​Michele Manzella's Tassel Workshop is our September Bead Society Membership Meeting event to kick off the fiscal year. On September 8th at 7:15 pm we will hold the workshop in the Kaizuka room, Culver City Vet's Building. Please RSVP to Lisas@beadsocietyla.org if you WANT A SEAT!  Bring a friend and let her know if you have a plus one.  It is $5 to attend as a non-member.
 
Note from Michele:
I’m a problem solver and I like to work with customers who bring me a piece of jewelry that needs attention, especially an updated redesign. I make a lot of Grandmas happy in heaven that their jewelry is still being worn! My tassel craze started that way -- with a redesign that became an obsession. I used to dance for a living and taught dance & choreography. I think of tassels as having the beauty of the movement of dancers working in unison. I enjoy the creativity!
 
Michele will provide a complete list of supplies and tools needed for the workshop to those registered, but bring your beads and tools if you already make beaded jewelry. We will have some extra supplies from the Bead Shack. 

Joan Eppen, a long time member of the Bead Society passed away on May 30th, 2026. While she was not one of the founding members, she was definitely a long time member of the Bead Society. Joan was a past President and Treasurer of our organization. 

She was known for her wonderful collection of beads. And she also set up the Mystery Bead event that we often had at the in person meetings. She was very instrumental in the running of the twice yearly Bead Bazaars in the '80s and 90s. 

She was truly one of the early collectors of fine and rare beads.  Her knowledge was extensive and .  She gave her time and love to the Bead Society and will be remembered for her passion and reverence for beads and their history .  

Joan was a very positive person who made all the members feel welcome. She was a wonderful, gracious, and giving person. Thank you, Joan, for being a leader in sharing your  knowledge of the little things (beads) that we all love so much.

Her son said: 
My mom passed away at the age of 90, early Saturday morning. We are devastated, but have to remind ourselves that she'd lived a long, healthy life (still working out six days a week), with no pain, and "all her marbles" up until the end. We should all be so lucky.

​Rest in Peace, Joan! ​

At the last two Bead Society Program meetings for the year, we had workshops. The May and June meetings were both conducted by member, Sylvia Humphrey of Chunky by Design. In the May class, Sylvia led us through making asymmetrical necklaces with supplies that she had brought! We called the workshop, Walking in Another Artist's Shoes! That blog post shows some pictures of Sylvia's necklaces. She gave us an overview, and showed us many of the necklaces that she has created in the past. ​​It was a fun event as we looked at everything that people were working on. The goal was to complete a necklace and wear it to the next meeting. 

The group spent a lot of time picking out beads and objects from Sylvia's stash. Many of us had a hard time being asymmetrical, despite Sylvia's encouragement. Here are some works in progress pictures. 

In June, the theme was Wind Chimes! Sylvia led us through selecting beads and see our blog article, Wind Chimes for some samples. We had all sorts of supplies to choose from. It was a very creative evening! 

Here are the works in progress for the wind chimes!  

There are plans for a workshop at one of the fall Program Meeting on making Tassels. Be sure to check  out this blog for more details. 

​Our guest speaker/instructor, Sylvia Humphrey is continuing our creativity quest this month at our Tuesday, June 9th Bead Society Program Meeting. 

We will be creating a single strand wind chime but if you want to add additional strands to it you always can. 

This is reservation only because we need to plan for materials and tables. There will be limited space. 
Members have priority! Members will get an email, others can email bridgette@beadsocietyla.org to see if there are spots available. This will be in the Kaizuka Room of the Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland, Culver City at 7:00 pm.  

Things To Bring:
- Jewel tone Beads (Sylvia will bring some, but they may have special beads they want to include)
-Jewelry mat
-Black wax cord
    Or clear fishing line (15-20 lbs)
-Ring for the top
-Brass or silver wire 18 gauge 
     ( You may want to include some wired abstract designs) 
-Small decorative bell or crystal quartz for the bottom

 Those who took the previous workshop should bring in their finished piece for the fashion show!
​
The Business Meeting will be at 6:30 pm on Zoom as well as in person. The meeting itself is in person only! So be sure to join us!  

Topic: TBS June Business Meeting
Time: June 9, 2026 6:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 899 883 2615
Passcode: Beads

​Be sure to check us out at the Fiesta of Gems in Culver City, June 27-28, 2026. 

Walking in Another Artist's Shoes!

​Our guest speaker/instructor, Sylvia Humphrey is going to lead a "make and take" workshop at our Tuesday, May 12th Bead Society Program Meeting. She will talk a little about her artwork, but we will all get to make a Chunky By Design art piece or creation. Everyone brings their own tools and spare chunky or unique beads and decorations. We will supply some art materials as well.

This is reservation only because we need to plan for materials and tables. There will be limited space. 
Members have priority! Members will get an email, others can email president@beadsocietyla.org to see if there are spots available. This will be in the Kaizuka Room of the Veterans Memorial Complex, 4117 Overland, Culver City at 7:15 pm.  

Here is what you need to bring: 
Supplies

-Jewelry mat (so beads don't roll off table)
-tools (pliers, cutter, needle nose, scissors, hole punch if making leather necklace)
-their own large beads or ethnic beads and pendants but I will have some beads to select or add to
-Closure (S hook, lobster claw, etc)
- heavy duty beading wire (49 strands)
- glue E6000
-crimping pliers
-crimp tubes #2
-jump rings close and open
- waxed cotton cord 
- thin leather cord

If you do not want to participate, you would be free to observe. Be sure to indicate that on the RSVP. 

So step out of your comfort zone! Walk on the wild side! It will be great fun and collaborative!

We will carry this over to the June 9th meeting by making a beaded wall art creation or beaded wind chimes.

Elections are taking place at this meeting. If you can't attend in person, be sure to log in via Zoom to vote. 
​
Topic: TBS May Business Meeting
Time: May 12, 2026 6:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Meeting ID: 899 883 2615
Passcode: Beads

Surprising Facts about Pearls
​The April Program Meeting of the Bead Society will be held in person in the Uruapan Room of the Veterans Memorial Building in Culver City on Tuesday, April 7th at 7:00 pm Pacific Time. Normally we meet on the first Wednesday of the month, but due to holidays and scheduling, we’ll meet on Tuesday! Our speaker will be in person only, no Zoom. 
 
We welcome back Renee Newmann, author and gemologist. She spoke last year about Diamonds!  She will regale us with some fascinating information about Pearls! Here’s a taste:
A 112-carat abalone pearl was found in Sonoma County, California in 1990 by the late Wesley Rankin. After the pearl was appraised at $144,000 by John Latendresse, Wes decided to go into the natural pearl business and started the Pacific Coast Pearls company.
Abalone fishing has been illegal in California since 2018 in order to save the dwindling population of abalone. However, it is still allowed in Baja California, Mexico during non-spawning months. Besides briefly discussing natural pearls from California and Mexico, Renée’s PowerPoint presentation will also include other topics such as

• The American pearl rush
• The highest priced pearls
• Bead nucleated freshwater pearls
• South Sea pearls that resemble Chinese freshwater baroque pearls and how to distinguish them
• How Australia became the first country to produce cultured saltwater round pearls
• How pearl oysters improve our atmosphere and the oceans.

Renee Newman GG (GIA) is the author of 16 books on jewelry and gems. Her interest in pearls developed when she was an international tour director and visited Japan, China, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and French Polynesia. After obtaining her GG from GIA, she became a gemologist and jewelry control manager for the Josam Diamond Trading Corporation in downtown Los Angeles. Even though their focus was on diamonds, they realized that mounting diamonds with colored gems and pearls gave them a wider variety of jewelry to sell and higher profit margins. Armed with trade experience and gemological credentials, Newman decided to create books that helped readers visually evaluate the quality of gems.

Her latest book is Pearls: Their History, Sources, Types & Qualities. The books will be available for sale at the meeting for a discounted price. Bring cash or check. You can access more information about Renée and her books here. You can also connect with her on Instagram @reneenewmangg and Facebook. 
 
The Bead Society will bring some of their pearls from the Bead Shack if you are interested in looking at them! The Business Meeting will be at 6:30 pm on Zoom as well as in person. The meeting itself is in person only! So be sure to join us!  

Topic: TBS April Business Meeting
Time: Apr 7, 2026 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting, (business meeting only)

Meeting ID: 899 883 2615
Passcode: Beads

Thanks to Renee Newmann for the pictures and text. 
 
*1 Bead-nucleated Chinese freshwater pearls (3–3.5mm), which became available in 2022. Pearls and photo from Betty Sue King of Kings Ransom.
 
*2. A 112-carat abalone pearl was found in Sonoma County, California in 1990 by the late West Rankin. Photo from Pacific Coast Pearls.

​The March 4th Bead Society Program Meeting will be a Sharing Session on Zoom for attendees to showcase their Earrings and/or Bracelet designs. All are welcome to participate.

You can show and tell by holding up your objects. Or you can send pictures to Kay and she will put them in a slide show for viewing. Or you can share your desktop, and treat viewers to some of your work! You can be prepared to discuss the design and fabrication of your medium, challenges and successes.  It will be an educational experience for all! 

