[05/17/11] Last night's meeting was great fun - Sue Berryhill taught us the Kumihimo techinque of braiding and we enjoyed it so much we decided to place a bulk order for disks and bobbins. If you weren't at the meeting but would like to participate in the buy, let us know. Sue also has several beautiful rolls of thread, perfect for braiding, for sale.

Next month's meeting will be Monday, June 20th. Elizabeth Clark will show us how she makes resin jewelry. Her "Rebirth" entry won first place so you won't want to miss this demo.

Our theme for our next challenge - due in June - is Repurposed / Recycled. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

[05/15/11] Our May meeting is this Monday (May 16) at the Silver Willow Gallery. We will have a short workshop, led by Sue Berryhill, on "kumihimo," a Japanese technique of braiding with 4 up to 24 strands; we will have only 8. It can be used in many ways in jewelry-making, and is amazingly simple.

To learn kumihimo, you will need a special disk designed for doing kumihimo. A. C. Moore carries these, though they may be located in the children's crafts section. You can also order them on-line. Please note that there are round and square disks for kumihimo, and we will be using the ROUND ones.

You can also make your own disk; here are some links with instructions:

• Hot Tea Apparel
• Free printable template
• Craftster

Sometimes the disks are packaged with plastic bobbins that hold the strands of the braid. You can also use the cardboard holders sold for embroidery floss, or make your own. These are necessary so the strands don't get tangled up together.

You can use various types of fiber for kumihimo: nylon cord for micro-macrame, embroidery floss, pearl cotton, crochet cotton, yarn, etc. We will have braiding materials for you to choose from, or you can bring something of your own.

Hope to see you all there!

[05/15/11] Elizabeth Clark won our Rebirth Challenge with a flower and seed pendant encased in resin. See her design on our challenges page.

[04/10/11] Our next meeting is this Monday (April 18) at the Silver Willow Gallery in Hampden. Read our newsletter for all the details!

[04/05/11] Guild members past and present are invited to participate in the gallery's first Y'Art Sale on April 16, 2011.

What can you sell at this event? Well you can sell findings, beads, gemstones, slices, cabs, old jewelry or parts, display materials, craft items, scrapbooking materials, finished jewelry (new, seconds, shop worn or discontinued). So clean out those bins, boxes and cubbies!!

Contact Nancy Tang to register or call the gallery (941-9636) for more information.

[03/08/11] One of our guild members is hosting a bulk buy from Rio Grande this Wednesday. Contact Marsha or call the gallery with your order or if you need longer to decide what to buy. Silver price as of today is just over $35 an ounce.

[03-05-11] Our membership is growing! This month we welcome three new members - Brenda, Barbara, and Trevor. Everyone enjoyed the bronze clay project brought to us by Nancy Tang. And congratulations to Marsha for placing first in our Winter! challenge! Our next challenge is "ReBirth", in honor of Mother's Day.

[02-08-11] On Wednesday, February 9, Kristi Fowler-Eckman of Beads of Courage will meet with the guild to discuss ways our members can become involved in this worthwhile project. Beads of Courage is starting a new chapter in the Bangor area at EMMC, and we are very excited to join their program.

[02-03-11] At our next guild meeting on February 21, Nancy Tang, Retired Senior Instructor for PMC Connection will teach us how to make jewelry using bronze metal clay. We will require a small materials fee to cover the cost of the clay (less than $5). New members and visitors are welcome!

[01-11-11] At our January meeting, Sue Berryhill will teach us how to embellish a bead. If you have the following, please bring with you: seed beads, two or three 10mm or 12mm beads (or larger), and several 2mm or 3mm beads to use as embellishment. If you don't have these items, we can provide. If you've been thinking about joining us, this would be a great meeting to attend! (And you don't have to be a member to try us out!)

[01-08-11] Membership dues for 2011 are due in January. Win our Winter! challenge and use your gift certificate to pay your dues!

[01-07-11] Our next challenge is ... Winter! Judging will take place at the February meeting (02-21-11).

[11-29-10] Next month's meeting will include a silent auction of jewelry-related items. Proceeds from the auction support guild activites. Bring your items in on the 13th and we'll set things up during the meeting.

[11-22-10] Our This n' That challenge - to make a wearable piece of jewelry with odd ball items brought in by JAM members - was won by Deb Rollins. Congratulations Deb!

[09-20-10] Doris Ayotte won our All Buttoned Up challenge with a colorful necklace created out of old and used buttons.

[07-19-10] Donna Tumosa won The Color Orange challenge with this innovative bracelet made with handcrafted lampwork glass beads and sterling silver wire. She calls her creation A Lampwork Orange.

[05-17-10] Our Spring challenge - Fabric Jewelry - was won by Lisa Taylor with this fan necklace crafted from blue flowered fabric wrapped around plastic straws.