The R&T Extra! July 2007
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The R&T Extra! July 2007 |
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Subscribe/unsubscribe to this e-mail newsletter In this issue: |
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E-Mail Changes: We've Upgraded Our System
Current customers who signed up for our newsletter before July 2007 will continue to receive information about invitation-only BeadTour shows that come to your part of the country. If you are a current customer and would like to make sure you receive e-mail invitations to our BeadTour shows, simply let your salesperson know, or check the "BeadTour Invitations" box when placing an online order. While we believe we've got exciting news to share, we also understand that excessive e-mail can be a burden. That's why we only send information to people who ask for it! If you're receiving unwanted e-mail from us, you can unsubscribe from our sale flyers and/or newsletter quickly and simply by following the links at the bottom of your e-mail, or logging into our main subscription center. For more information about our e-mailing operations, see our privacy policy. |
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Artistic Abacus: Bead Weaving Used to Teach Art and Math Here's some math for you. For over two years, almost 2500 students at 22 different schools in Idaho, Oregon and Washington have worked their way towards weaving one million beads. And, in April 2007, they reached their goal! Artist Jeanne Leffingwell conceived of and oversaw the Million Bead Project™. She explains on the project's Web site that the "unprecedented project helps us consider our place in an increasingly complex world where large numbers bombard us from everywhere. But we have little concept of what they actually mean." Important educational features of the project include:
Once an individual school completed its beaded bands, students combined the bands into a mosaic panel. After all 22 participating schools together reached the one-million-beads goal, individual school's panels were joined together in a massive final mosaic, representing a "monumental and interconnected whole." This collective mosaic – which looks like a gigantic, colorful beaded quilt – is on display at University of Idaho's Prichard Art Gallery (in downtown Moscow, Idaho) through mid-July, 2007. All beads used are size 6/0 glass beads. The collective mosaic on display contains 29 panels from 22 participating schools, plus a few participating artists. The total number of beads in the exhibit tallies exactly 1,112,711. Leffingwell says one thing everyone in the project learned is that "a million is a lot!" Individual panels will return to their participating schools once the exhibit is taken down. A few selected panels were sold as fundraising for an exchange program that Leffingwell and Moscow High School Students are participating in — this summer they are traveling to Tomatlan, Mexico to teach beading to students at Tenochtitlan Primary School (source: The University of Idaho Argonaut). Leffingwell is also said to be writing a book about her first Million Bead Project. She's quoted as wanting to take a break after the two-year undertaking, but also says she would eventually like to work as a consultant for other groups who are inspired by her work. She hopes others will embark on similar educational projects. Roger Rowley of the Prichard Art Gallery hopes to see the exhibit go on tour to bigger cities before it is dismantled. The Million Bead Project received financial support from grant-giving agencies, including the Idaho Arts Commission, plus donations of time, expertise and supplies by several private businesses and individuals. Feel inspired? Read more about the progress of this great educational success at the Million Bead Project's Web site. |
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35 Years — What a Gem of a Trip It's Been!
Some hotels close to our warehouse offer discounts to Rings & Things patrons! Take advantage of these discounts by calling us at 1-800-366-2156 x115 for specific information. While you're here, be sure to take advantage of what else the Inland Northwest has to offer! Check the Spokane Arts Council Events' Calendar for art walks, theater performances and more happening in the region between August 10-12. Plus, take advantage of Spokane's downtown Riverfront Park, including its IMAX theater, 1909 classic wooden Looff Carousel and Skyrides over Spokane Falls. Or, for bigger rides and a great water park, try Silverwood Theme Park. Not from the region? Then be sure to discover the surrounding natural beauty of Lake Coeur d'Alene, Lake Pend Oreille, Priest Lake and more! Additional activities taking place the weekend of August 10-12 include:
If you can't make it to Spokane for the big event, you can still participate in the fun! Take advantage of our super-sized 5-day anniversary sale, happening August 8-12. These sale prices are available to all who order online and over the phone, as well as those who visit us in person. This sale will include more discounts than our normal 5-day sales. (To receive notices of all our 5-day sales, subscribe here). We're happy to have served Spokane and the world for the last 35 years. We thank you for your continued patronage and hope you can join the celebration! |
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R&T's String of Events: July 2007 Calendar
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Thanks! Russ, Kim and the whole Rings & Things crewP.O. Box 450 Spokane, WA 99210-0450 USA Phone (509) 252-2900 Fax 509 838 2602 Order toll free 1 (800) 366-2156 Web site: http://www.rings-things.com You can subscribe/unsubscribe to our free newsletter in seconds! You can also subscribe separately to receive our e-mail sale flyers. If you've moved, please help us get our next catalog supplement to you. Just fill out this form: www.rings-things.com/addressform.htm. Newsletter Home |
Good news! We've upgraded our e-mail system and will soon be able to send automatic tracking and shipping confirmations to you when you order — some of you may already be receiving these confirmation notices. Also, you can now directly maintain your newsletter and sale flyer preferences. Use the links and activation code at the bottom of e-mail newsletters sent after June 2007 to change from html to plain text, alter e-mail encoding, and add or remove 
Different schools joined in at different times during the span of the project, but each school participated in the same way. Looms were made of recycled cardboard and students were given some groundwork in the art of designing and weaving. Each student then practiced by making one beaded bracelet to keep for her or himself. Finally, each student wove one or more additional bands to be included in a group-mosaic panel. During the project, math was continually integrated into the art making. Students had to calculate their total number of beads woven minus the number used in the band they kept (since it would not be included in the mosaic). Each participating class then figured their total number of beads used, and the grand total was continually tallied from each school's figures.
In 1972, Russ Nobbs opened a small retail jewelry store in Spokane, Washington, after several years selling personalized gold-wire name pins and beady earrings at state fairs around the Pacific Northwest. No one could have guessed that this small original venture (
Between road shows, classes, purchasing trips and more, there's typically a lot going on at Rings & Things! Here's what's happening this month: