Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at the Chevy Chase Community Center. Please come at 7:00 pm to meet and chat with BSGW members. Meeting starts promptly at 7:30.
Location:
Chevy Chase Community Center
(at the corner of Connecticut and McKinley)
5601 Connecticut Ave.
Washington DC 20015 (
see map)
January 8: VILLAGE BRACELETS OF WEST AFRICA
Anne and Larry Heilman started collecting tribal bracelets while on assignment for the State Department in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from 1983-85. Curious and appreciative of folk objects, their collection is shaped by an eye for the unusual. They found themselves particularly drawn to the sculptural aspects of non-precious metal tribal bracelets, ultimately amassing a large and varied collection. Their power point presentation offers a unique perspective on this often ignored area of folk art. A select number of bracelets from their collection will be displayed.
February 12: SALLY AND SHANNON STEVENS OF SUNROOM STUDIOS SHARE THEIR UNIQUE APPROACH TO JEWELRY DESIGN
Sunroom Studios is a joint venture of Sally and Shannon Stevens, a mother-daughter design team. Sally started creating jewelry many years ago, holding her first bead show in the 1970's. In 2000, she began designing original jewelry using silver smithing and wire wrapping techniques, along with her own fused glass beads. Her unique approach to jewelry reflects 35 years of work in various decorative art forms. She creates all the finished jewelry sold by Sunroom Studios. Shannon is an accomplished lamp work bead artist with outstanding work featured in LAPIDARY JOURNAL and BEAD UNIQUE trade magazines, often demonstrating her lamp working techniques at bead and craft shows. She received a bachelor's degree in Art in 2000, and masters degree in Education the following year. She teaches art in an Anne Arundel County, Maryland, elementary School
March 12: BEYOND BEAUTIFUL?\ ANDERSON COATS' BEADS
Meet glass artist Anderson Coats, partner in Accents Glassworks, a newly opened
part of Accents Beads, and the largest lamp work studio on the East coast.
Initially a student of structural engineering, he was lured into the
art glass world in 1994. Moving from Michigan to the Carolinas, finding
inspiration in the mountains and overall environment, he discovered and took
great advantage of the Penland School of Crafts, studying under many of the
glass artists on staff there. It had long been his desire to share his
knowledge and skills, so it was with great excitement that he learned that Milton
Criswell wanted to expand Accents Beads to include a lamp work glass studio
and was looking for someone to operate it. Anderson specializes in borosilicate
glass, creating everything from pendants beads, marbles and perfume bottles to
wine glasses, goblets, and other large pieces. He promised to show off, and I
promise you are going to enjoy it!
April 12: DIAMONDS OUT OF AFRICA - BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE MINES OF DeBEERS
Back by popular demand, Denise Nelson of Inner Circle, importer of
fine jewelry, gems and cultured pearls, has had an another extraordinary
adventure! She received a personal invitation to visit the fabled mines of
DeBeers, premier diamond brokers to the world. This journey included armed,
escorted travel by car, rail and helicopter to remote areas rarely accessible to
anyone not under the DeBeers security umbrella. How did this come about? Will
she tell all?? In any case, her power point presentation allows us to be there too!
April 25: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. / April 26: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
BSGW's 48th Semi-Annual Bead Bazaar
Sho p'til you drop for bedazzling beads from around the world -antique and ancient, artisan-made and newly-made. Also, don't miss the handcrafted tribal and contemporary jewelry, collectible books and demonstrations.
Bead identification both days noon to 2 p.m.
Activity Center at Bohrer Park
506 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD
Admission: $7; Children under 12 FREE
