​The November meeting of the Bead Society will focus on Fire Mountain Gems and Beads. This Grants Pass, Oregon company has been a favorite among Bead Society members for many years. Their catalogs are famous for being kept for years because of pictures of finished jewelry and projects one could attempt!  In addition to all their gems, beads, findings, etc., they also have useful educational materials! 

In lieu of a speaker, we will be exploring the FMG website and pointing out treasures and "gems" in more meanings than one. In particular, they have a very nice LEARN section on their website with tutorials, and patterns and step by step instructions!

Wednesday  November 1st, 7 pm Pacific Time
Zoom Meeting ID: 899 883 2615, Passcode: Beads 
All are welcome! ​Join us! 
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Business meeting at 6:30 pm PT at the same Zoom address! ​

​One of our members is now also part of another group that she would like us to know about. Diana Friedberg has joined the Ethnic Arts Council which is a group in Los Angeles which celebrates the ethnic arts and which includes beads, of course. They have an active and very interesting membership with lots of talks and visits to wonderful homes with great collections. 
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People can browse and see if they are interested in being part of the group. It also extends knowledge of ethnic arts and puts beads in the highlight. I am trying to emphasize the importance of beads in the overall picture as well, so it could be informative for our bead members to help spread the word within the group.

Diana says they have a great once a year dinner at the Fowler Museum at UCLA with a silent auction. It is a really mixed group of males and females who are all hospitable and generous in sharing knowledge and homes. Their website is  https://ethnicartscouncil.org/

Submitted by Diana Friedberg, past president, The Bead Society.

This new column on Beads in the News will highlight articles and press releases and news items that focus on beads and jewelry. If you would like to contribute to this column, please send your input to admin@beadsocietyla.org. ​

The Living, Breathing Brooches of the Yucatán by ROXANNE HOORN, Atlas Obscura SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
The live, jewel-encrusted beetles called maquechs are tied to an ancient Mayan legend, but some worry for their future. This article talks about these wonderful bejewelled beetles from Yucatán, Mexico. Sold to tourists, the beetles are attached with a pin and a chain. They scurry all over the wearer's blouse. They are adorned with fake diamonds, ruby, emeralds, pearls, or velvety fabric. The beetles can go months or years without eating.  The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. has a collection of these beetles with and without adornment! 
For more information, click on this link to Atlas Obscura. 

Dusting Off Your Pearls, New York Times, September 9, 2023, p. A3.
The New York Times advises us that Peals are back in and even men are wearing them! 

If you have ideas for this column, please send your input to admin@beadsocietyla.org. ​
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