What a great turnout for our last meeting.We had lots of new people eager to learn new beading techniques. A total of 30 enjoyed making the pearl balls, star bursts and octahedrons.

Our next meeting will be May 17. Alyce McLaughlin will be teaching pearl knotting.

This is a great technique to have in your beading skills. It is not difficult, but to do it right and maintain the tension and proper position of the knot takes some practice. Once you have it you can make lots of wonderful necklaces or branch out as I did in the attached photo of a bracelet.

Alyce has generously donated a large amount of glass pearls for anyone that needs them.You should bring some of your own beads in the event we run out of the donated pearls.

Thanks to Alyce, Bead-Rite has donated all of the thread you will need for the class. The thread is called Silkon and is very nice to work with.

The Bead Society is furnishing the twisted needles that you will need.

You must have tweezers to make the knot. These are not the tweezers that you use to pluck your eyebrows. They are pointed on the end and very sharp. We will be selling them at the meeting for $1.

Supply List
Clear nail polish (to glue knots) Needle nosed pliers Bead cups or ends Clasp

General Supplies for the class Mat String of beads ( make sure the holes are not large) Measuring tape or ruler Scissors

Raffle: We will raffle off the three necklaces that are pictured. Make sure you pick up your ticket when you register.

The Innovative Beads Expo 2007

Embassy Suites Hotel
123 Boston Post Road West
Marlborough, MA 01752
www.InnovativeBeadsExpo.com
May 11, 2007 10am-6pm
May 12, 2007 10am-6pm
May 13, 2007 10am-4pm

Glass Bead Extravaganza 2007

Armenian Cultural Center
47 Nichols Ave.
Watertown, MA 02472
www.glassbeadextravaganza.com
May 5, 2007 10am-5pm

Snow Library Exhibit

For the month of April, the Snow Library in Orleans has an exhibit displaying work from members of the Cape Cod Bead Society. I haven't had a chance to visit it yet myself, but I saw what was going in and it should be impressive!

If you wish to visit the library, instructions from their website are,

"...From the Sagamore Bridge, take the Mid-Cape Highway (Rt.6-East) to Exit 12 (Orleans-Brewster exit). Take a right coming off the exit (Rt. 6A-East). Take a right at the second stoplight (Main Street). The library will be on your right immediately past a bank and the Friends Market..."

The street address is,

67 Main Street, Orleans, MA

Their hours are,

Monday - 10 am - 5 pm
Tuesday - 10 am - 8 pm
Wednesday - 10 am - 8 pm
Thursday - 10 am - 5 pm
Friday - 10 am - 5 pm
Saturday - 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday - 2 pm - 4 pm

Hope you get a chance to check it out!

The Whole Bead Show

The Whole Bead Show
Holiday Inn
21 Atwells Avenue
Providence, RI
April 13-15 hours Fri and Sat 10-6, Sunday 12-5
Admission $5
http://www.wholebead.com/

Thanks to Janna Pereira for teaching a great new technique to a small but very enthusiastic group on March 15.

Our next meeting is April 19. I will be teaching several techniques to make Star clusters, an Octahedron and Chinese Pearl Balls (Dodecahedra). These are not difficult and can add some real bling to any necklace or bracelet. Displayed in multiples or just one on a simple chain makes a very impressive piece.

Supply list:

Fireline, power pro, spectra. Nymo is not recommended Two needles, all techniques use two needles for weaving. Scissors Mat

Star Bursts: 10 top drilled beads. Swarvosky makes the best star but any top drilled bead will work to learn the technique. Top drilled means it is a tear drop shape bead that is drilled at the top from side to side. In the pictures, the orange was 8mm and the blue earrings were 6mm.

Octahedron: 12 round beads. 4mm is a good size to start with. Real pearls are not recommended since you need to pass through the hole several times. Small amount of seed beads in a complimentary or contrasting color.

Chinese Pearl Balls: 30 beads. The ones that are pictured were 6mm pearls and bicones. These make 3/4" balls so you may want to go smaller, although working with larger beads while you are learning will be easier.

All of the above make up very quickly so if you have an idea for a completed project, bring all the findings that you need to finish it.

Has this ever happened to you? You have spent an hour stringing a beautiful necklace and you hold it up to your neck to see how it looks and drop one end. Half the beads go on the floor and the other half go down the drain. Here comes the plumber to save your beads.

I don't know how many times this happened to me until I found the Bead Stopper and it has never happened since. It is a coil that clamps down on the thread or wire and just won't let go until you want it too. Every beader should have at least a few of these so we will be selling them at our next meeting.

See you in April!