Join Zoom Meeting
Topic: March Program Meeting
Time: Mar 4, 2026 6:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 899 883 2615
Passcode: Beads

TBS Business meeting at 6:30 pm.  Join us! 

The February 4th Program Meeting of the Bead Society is going to feature the African Twilight. Some of you will remember that we had a Gala event back in 2019 with Alan Donovan from Africa introducing the video. We are celebrating Black History Month by revisiting this video! The two women, Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher traveled all over Africa for over 45 years. They produced 17 books about various aspects of their travels. We will be showcasing a talk the two women did in 2022 at the GLEX Summit (Global Exploration Summit). Their two volume book, African Twilight will be available to peruse!

We will be meeting both in person and on Zoom. 
Veterans Memorial Complex, Senior Center, Room C71, 7 pm
The Senior Center is at 4095 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA . It is just across the street from the Vets Memorial Building. Parking is available in the lot behind the building.  

​Feb 4th, 7 pm PT
Zoom information is Meeting ID: 899 883 2615, Passcode: Beads.
TBS Business meeting at 6:15 pm.  Join us! 

Some additional resources from YouTube and the web:

African Twilight: Vanishing Rituals & Ceremonies - Angela Fisher & Carol Beckwith
Cuyamungue Institute
An interview with the two women with staff from the Cuyamungue Institute and guests. 
2 hours, 23 minutes

Interview: Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher | National Geographic
A clever feast spares the lives of photographers Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher during a harrowing trip to Surmaland near the Ethiopian-Sudanese border.
6.23 minutes

African Twilight GALA NIGHT OF THE CENTURY
The documentary by Reality media Online of he spectacular launch of the double volume book of the vanishing rituals and ceremonies of the African continent by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher, with a carnival of Music, dance, costume and fashion created from vanishing handwoven and printed textiles of African continent. African Heritage House, Mar 3, 2019. This was the documentary we viewed by DVD back in 2019. 
1 hour, 3 minutes

AFRICAN TWILIGHT: VANISHING RITUAL & CEREMONIES - Carol Beckwith & Angela Fisher
GLEX Summit 2022
This is the video we watched during the meeting, 

Africa Online Museum
Würzburg, Germany

​You can find other interviews with Carol and Angela by searching by their names. 

​The Upper Midwest Bead Society (UMBS), TOHO Beads, The Japanese Beading Association, TeamTOHO, and Lotus Beads and Jewelry are joining forces to take the TOHO Peace Chain Project to new lengths by actually connecting them together and creating the longest beaded Peace Chain in the world!  UMBS is inviting us to participate! 

"There are many ways you can join our Peace Chain Project. We have a one-year goal. We would like everyone around the world to gather together friends, family, and new and old acquaintances to join us in this monumental effort by working together to make a one-mile-long beaded Peace Chain with the goal of promoting peace."

"We hope you will think peaceful thoughts as you enjoy making these rings, thereby infusing the rings themselves with calm and happy feelings."

"Your segments of chain will be connected to ours throughout the year to create 1 mile of chain. This chain will stretch all the way around the Mall of America! We invite you to come from all over the world to the Mall of America on August 6th, 2026, to bring segments of your Peace Chain with you and join us to commemorate the Day of Peace for a "Grand Connection." During this event, we will connect all of the remaining Peace Chain segments together."

So, the Bead Society is proposing that we have some Beading gatherings where we can work on the Peace Rings. Each ring is very small, and doesn't use a lot of beads. The directions are fairly straightforward. You don't need to know any elaborate stitches. There is even a YouTube video. The Bead Society has lots of colors of seed beads we can employ. If you are interested, you can contact Kay at kayd at beadsocietyla.org.  If you would like to host one of these events, let us know. 

The January 7th TBS Program Meeting will feature Margie Akin talking about Collecting from an Anthropologist's Point of View. Margie has an extensive background in teaching at UC Riverside, CSU San Bernadino and the University of Redlands. Margie is a Cultural and Linguistic Services Specialist. 

The event will be in person, and on Zoom. We will be meeting in the Uruapan room of the Veterans Memorial Building at 7:00 pm PT.  Zoom information is Meeting ID: 899 883 2615, Passcode: Beads.  

Beads have been collected since women and men walked the earth. "Beads were probably the first durable ornaments humans possessed ... " *

TBS Business meeting at 6:30 pm.  Join us! 

*Liu, Robert K, Foreword, The History of Beads: from 100,000 B.C. to the Present. Dubin, Lois Sherr. Abrams: New York, rev ed., 2009,