Beads of Courage Event

The Beads of Courage event in Orange on Saturday was very successful! We had a great turnout and raised money and awareness and got lots of beads made!

For me personally... the morning did not go as planned. I was on the freeway, driving down the backside of our mountain when my check engine light came on! My car sputtered and smoked as I exited and took surface streets back up the mountain and home. After getting some help from my new favorite mechanic, Bessie the Jeep was feeling dandy enough to make the trip to OC... an hour and a half late! OY!!! Of all the days! Being late threw me off my game and I forgot the camera in the car!

I arrived too late to donate the necklace I had made to the raffle. But they had SO many gorgeous entries... it was no biggie.

Chocolate Cupcake Pendant

Luckily I was there in time to set up my part of the boutique and get to my job at the bracelet making table. People purchased a bracelet kit containing two elastic beading cords...prepared with a rainbow stop bead to make it easy for kids. They got to make a bracelet for themselves and one for the kids in the program. I was amazed at how many made both for the kids! We had some really talent bracelet designers come through.

Next, I was on the torch for two hours and what a hot day it was! I think I drank three bottles of water while torching and I only got up to put beads in the kiln! My group was so amazed at how many beads the previous group had made. By the beginning of the third shift, our team leader was purchasing MORE mandrels for us to use in the event! We made 150 beads (I think it was closer to 200) for the Beads of Courage program!

We met some incredible parents and kids dealing with cancer. More than a few tears were shed too!

The boutique was really successful too! It was rather interesting to watch folks wander through and purchase nothing. Then they would go watch the bead making demo and they would come back and buy, buy, buy!
I was so excited to come out of my demo and see my Eggster Bunny had found a home! I sold quite a few items ... all for a good cause.

It was a very fun and meaningful day!

Fire Divas Easter Passover Bead Challenge

A rare weekend post. It's just as well because it's a fun Glassy weekend here in LA LA land. The Southern California Flame Surfers are meeting at Pacific Artglass tomorrow and it is sure to be fun! Kati O'Meara and Brian Mortensen will demo and allow the Flame Surfers to tour their Magic Glass Bus... a traveling studio!! I will post about that later next week.

But today, I want to share with you the incredible creations by my fellow Fire Divas for the Fire Divas Easter/Passover Challenge! We've allowed plenty of time to shop for those Easter and Passover beads. Below are the entries; take a good look at all that eye candy and then vote for your favorite on the right side of the Fire Divas Blog!

Entry 1:

Entry 2:

Entry 3:

Entry 4:

Entry 5:

Entry 6:

Entry 7:

Entry 8:

Entry 9:

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And the official announcement of the Fire Divas 2nd Jewelry Challenge is up! I will repost that next week but, jewelry designers, start making those fantastic creations for spring with your Diva beads! There are some fabulous prizes!!!

Gratitude

I'm grateful for a lot of things this holiday season....you can check out my Creekhiker blog for more on that...but this is about beads.

And when it comes to beads, I have to say I'm so thankful for my beady friends. The wonderful, supportive and kind people who help you work the kinks out or just lend a ear.

I'm blessed to have many beady friends and two groups of them in particular. The Southern California Flame Surfers are real life friends and a super talented group of artists! And then there are the Fire Divas, my online bead group that I hope to meet in person someday!

Last month, my heart bead came in 2nd in a Fire Diva Challenge and I won this gorgeous bookmark from Lauren of Maybeads. While I'm very fond of all the Divas, Lauren holds a special place in my heart. She's always helping out with something and she makes all of us laugh!
And she obviously understands my weakness for pink hippos! She also understands my weakness for a certain temperamental rottie / greyhound mix. Check out Lauren's version of Mabel Lou:

Be sure to check out Lauren's shop for great beads and the cool bookmarks (fabulous gifts!).
And I can't resist adding a photo of the real girl. My partner in crime, my sanity, my drama and my comedy.

Photo Copyright 2009 Isabelle Thompson

Hope you have a gratitude filled day. See you here on Monday.

Hall of Flame

I've neglected to mention a lovely honor I've received. I've been named to the California Flame Surfers Hall of Flame!


The Flame Surfers are my 'real life' bead group. We meet quarterly at various glass venues here in So. Cal. and the Surfers are an official chapter of the ISGB. We have some really talented members. Take a look around the Hall of Flame and you'll see some of Southern California's best!

And if you are in Southern California, stop by our next meeting at Pacific Artglass on December 5th.