December 8, 2011 Holiday Party Reservations

Dinner Reservations

Member $10.00 Non-Member $12.00

October 12, 2011 Guest Speaker

Leslie Speicher, lampwork beads and glass artist www.laspeicherart.bigcartel.com Leslie is currently the Head of the Glass Department at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, IL where she also teaches and makes her work. She received her BFA from Alfred University and her MFA from University of Illinois Champaign- Urbana. She has taught at universities and art centers in the US and Canada. Leslie has exhibited her work nationally in galleries, museums and art centers and is currently selling her work to individuals, at art shows, in galleries and on e-sites. Her Etsy address is www.etsy.com/shop/ LASpeicherArt.

September 14, 2011 Guest Speaker!

Vanessa Walilko, wearable art maker www.kalibutterfly.com Vanessa has been making jewelry for the past twenty years and has spent the past two years making it her career. Her beadwork and chainmaille jewelry have appeared in Step by Step Wire Jewelry, Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist, Bead&Button and Bead Magazine. Her wearable art pieces have been featured in national exhibitions and won international awards. Vanessa will be talking about her chainmaille and beadwork and her journey towards making art her career.

Holiday Party Silent Auction

We’ll be having a silent auction again at our Holiday Party, 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 seed 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, too! Our fund raising raffle will also take place. If you wish to donate a completed piece of jewelry worth $75 or more, please contact Nancy Dolan. Come ready to purchase raffle tickets for your favorite item. Looking for fun, food, and a good time to be had by all. See you there!

Holiday Party Date Set! Mark Your Calendars!

Our Holiday Party will be held on Thursday, December 8 at our usual meeting spot, the VFW in Park Ridge at 7pm. Come and join the fun including good food, great raffle prizes, our annual silent auction and socializing with other bead friends. Dinner will be catered by Corky’s Catering and will cost $10 per member and $12 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. All beverages will be purchased at the VFW bar. 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, through our website via PayPal, or mail payment to P.O. Box 8103, Wilmette, IL 60091- 8103. All payments must be received by November 21.

2011 Bead Challenge

The Bead Challenge theme this year is "Shades of Gray" and projects are due at the start of the October 12 meeting. Anything qualifies - jewelry, beads, sculptural pieces—as long as it’s in "shades of gray." So put your thinking caps on and your hands to work on this challenging project. New member, Maija Steele, has volunteered to run this year’s challenge. What a great way to get involved in the group!