. Other candidates were not present. Voting will take place in October.

There was no Table Talk this month so the challenge pieces got all of the attention they deserved!
August 15, 2011 A Christi Friesen Weekend (+ Monday!)

August 13-15, 2011

If you've ever met Christi Friesen or seen her polymer clay work in books or magazines, you know that her personality is one of a kind: bright, enthusiastic, and (most importantly) infectious! The Loose Bead Society was thrilled to have her visit us in August to teach polymer clay workshops on Saturday and Sunday and to be our presenter on Monday.

Here are a few pictures from the classes (click any of the pictures to go to the Facebook album to see all of the pictures):

Here are a few pictures from the Monday presentation:

Table talk was Polymer Clay. Here's just a taste of what was brought in:
July 18, 2011

We had an easy but beautiful wire hands-on project! We created "Organized Organic Wire Wrapped" bracelets, and it was a hit! Your webgoddess even made two more bracelets in the days that followed! Thanks to Judy Menting and Susan Beal for leading this program.

Here are some pictures from the program:

The theme for July's Table Talk was "All Wired Up", and we saw pieces in a number of different styles using a number of different techniques!
June 13, 2011

Before they headed back to Freeport, Maine, The Beadin' Path visited and showed us some of their vintage goods. They showed us how to pierce and rivet vintage metals with the new Crafted Findings tool they distribute. They also showed us a number of ways to use lucite components.

The theme for June's Table Talk was "Show us what you've learned in a class - Bead&Button Show class or any others the last few months". Even if the projects weren't done, they were brought in. And, boy, did we have a number of pieces! Kathy Sauch took the prize for the most classes taken, based on how many things she showed us.
May 16, 2011

Anna Elizabeth Draeger, an editor from Bead&Button magazine talked with us about being a Swarovski ambassador, working on Bead&Button articles, and showing us all the bounty available on the Bead&Button website. She answered any and all questions we had, then discussed her book and the sparkly, sparkly pieces she brought with her.

The theme for May's Table Talk was "April Showers Bring May Flowers", and we saw quite a number of different floral interpretations!
April 25, 2011

We had a lot of fun making a colorful Cross-Weave bracelet at our AprilProgram! This was just the first of this year's hands-on programs, and many of us were able to complete the bracelet before going home.

April's Table Talk theme was What did you complete at the Bead Retreat? or What did you work on at the Radiss-on? Many members brought pieces they worked on in classes or in the Open Beading room. It was interesting to see the different interpretations of the Clinging Vine bracelet - some participants decided to make lariats in addition to or instead of the class project.
March 21, 2011

Have you heard of Etsy? It's the website where artists and craftspeople open online shops to sell their work. Lampwork artist Rober Jennik has a very successful Etsy shop and showed us how to set up an Etsy shop for Sue Stachelski from scratch. We had a full house and a lot of questions. We also introduced the "Member Mingle" the half hour before the program, and our brand new Greeting Committee had their hands full with all of the guests and new members. It was easy to pick out the newcomers by the special Mardi Gras necklaces they wore!

The theme for March's Table Talk was Works in Progress, and we had items in many states of "done-ness"! The gorgeous piece in the center is one of many pieces that Nancy Kugel has been working on. She doesn't know what it's going to be yet, but it's stunning! We also had necklaces and bracelets from a number of people. We also had sheets where our members can label their pieces and say what the challenges have been for them.
February 21, 2011

February's program featured a family of guest speakers! Amy and Mike Shallow, a daughter and father duo from A Trio Jewelry, a Third Ward jewelry design studio, discussed their family’s history in the jewelry industry and how the industry is changing today. They will also told us about gemstones and explained how jewelry pieces are conceptualized, designed and created. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn from a pair of professional jewelers! We saw the computer program Amy uses to design pieces, and we saw pictures of a ring that was created especially for Maggie Roschyk plus saw close up a clasp that they designed and created just for her!

The theme for February's Table Talk was Resort where?, and we saw beachy accessories, a palm tree, a necklace that will always remind us of Haiti, and much more!.

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