plus a sampling of different
media, such as wire, silver clay,
micro-macrame, 3-dimentional
beadwork, mixed-media, soldering and bead embroidery.
Books may be checked out for a
month, two at a time.
Speakers, classes, special
events, community outreach
and the organization’s affiliation
to the MIM, are possible thanks
to the proceeds of SDBS’ Annual Bead Bazaar. While the
Bazaar —held the first weekend
of August at the Scottish Rite
Events Center, in San Diego—
has grown in size from the one
day event it started as in 1999,
it still retains the friendliness
and quality of the show to the
delight of bead enthusiasts and
vendors some of which have
been participating in the show
since day one.
been fundamental in helping the
Mingei open its new permanent
bead gallery on the museum’s
second floor which contains
selections from the Mingei’s
inherited collection of beads
from the former Bead Museum
of Glendale, Arizona.
The SDBS is also proud of its
Bazaar proceeds have also
8| October-November | RitzyToo! | RitzyToo.com
community involvement throughout the
years. In addition
to the yearly donation it makes to the
Mingei, it has also
provided funding,
and its members
volunteered time
to, worthy organizations such as Beads
of Courage, for use
in their San Diego
program for children
with cancer; Angel
Faces, a local organization that works
with girls with facial
disfigurements; the
Buchanan District Library in Michigan, for
craft classes; and to
help Saraguro beaders from Ecuador attend the
International folk art market in
Santa Fe to sell their beadwork.
Presently, the Society is pursuing the possibility of teaching beading classes to military
spouses as a way to give
thanks and help those that
serve us.