Sunday, December 1, 2013

Beaders" Night Out is coming

Happy Holidays from Newbury Park!
We have celebrated Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and the beginning of Advent in the last 4 days. Wow!

This week the bead stores in out association will be hosting Beaders' Night Out. Most of the store will be holding the event Friday, December 5 from 5-8 p.m. This event is sponsored by Craft Fantastic. Please check with your local bead store for the exact time there.
At Creative Castle you can sign up for 4 different times: 5, 5:45, 6:30 and 7:15. This event is free for the first 20 people and $6.00 for any additional participants.Reservations are suggested but not required. We will be serving refreshments and there will be special pricing on this jewelry line from Craft Fantastic during the evening. Get an early start on quick and easy gifts.

For those of you wanting to make other quick last minute gifts but aren't quite sure how, we have a Beading Basics class, Thursday, December 5 from 6-9 p.m. Want to make a quick pair of earrings and learn how to "set" that special stone, Sunday, December 8, from 12:30-4:30 p.m. we offer All Things Wired.
 We also offer Traditional Knotting with a Contemporary Twist Thursday, December 12 from 6-9 p.m.
 Please call 805-499-1377 to register. We are also having a Trunk Show of Lampwork beads, Fused Glass and Metal Clay pendants Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A Trunk Show is when an artist brings or sends a large selection of his/her work for a set period of time. This allows our customers a chance to select from a much larger assortment of merchandise that what the store can carry due to space and cost. What doesn't sell during the trunk show goes home with the artist. So come shop for that special gift for the beader in your life, or for the focal point of your next project or holiday gift from a fabulous assortment of merchandise.

Our new newsletter of classes and events for "Wing" is on our website. We only have 3 seasons at Creative Castle "Wing" (winter-spring), "Sprummer" (spring-summer) and "Finter" (fall-winter). We also have some copies available at the store for your convenience.

Thank you for supporting your local bead store. This allows us to do what we love, while helping you to do what you love.

Wishing you peace and joy during this holiday season.
Carole

Creative Castle
Times Square Shopping Center
2321 Michael Dr.
Newbury Park, CA 91320
805-499-1377

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Beaders' Night Out
Friday, December 6th

Each store of the Southern California Local Bead Store Association will be making this fun pendant. 


Check in with your local store for times.

IT'S FREE!!!!

Join us for a great time!!

SPONSORED BY
Craft Fantastic

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Hello!
Well, here we are, in that downhill slide right into the Holidays! Halloween is behind us. We got to enjoy the witch earrings, the lampworked ghosts and goblin bracelets, beaded masks and LOTS of black leather and skulls in all sizes and colors! This year, for reasons unknown (except that it might just have been that we were just moving too fast), we managed to not gorge ourselves on candy!
There's a chill in the air, the days are shorter, and it's nice to sit around the shop table and bead with friends in the evenings, while we talk about what's new and hot and what's not, as we start to fill out our gift lists with workings of heart and hand. Wrap bracelets are still holding strong, and every wardrobe demands its own, so multiples always work. Leather is also going strong, with new clasps and sliders coming in every day. Our new studded Italian leather has been a big hit! Peyote bracelets are fun to do, and we've been having lots of fun with retro brick stitch earrings!
We've already talked about the projects which will be gifts that we need to start, and, of course, the ones that we still need to finish.
Last week, thinking ahead about gifts, a class full of students made Wire Art Rings and Wire Wrapped Cabochons under the tutelage of Dutch Stowe. Everyone left with finished pieces and lots of materials and ideas to make more! The class was so popular that we didn't let Dutch leave until he had given us another date, which he was only too happy to do! Saturday, November 23rd will be another Wire Art Day at the Beadiak! The morning class will teach two different wire rings, and the project for the afternoon class is a stunning Nautilus Wrapped Glass Pendant. These are great classes for both beginners and students with prior experience who want to expand and sharpen their skills.
Saturday, November 23rd
10:30 - 1:30   RINGS
2:30 - 5:30     NAUTILUS PENDANT

$35 for each class
Materials est. $5 to $30, depending on how many you want to make.

A limited number of tools (mandrels, sizers, hammers, etc.) will be available to borrow, but students should plan to bring pliers, cutters, magnifiers, and any other favorite tools with them to class. As always, tools will be available for purchase at the shop and students will get class discounts. Seating is limited, so please call 818-597-8020 to reserve a seat.
The next date to plan ahead for is Friday, December 6th! That will be the night of the next Beaders Night Out event! Each store will have its own hours, but all of the stores will be doing the same beading project. Keep checking this page and with your local bead store for details.

For now, I would like to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving, filled with good food, good friends and good feelings! Find all that you can to be thankful for, and make memories with those you love!

Namaste,

Anne
Beadiak
Whizin Market Square
28853 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
818-597-8020
www.beadiak.com


 
 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

The Holidays are Coming (whether you're ready or not)!

       Halloween is almost upon as we are already looking towards the rest of the upcoming holidays.  Thanksgiving will be right around the corner.  A time to be thankful for our family, our friends, and of course for our wonderful BEADS! 



