If you haven't renewed your membership...
why are you waiting?
We've already had three great meetings this year and learned and shared a lot. This coming Wednesday, December 14 is our first techniques night of the year. There may still be a few spots in some classes, so come out and share with your fellow beaders. Bring a treat (homemade or purchased) to share with other members. You also have the opportunity to sign up for Bag of Beads ($10 fee, bags to be distributed at the January 11 meeting). And we'll be giving away some sparkly Swarovski prizes to a few members as we announce our exciting plans for the January meeting and our new raffle. See the sparkle note below for more on the January meeting.
Sparkling Swarovskis will make the winter bright
The TBS recently acquired over $1000 worth of Swarovski product, which we will begin raffling off at our January meeting. And that's not the only present we're offering: Swarovski ambassador Stephanie Dixon will present the coming colour trends then enable your inner sparkle junkie by undertaking a FREE Crystal Clay project that every member will complete at the meeting. Remember when we all made the Bling Ring a few years ago? Well, this project promises to be even bigger and more exciting. Play with crystals and clay and learn a new technique.
As for the raffle, we will divide the spoils up in to bags valued at at least $20 and offer raffle tickets ($5 each or three for $10) and draw for winners at the end of the meeting. We'll do the same in February and again in March. That way you buy tickets and have a chance to win at each meeting -- tickets are only valid at the meeting they're sold at. However, you must be at the meeting at the end when your number is drawn to claim your prize. Wait until you see some samples of the packages we have put together -- on display at the December meeting! More details from Marilyn Parker at our Wednesday night meeting -- and you'll get a chance to win some sparkling Swarovskis too, no tickets needed -- Santa might come early to you this year!
The TBS Needs You
By Sue Henry
We are such lucky people to be able to indulge in this obsession of beading and jewellery making! It’s a wonderful passion for many of us and, for some members, it is the way they generate their income as well.
As much as I love my beads, the best night of the month is the second Wednesday when I get to talk to bead people and learn more about all things beady! Finding the TBS was awesome for me. And TBS members are awesome! I stumbled into a meeting (about four years ago) and felt I had landed in heaven! So much to learn – I didn’t know what I didn’t know! And these people knew it all and were willing to share! Up to that point I didn’t even know there were bead stores in Canada. I was shopping on eBay. Paying too much, and buying poor quality beads – what did I know! I hadn’t even seen a Bead and Button magazine yet.
I can’t say enough about the Bead Society and the members, who volunteer their time to organize, write, teach, set-up, welcome, stuff envelopes and bead baggies, and generally work far too late into the night to keep this organization going. Because of volunteers there are 10 interesting meetings each year, two amazing Bead Fairs, techniques nights twice a year, the Bag of Beads, the Garage Sale, an awesome website, money in the bank and rent paid! Plus our calendar fundraiser for charity. Gosh we are busy!
Volunteers are what make this organization run, so when we ask for help - step up. I can assure you it is the quickest way to learn more about beading, the bead business, and meet awesome people who share the beading passion.
We will need people to help with class registrations, meeting admissions, Bead Fair, and many more tasks, big and small. And it’s all great fun – I Promise! And the best night of the month is still the TBS Meeting night!
Calendar Project
The 2012 Calendar Project is nearly finished. The charity selected, the photos selected, the calendar put together, then the Sponsors stepped up and paid for the printing. Now it’s up to our members to sell as many as possible so we actually have money to give to our charity. That’s where we seem to have trouble..? I’m not sure why but this year we are not selling calendars as we need to. We have sold several hundred less than last year and that will severely impact the bottom line of the cheque we can give the Arts For Children and Youth (AFCY.CA) charity we selected. Is everyone on your list getting a calendar this year? Suggestions sell these last few boxes are welcome.
Our 2012 Charity – Learning to Make Jewellery
By Sue Henry
As past members know, each year the TBS supports a selected charity with all proceeds from the Calendar project. This year the charity is the Arts for Children and Youth (AFCY) group who teach visual arts in schools and community centres in Toronto’s most vulnerable communities. Learn more about
AFCY.ca at their web site.
This group does amazing projects with the kids. And they bead – but in a limited way: only a couple of the youth instructors had beading experience. We changed that on December first, when Cindy Goldrick, Kim Harris and I spent a wonderful evening with six of the AFCY team at their office on Richmond Street West.
We had collected a couple of boxes of donated beads and findings and the class began. The plan for the evening was to teach them about beading tools, techniques, and materials. We would be making earrings and bracelets to learn the basic techniques.
The class quickly went off track when I showed them the beads to choose from. What was I thinking! It took half and hour to just examine all the pretty beads! I should never have shown them what was in the boxes. But it was terrific fun! They were so excited to learn! Within minutes they had earrings and we planning to make dozens of pairs for holiday gifts! The class went an hour over the planned time – what a surprise! We couldn’t get them to put down the tools and go home! And they couldn’t believe we were giving them all the beads.
I’ve since heard back from the class. They have been making jewellery every day and making plans on how they will be teaching the kids. They are exploring the possibilities of using recycled materials for jewellery. These kids will take Steampunk to the extreme with their designs, incorporating everything recycled! Can’t wait to see what they produce!
We have been invited back in the new year and I’m excited to see what they have produced. This isn’t the pearl and crystal crowd. This will be out of the box! I think they will be teaching me!
If anyone is willing to donate beading materials or tools of any kind, they will eagerly use them! Or if you would like to join in teaching the next class, please let me know.
Members' News
BEAD FX is moving in January. Watch the TB S Facebook page and their web site
www.beadfx.com for more information!
And check out our FB page for constantly updated member news. Stay in the know!
If you have something you'd like us to know about, please send it to
newsletter coordinator.
