May 8 – John Gvozcjak & Donna Ducharme, ball bearing beads & jewelry

This looks to be an very unique program. Please join us.  

Donna Ducharme has been making jewelry for five years. She does both bead and metal working, often combining the two. For the past year she has been collaborating with Frantz Manufacturing to design jewelry incorporating their ball-bearing-turned-to-beads Sterling Steel Ball components for test marketing. These tests have led to a focus on new jewelry designs for the “rebellious” men’s jewelry market.

A long time resident of Sterling, Illinois, John is President of Frantz® Manufacturing Co. which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. In 1947, Frantz established the Sterling® Steel Ball division to manufacture steel balls for its bearings and wheel production, and has since become a major supplier of steel balls for the automotive, toy, cosmetic and paint industries. 

Since we lack a volunteer for Hospitality, the BSGC will no longer provide coffee and tea at the meetings. We are asking members, who’s last name begin with T–Z, to bring a treat to this meeting. We ask everyone’s assistance in setting up and cleaning up after the meeting. If you are interested in being our Hospitality volunteer, please contact president, Nancy Dolan.

Meeting 7–9pm

VFW Park Post 3579

10 West Higgins Road

Park Ridge, IL   60068

Bead Challenge Announced for October

The bead challenge this year will be the Arts and Crafts Movement in American (1890–1920). All bead challenge entries are due at the regular October 9 meeting. 

The movement was linked to the British Movement and to the work of William Morris and architect-designers of the time. William Morris never designed jewelry, but was a designer and a socialist. Mass marketing had begun and factories started to produce goods. Morris hated everything that came out because it was stamped and looked the same. He wanted people to go back to creating handmade goods. Due to the terrible conditions of the factories, he wanted to go back to the guild system.

Chicago’s Arts and Crafts Society began at Hull House, one of the first American settlement houses for social reform, in October 1891. Craftspeople worked in various media such as woodwork, pottery, textiles and metalwork reflecting the harmony of simply treated material and minimal decoration. The first American Arts and Crafts Exhibition began on April 5, 1897 in Boston. It featured more than 1000 objects made by 160 craftspeople, half of whom were women.

Women fashioned jewelry in the Arts and Crafts mode. Stones were chosen for their artistic qualities. Silver, copper and brass were favored over gold. Alternative materials were used. Baroque pearls and misshapen pearls were used over the round pearls commonly used in mainstream jewelry. Abalone, coral, glass and enamel pieces were also used.

Google for more details.
Furniture — Frank Lloyd Wright; Charles Rohifs; Gustav Stickley
Pottery — Moravian; Grieby Faience Co.; Newcomb; Marblehead; Teco; Rockwood; Pewabic
Art Tiles — Ernest Batchelder
Lamp Shades and Stained Glass — Frank Lloyd Wright; Louis Comfort Tiffany
Jewelry — Florence Koehler; Marie Zimmerman; Grace Hazen; Madeline Yale Wynne; Florence K. Koehler; Josephine Hartwell Shaw; Margaret Rogers; Elizabeth Ethel Copeland; Janet Payne Bowles 

Meetings 2nd Wednesdays 7–9pm

VFW Park Post 3579

10 West Higgins Road

Park Ridge, IL   60068

April 10, Rich and Linda Dillon Dichroic Glass Fusing Artists

Rich and his wife Linda were introduced to dichroic glass while she was taking a fusing class. Rich soon caught the “dichroic” bug himself trying to recreate “dichroic opals” and is now working directly with 3 dichroic coaters to create new and different effects in dichroic glass. 

About 8 years ago, Rich developed and taught the first glass fusing classes at The Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles. After completing their studio in 2004, he left the Fine Line and now teaches out of their studio. He has taught glass fusing classes at William Holland since 2005 and Linda began assisting him there last year.   

Together they create unique fused glass used in jewelry pieces that are now in shops and galleries in the Midwest. 

Until we find a hospitality volunteer, the BSGC will no longer provide coffee and tea at the meetings. We are asking members, who’s last name begin with N–S, to bring a treat to this meeting. We ask everyone’s assistance in setting up and cleaning up after the meeting.

Meeting 7–9pm

VFW Park Post 3579

10 West Higgins Road

Park Ridge, IL   60068

March 13 Amy Taylor, metalsmith with an emphasis on hinges

Combining many things she finds inspiring, Amy Taylor fuses her intense interests in architecture, history, music and whimsy into every piece of jewelry she creates. Amy’s jewelry involves the use of simple geometrically based shapes and emphasizes the use of unusual hinges to set her work apart.
 

“I love taking notice of every form of design, from lace to lunch boxes. I love campy and classy. I try to envelop both in my work.”

Come see Amy's beautiful work at this meeting. 

Until we find a hospitality volunteer, the BSGC will no longer provide coffee and tea at the meetings. We are asking members, who’s last name begin with G–M, to bring a treat to this meeting. We ask everyone’s assistance in setting up and cleaning up after the meeting.

Meeting 7–9pm

VFW Park Post 3579

10 West Higgins Road

Park Ridge, IL   60068

Feb 13 Ofilia Cinta, glass artist and Venetophile

Ofilia Cinta is a lampworker who’s quest to learn more about the roots of lampworking, lead her to travel to Murano, Italy, to study with Lucio Bubacco. What started as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity soon turned into a yearly adventure to the land she considers the Mecca of art glass. For someone who is enamored by the glass arts, and knowing some history of its evolution, connecting to Murano came naturally. Add a thirst for travel abroad and a desire to learn about people and culture, it’s a match made in heaven.

Over the years, the student phase of Ofilia’s travels turned into becoming a recruiter for other students to turn them on to the wonders of Murano. On non-class days, she organizes visits to furnace studios, a mosaic factory in Venice, a chandelier atelier, a mirror making factory, gold foil making factory, and countless lampwork artists personal studios.  

Ofilia will present a selection of visual images that have become her permanent memory keepers as well as bringing some artifacts made by her talented array of glass masters.

Until we find a hospitality volunteer, the BSGC will no longer provide coffee and tea at the meetings. We are asking members, who’s last name begin with A–F, to bring a treat to this meeting. We ask everyone’s assistance in setting up and cleaning up after the meeting.

Meeting 7–9pm

VFW Park Post 3579

10 West Higgins Road

Park Ridge, IL   60068

Jan 9 Demetrios Papaioannou, business consultant

Demetrios has been the business manager and agent for Medusa’s Stones since its inception in 2001 and will share his knowledge on managing and marketing a small bead business.

He is a licensed CPA and a certified Salesforce Administrator with a BS in Accounting & Statistics and a MS in Information Systems. He currently manages customer billing, financial reporting and sales support for the Tribune Company.

Demetrios has been providing web development and business support services to small business in Chicago for a number of years. He has done the presentation in association with SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), part of the SBA. Demetrios also ran his own online book and music business since 2002.

Recently, Demetrios began creating his own fused glass jewelry line to complement Medusa’s Stones product lines. 

The BSGC will no longer provide coffee and tea at the meetings since we have no Hospitality volunteer at this time. We are asking members, who’s last name begin with T–Z, to bring a treat to this meeting. We ask everyone’s assistance in setting up and cleaning up after the meeting.

Meeting 7–9pm

VFW Park Post 3579

10 West Higgins Road

Park Ridge, IL   60068

Holiday Party Wed Dec 12

Our Holiday Party will be held on Wednesday, December 12 at our usual meeting spot, the VFW in Park Ridge. Come and join the fun, including good food, great raffle prizes, our annual silent auction and visiting with other bead friends.

Dinner will again be catered by Corky’s Catering and will cost $15 per member and $17 per guest. The menu includes herbed chicken and Italian beef, baked potato salad with bacon and cheddar, bow-tie pasta with tomato and feta, honey coleslaw and marshmallow fruit salad. Dessert is a sweet tray of brownies and cookies. Coffee and tea will be provided. All other beverages will be purchased at the VFW bar.

We’ll also be having a silent auction, so plan now on your donation. Everyone must bring at least one item. You may choose to de-stash some beads, stringing supplies, a tube of beads or bead storage items. Anything bead related is great, but no magazines please. Don’t forget to arrive a bit early to set up your items for the silent auction.

Our fundraising raffle will also take place. This evening is our biggest fundraiser so come ready with cash and checkbooks to purchase raffle tickets and bid on your favorite auction item. again having a member-to-member sale of beadwork, jewelry and loose beads. This is a casual sale where trading or just showing your work is also accepted. It will be open to the public and a great opportunity to for early holiday shopping. 

You’ll need to RSVP in advance so we can be sure to order enough food. You may pay by cash or check at the Sept, Oct or Nov meetings or mail payment to Marcia Schori, 1307 W. Talcott Rd., Park Ridge, IL. 60068. RSVP and payment must be received by Nov. 23. 

Socializing and silent auction setup — 6pm
Dinner — 7pm

VFW Park Post 3579
10 West Higgins Road
Park Ridge, IL 60068