The Ottawa Bead Society is a group of beading enthusiasts who meet once a month year-round to share their passion for beads and beading of all kinds.
We meet on the 3rd Sunday of every month (except December, when it is now the 2nd Sunday) at the Tanglewood Park Community Centre, 30 Woodfield Drive (West of Merivale), in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada). The doors are open at 1:00 p.m., but the meeting doesn't start until 1:30. We're usually clearing up by about 3:30.
- Share our knowledge and ideas
- Learn from each other
- Show off our work
- See what others have done
- Be inspired
- Inspire others
- Visit with others who share our enthusiasm for anything to do with beads.
- Lampwork beads
- All kinds of seed-bead techniques
- Beading with gemstones and pearls
- Chain maille
- Wire work
- Alternative materials
- Jewellery
- Bead embroidery
- Sculptural work
- Bead history
- And more!
At our meetings, we have had technique days, speakers, presentations, and group discussions about tools, books, portfolios, and more. We meet year 'round. (In the summer we still have meetings, but with no formal programming.) Our meetings are open for anyone to attend, and you are welcome to come as a guest to meet some of us and see what we're all about. We're always glad to see new faces!
Upcoming meetings:
October 16, 2011 - This month, we'll be talking about displaying our work, and using displays and accessories for shows.
There will also be speakers from Operation Come Home and the Odawa Native Friendship Centre to tell us about their programs that use beads. If you have any unwanted beads that you are willing to donate to their programs, please bring them along. Are there beads you bought before changing directions that you just don't seem to use anymore? Too many of something you bought in bulk? They can be put to good use!
November 20, 2011 - Techniques Day
December 11, 2011 - Christmas Cheer
January 15, 2012 - Jacquie Lecuyer, Doll Artist and Announce Bead Challenge
February 19, 2012 - Canada Beading Supply Valentine Sale and Talk
March 18, 2012 - Techniques Day 2
April 15, 2012 - Special Event: Marilyn Gardner
May 20, 2012 - Reveal of Bead Challenge
June 17, 2012 - Bead & Craft Sale
July 22, 2012 - informal get-together, no official programming
August 19, 2012 - informal get-together, no official programming
Scented products can cause serious problems for some members, so please be sensitive to this and avoid wearing perfume or other fragrances to the meeting.
If the weather is wet or snowy, please bring some indoor shoes or slippers along -- please don't wear your boots into the meeting room so that we don't have as much mopping up to do after the meeting
Winter Storm Policy: In the event of a significant storm on a meeting date, if the road conditions are hazardous and there is an advisory out to avoid unnecessary travel, the Ottawa Bead Society meeting will be cancelled that month. If a storm has ended, and the roads are clearing up, the meeting will go ahead, although some of the people farther away may not wish to travel, so the meeting might be a little smaller. If you are not sure whether or not the meeting is going ahead, check back here for an update.
Our membership year starts and ends in September.
Dues are $35/year, and starting at the March meeting, they are reduced to $20 for the remainder of the membership year.
As mentioned above, guests are welcome at our meetings, so feel free to come and see what we're all about before you join.
For more information, or to be notified of upcoming meeting topics, contact:
The clickable email address above requires javascript, but in case you cannot see it, the address is simply "info" at our domain name (ottawabeadsociety.org)
Looking for the Toronto Bead Society Web page? You can find it here: http://www.torontobeadsociety.org