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[Tina Marie Maes]

HI all,

Thanks for all those who joined us at the BIG MAC meeting on 4/10/2025.

Here’s the links/resources/projects that people were working on/thinking.

Par puca beaded necklace

Helen Bangs (?) needle weaving with No, 3 pearl cotton and silk
Student — Sheila Miller (?)

Master Craftsman: Beading

–This is on my to do list, after I learn some more techniques!

Lisa Binkley projects mentioned after we talked about the crazy quilt group: She’s done some quilting with beads as well as all beaded-projects. (Mary Jo & I have purchased kits from her site, but she usually only does small runs of kits)

Mary Jo’s current project: lisa binkley early spring kit
https://pin.it/4ZCiWBxJi
(Not available for sale)

Irena schelepokova (?) — Flamingo Zoom class which may become a kit in the future

Beaded vessels made with size 11 beads and crystals (I missed the teacher/designer)

Candy (?) beads on bead embroidery (like cabochon but more round 6 & 8 mm
These were inspired by the very delicate Ayala Bar ready made jewelry.
Radiance Collection
https://ayalabar.com/products/earth-clay-violet-brooch (This is my favorite)

The Modern Needlework Stand: A Close Look and a Question

We discussed Merino Stiff felt/felted wood– vs ultra suede

Lara smith — mixed media embroidery

Embroidery with Mixed Media with Laura Smith

Mary Corbett’s blog bead embroidery

The Modern Needlework Stand: A Close Look and a Question

https://www.annstritekurz.com/designs.html — really cool Blackwork designs

Peppermint Purple site also has great blackwork designs, as well as a yearly stitch-along

Some beading threads used (depending on the project/process):
Wildfire by Beadalon
One-G
Nymo
C-lon
Miyuki Nylon
(Find examples of these and other beading threads at https://www.barrelofbeads.com/collections/c-lon-size-d-beading-thread)

Kathy Seaman Shaw — crazy quilt new class
http://www.shawkl.com/2024/10/new-classes-to-begin-in-january.html

For the beginner:

Lampwork beads sources:
Glass bead society was mentioned:

International Society of Glass Beadmakers
Making beads: https://isgb.org/ — Find a chapter near you under Chapters/Chapter News (https://isgb.org/chapters/#news)

One of our members created some very cool jewelry inspired by/incorporating /created with John Winters (Winterglas) lampwork beads (I wish I could find pictures of any examples. They are beautiful!)

Off the Beaded Path
https://www.youtube.com/@offthebeadedpath/videos
https://offthebeadedpathbeadstore.com/step-by-step-tutorials/

Potomac Beads
https://www.potomacbeads.com/how-to/projects-tutorials/

Fire Mountain beads
https://www.firemountaingems.com/learn/jewelry-makers-library.html

One of our members is new to beading/beadwork and is left-handed. Another member recalled a left-handed beading book but I was unable to find the title. If anyone remembers it, please let us know.

Current beading magazines? no U ones, as far as I can tell…

UK:
Bead & Jewellery Magazine: https://www.beadmagazine.co.uk/magazine

Other info I found:
The final issue of Bead Button Magazine was published in October, 2020
Beadwork finished with Fall 2021
Bead Trends, Stringing, Step by Step Beadwork, Bead Unique, Bead Design Studio, and Perlen Poesie have all gone away too through the years. The Australian one Creative Beading: Be Inspired is hard to tell if it’s actually still in print.
(Digital issues of some at https://www.interweave.com/)
Also: Lapidary journal is shutting down too. Actually jewelry artist
(From a redditor, username: Vanishing Pearl, on r/Beading: https://www.reddit.com/r/Beading/comments/oyhsev/i_just_saw_the_last_beadwork_magazine_im_so_sad_i/?rdt=32904)

There’s probably more stuff we talked about. I love all the projects people are working on or dreaming about! It was a great meeting!

Thanks all!

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