NO EMAIL--THANK YOU EARTHLINK

I really wanted to keep this blog about happy stuff like beding and knitting but I am so spitting mad about this that I have to spill the beans. First, we will have no email access for 24-48 BUSINESS hours, so I can't answer anyone's email.
In December mybusiness website went over its allowed data transfer allowance for the first and only time in 3 years. Eathlink did not send me the promised email when my data transfer level reached 80% of the month's allowance, they did not shut down the website ,they did not even look into the fact that the majority of traffic was coming from countries like Hungary and Lithuania; they just charged me over $282. I tried to get the matter resolved with Earthlink but all theemployee in India would say was "if the computer says it is so, it is right." You can't get hold of a supervisor, you can't email anyone in charge, and their website says do not send mail unless you are cancelling your account.
So I disputed the overcharge with Visa. Today Earthlink shut down both my business account and our personal account in retaliation. I could only activate the accounts again by giving them another credit card so that they can charge me the $282 in dispute. Before I gave them the new credit card number the reprsentative said they would issue me a credit for the disputed amount as a one-time courtesy. After I gave a different representative the credit card number, he said that he would "try" to get me a credit for the disputed amount. It will now take 24-48 BUSINESS days to get the account reactivated--that means 3-6 actual days.
The fact that the service is crummy is bad enough but add this incident to the ones this summer when Earthlink kept trying to get us to pay our monthly bills 6 months in advance and it looks like it is time to change service providers.
Now I have to go write another letter to Visa telling them that Earthlink got their money back another way. At least I can prevent them from contesting the charge-back and getting my money three times.

SHEILA PEPE, FIBER ARTIST

Our speaker at this month's Textile Study Group of New York meeting was an artist from Brooklyn named Sheila Pepe. Ms. Pepe uses crochet to create large installations. She doesn't have a website but you can view some of her pieces here http://www.balckbird.vcu.edu/v2n1/gallery/pepe_s/slides/strings/htm , google her to see more images, or visit her facebook page.

BSGNY GARAGE SALE

The Bead Society of Great New York is holding their annual Garage Sale on February 24, 2010 in the Great Hall at FIT. Doors open at 6:00PM. It is a fun event and a great place to pick up more beads and books at reasonable prices. I will have a table there. For more details, go to http://www.nybead.org

NEW COLD INCLUSION BEADS

Michael Harrington, a fellow bead artist, informally showed off his latest creations at the Janaury meeting of the Bead Society of Great New York on Wednesday. I was familiar with Michael's paper beads, like those that make up the blue portions of the pens shown at the left, but he is going in a different direction with the new beads.

Michael is adding shiny things to a clear substance to create what he calls cold inclusion beads like

the bead on the right. This bead measures about 7/8" long.










He had the pink beads below at the meeting and the photo does not do them justice; the actual bead is sparkly and eye-catching.

Two other beads with small beads and sequins encased in a clear substance.

Michael also makes beautiful velvet scarves with long fringe decorated with his paper beads. Here is a red one that he was displaying at his table at the Bead Society's holiday dinner.

You can see more of his beads and check out prices at http://www.beadsbymichael.com/. Also visit http://www.thanksmikie.com/ to see his pens with paper beads and read his bio. Michael is a mulit-talented guy who has worked for NASA as a research engineer, sung with the San Francisco Opera Company, acted on shows on NBC, ABC, and PBS, and now makes beads.

CASHMERE SWEATERS IN NINE

Did anyone notice two cashmere sweaters--this white one and a black version-- on Marion Cotillard in the movie "Nine?" Did anyone see "Nine?" I knit the two sweaters and caught a glimpse of the white one in a commercial for the movie but haven't seen the film yet. With times being so uncertain, we decided that it was silly to spend the money to see "Nine" in a theater if I was just going to buy the DVD later. I am however, curious about how much my sweaters got worn.

LOIS SHERR DUBIN LECTURE

Lois Sherr Dubin will be speaking at the next meeting of the Textile Study Group of New York. For those who don't know her, she is the author of "The History of Beads from 30,000 B.C. to the Present", a comprehensive, illustrated history of beads that explores the use of beads as talismans, religious symbols, mediums of communication, and expressions of art. The book has been updated and was republished in October, 2009. I have heard her speak a number of times and have always been entertained as well as informed. Her are the details:

WHEN: Wednesday, January 20, 2010
WHERE: Community Church of New York Unitarian Universalist, New York, NY
40 E 35th St. between Park and Madison
Entrance at street level on the far right ofthe church itself; doorway marked #40
ADMISSION: $10 for guests unaffiliated with other textile organizations
$5 for members of other textile organizations

The Textile Study Group of New York's website is http://www.tsgny.org

BOOK SIGNING AND STRINGING CLASS

My friend Yoshie Marubashi is doing a book signing for her new book Stringing Pearls, the Professional Way and teaching an accompanying stringing class in Manhattan on Sunday, January 17, 2010. Here is the information:

DATE: January 17, 2010 2:00-5:00PM

LOCATION: Kinokuniya Book Store, Second Floor
1073 6th Avenue (between W 41 St and
(W 42nd St)
New York, NY
Telephone: (212) 869-1700

FEE: $20 per student

TO REGISTER: Contact Ms. Kanako Hiyama

MATERIALS TO BRING:

• 1 strand of 8mm pearls or beads and a clasp for the necklace. If you don't have a clasp, bring 2 strands for a longer necklace without a clasp.
• Beading awl. If you don't have it, you can purchase one at the workshop for $5.
• Sewing kit, work mat or thick cloth to prevent beads from rolling, small scissors, tape measure, and glue or clear nail polish.

INSTRUCTOR WILL PROVIDE:

• Beading needle
• Guide thread #00 silk thread
• Stringing thread (silk, nylon)

Kinokuniya Book Store will be selling Stringing Pearls, The Professional Way by Yoshie Marubashi (in Japanese and English) and Yoshie will be signing copies. If you wanted to learn how to string pearls, this is a way to learn from an expert.