In this action-packed class we are teaming up with Meredith Roddy from Beadalon to bring you an advanced looming technique! We will create a gorgeous bugle band bracelet with a loomed button closure. Previous experience looming will be helpful in preparation for this class. We will briefly cover setting up the loom and how to loom, but the focus of class is on using the Czech Seed Bead Bugles, and the creation of a loomed-in button closure. There are past classes in the jewelry section that focus on setting up the loom and basic looming.
The Recorded Class is here.
About our Instructor Danielle Wickes
Danielle Wickes is a Designer and Content Creator for John Bead. She specializes in working with seed beads, bead-weaving, and looming, creating hand-knotted mala and yoga jewelry, crochet, and jewelry made with leather and wire.
SEPTEMBER 30 is ORANGE SHIRT DAY: Every Child Matters
In Canada, September 30th has been declared Orange Shirt Day annually, in recognition of the harm the residential school system did to children’s sense of self-esteem and well being, and as an affirmation of our commitment to ensure that everyone around us matters.
The Orange Shirt Society is a non-profit organization with its home in Williams Lake, BC where Orange Shirt Day began in 2013. We have both Indigenous and non-Indigenous board members. The purposes of our society are as follows:
To support Indian Residential School Reconciliation
To create awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of Indian Residential Schools through Orange Shirt Society activities
To create awareness of the concept of “Every Child Matters”
The orange shirt has become a much bigger symbol and wearing orange to honour and remember the Indigenous children who were taken to residential schools is not limited to just September 30th.
Beaded orange t-shirt pins have been showcased on social media platforms for several years. They are often used as a fundraiser and it has become extremely important to highlight that these beaded items should be purchased from indigenous beaders and NOT from overseas manufacturers with no connection to the movement.
Earlier this summer we stumbled on a project PDF for the Orange Shirt Pin by Melissa. She was completely surprised by our email asking if we could share the resource, since she didn’t realize the PDF was online. After several emails Melissa allowed us to add a new cover to the project and share some information about her and her beadwork journey. Please take a moment to read her comments on page 2.
Follow Mel on Instagram to see her beadwork projects. (this author just purchased gorgeous earrings from her)
We also found a video project on YouTube and that lead us to “How To Make A Beaded Orange Shirt Pin with Jenny Blackbird.”
We reached out to Jenny about sharing this video resource with you. Jenny asked us to do two things:
The first thing: Share relevant Orange Shirt or Residential School survivor support links so people may learn more or donate if they are in a financial position to do so.
Her second request: was for bead support for a Residential School survivor group and we are taking care of this request this week.
Jenny also asked us to reinforce our earlier comment to support legitimate indigenous companies if you are looking for Orange Shirt Day products. The theft of art for companies profiting from t-shirts sales etc. is shameful. Jenny is on twitter.
Our company has purchased finished pins from Destiny Thomas Designs. Destiny is a Mohawk woman from Akwesasne, ON. Her website is filled with beautiful finished beadwork. If you follow her on Instagram you will also be inspired.
To further our company education on Orange Shirt Day and the history of residential schools in Canada we have purchased several copies of this new book. The book is designed as a textbook for students in Grades 5 and older, but it is an excellent resource for parents and the general public as well. You can purchase copies here.
Our company would also like to extend a heartfelt public thank you to Naomi Smith of Black Tulip Designs for the Indigenous History & Perspectives Workshop she presented at John Bead in July. It was our first event in a year and a half and an important one. Naomi continues to offer her advice and knowledge to our company with regards to how we might continue to help “not just on September 30, but for years to come.”
In closing, our company is proud to share this project PDF to make orange t-shirt pins with you today. Extra special thanks to Melissa Compton and Jenny Blackbird. Consider making extra pins to share with friends and family. Please do not make these for personal profit. If you make them for a fundraiser please donate 100% of your profit to a local indigenous organization or The Orange Shirt Society. They also have amazing resources online for teachers.
This is post one of several we will make this month. We have a fundraising initiative to announce shortly.
Indian Residential School Survivors and Family 1-866-925-4419
The Indian Residential Schools Crisis Line is available 24-hours a day for anyone experiencing pain or distress as a result of his or her Residential school experience.
Nichole first came to our attention through the first and then second BoHo embroidery books.
Nichole Vogelsinger is a self-taught fiber artist, stitcher, writer and teacher who has a weakness for lots of color and anything floral. From the minute we saw her embroidery art with thread, we wondered what would happen if she had our beads. We have our answer with this amazing beaded hoop.
Nichole’s creative journey began when, as a child, she would explore the local fabric shops with her mother. She developed a love for fiber arts and as an adult, hand embroidering printed fabrics became a favorite hobby. That hobby soon became an Instagram feed and then a book, Boho Embroidery (Lucky Spool, 2016) and then another book, Boho Embroidery: The Pattern Collection (Lucky Spool, 2018). She is the creator of the Boho Stitch Along, teacher of embroidery workshops and writer of her adventures in the world of stitchery at wildboho.com.
You can use this tutorial to sew a netted brooch made of PRECIOSA Rocailles with the PRECIOSA Terra Intensive surface finish.
Designer: Helena Chmelíková
The project step by step is here: Netted-Cockade
In this class we will explore basic crochet with beads to create a boho chic beaded pendant necklace with a convertible wear feature!
The Recorded Class is here.
About our Instructor Danielle Wickes
Danielle Wickes is a Designer and Content Creator for John Bead. She specializes in working with seed beads, bead-weaving, and looming, creating hand-knotted mala and yoga jewelry, crochet, and jewelry made with leather and wire.
[There are few motifs that say summer better than the cherry! ‘Course, being a former Wisconsinite, I’m partial to Door County for its cherries, just as Arizonans are partial to everything Prickly Pear! Enjoy this adorable and sparkly Preciosa crystal motif as a pendant (I’ve designed a built-in loop to hang it from a chain or satin cord) or simply as an element to brighten a shelf or niche!]
About Brenda Brenda is an artist, inventor, author, teacher, and coach, in whatever order that suits your need of her! Found objects and steel wire are her palette, which to her, pair like fine wines and lusciously delectable dinners. You may know her from her weekly Facebook Live Broadcasts: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaSchwederJewelry
She has written several books and has over 150+ published articles for the jewelry making world. She has also recorded workshop DVDs and other longer online classes. Her name is synonymous with the Now That’s a[Brand]! of wire jewelry making tools. Based in Southern Arizona, she works from her Sahuarita Casita, an adobe brick studio in the mountainous desert region close to the Mexican border. Subscribe to her blog for regular updates. Her YouTube page is here. Her Facebook page is here. Her Instagram page is here.
In this class we will learn herringbone round stitch and create an easy, two column rope bracelet in a cute, color block pattern. Grab your favorite John Bead Czech Seed bead mix in size 8/0 and let’s get stitching! Also in class, we will talk about fun ways to expand on this technique!
The Recorded Class is here.
About our Instructor Danielle Wickes
Danielle Wickes is a Designer and Content Creator for John Bead. She specializes in working with seed beads, bead-weaving, and looming, creating hand-knotted mala and yoga jewelry, crochet, and jewelry made with leather and wire.
Beaded orange t-shirt pins have been showcased on social media platforms for several years. They are often used as a fundraiser and it has become extremely important to highlight that these beaded items should be purchased from indigenous beaders and NOT from overseas manufacturers with no connection to the movement.
Our company would also like to extend a heartfelt public thank you to Naomi Smith of 