       At Beads and More, we have been getting ready for the upcoming holidays by adding more classes, buying more beads and supplies, and creating new events to entice our beaders.  This year we plan on doing something special for Small Business Saturday (November 30th,the Saturday after Thanksgiving).  Small Business Saturday was created to help and support small businesses.  We see it as a time to be thankful for the customers and for the friendships that we have made over the years of owning our bead store. We will have a special SALE for those who come out to support us along with a special Make 'n Take.  We want this Make 'n Take to not only to be fun but to make a great gift.  We will keep you posted on our Facebook page as we the days get closer. Here is a link to our page in case you would like to attend.https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beads-and-More/98845999402

 Happy Beading!

Julia Armfield, owner of...

Beads and More
4150 Mission Blvd., ste. 111
San Diego, Ca 92109

(858) 483-4190

Monday, October 14, 2013



Hello friends! Happy Halloween.....early! Is it already the holidays? Autumn/Winter is upon us. Can you smell it in the air? Have you planned your Halloween costume? Have you finished making/buying all your holiday gifts? If you're like us, you haven't even begun and the time snuck by you.

On the other hand, we are already planning Bead Shop Hop 2014 with more prizes, extraordinary themes and all good fun. Bead Shop Hop 2013 was a great time, thanks, in large part, to you, the hoppers!

In other news, Beadahs will be celebrating our sixth anniversary this weekend. As a thanks for your support, on October 19 and 20, we are offering a 20% sale on everything that is on a strand and 10% off finished jewelry. We are also working on new projects for the upcoming weeks. Stayed tuned to beadahs.com for more goodies.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Hello from Beadology in Huntington Beach!

We have a bunch of new things happening!  We've teamed up with Unicorne Beads and are currently selling all of their "one of a kind" beads and "orphan" beads.  There are lots of unique shapes and colors that they currently do not sell or will not be selling on their website.  Come in and check them out!


We also have a brand new wall of lucite flowers.  It's blossoming with TONS of new colors and shapes of different flowers....yay!



Sunday, September 1, 2013

Bead Shop Hop is right around the corner

How would you like to win a 
$500 Gift Certificate
 to your local bead store?

By taking part in the Bead Shop Hop starting next weekend you have that chance. Visit all 22 stores to be 
eligible for the Grand Prize 
($500 Gift Certificate and Official Shop Hop Trophy Gumball Machine)

The largest Bead Shop Hop in the nation takes place 
September 6-8, 13-15, 20-22. 

Pick up your passport at the first store you visit. Hop store to store to get more stamps and better chances to win great prizes!!




Each store has a different charm based on their "Destination" theme

To see all the details go to www.sclbsa.org





*Gift Certificate good at participating Southern California Local Bead Store Association member stores. 

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Bead Shop Hop Fast Approaching

The Bead Shop Hop is just around the corner, Yeah!

The dates are Friday through Sunday September 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22.  Fri. and Sat. 10am-7pm and Sun. 12noon-5pm.  Three fun weekends!

Every store will be a different "Destination".  What's ours??  You'll just have to come by to see!  And each store will be giving you a charm that represents their destination.

If you visit all 22 stores you will be eligible for the Grand Prize and 3 Runner Up Prizes. There are 3 Regional Prizes for visiting all stores in a region and a Gift Basket from each store if you visit at least 3 stores.  Pick up a brochure at any SCLBSA store for all the details.

At Bead It! in Chino we are having:

   Free Make & Take Pearl Rings on Friday 9/6 and Friday 9/20 from 10am to 4pm. 

   A demonstration on Pearl Knotting will be held on Friday 9/13 from 10am to 1pm. 
   Kits will be available for sale at that time.

   Another free Make & Take will be Tiare Flower Earrings on Saturday 9/7 and
   Saturday 9/14 from 10am to 4pm.

Plan on stopping in at those times if you are interested in taking advantage of these offers.  (I think I just gave a hint for our destination.)

We will also have gifts for purchases of $15 or more.  And at the end of each day we will have a drawing for a very special surprise!  Just make a purchase and you are entered.

So keep those dates in mind! 

In the meantime - Happy Beading!

Janet Beck
Bead It!
13460 Central Ave. Ste. E
Chino, CA 91710
909 364-2402
www.2beadit.com

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Just a little over one month before the
largest Bead Shop Hop takes place!!




Tell all of your friends and make it a party. The stores will be decorated as their favorite "Destination" and you will be able to take part in special offers, Make N Takes, Trunks Shows and more!

It doesn't get any better than this!!!

Travel around the world with us. You might see the Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China, the Great Barrier Reef and many more awesome places.

Have the chance to win some great prizes!!

Monday, July 15, 2013

It's Beaders' Give Back Week

Greetings from Ventura County. This week, July 16-21, is Beaders' Give Back Week and this year it is a Bead 'n Feed. Each store in our association has chosen a food pantry to support in varying ways. Creative Castle has chosen our local Conejo Valley food bank MANNA. When you come shopping this week at Creative Castle you will have the opportunity to make a donation to MANNA. When you do, you will then receive a discount off your shopping trip of 10%-40%. By writing a check you will receive a tax deduction while supporting a great organization. A donation of $5 receives 10% off your entire purchase, $15 receives 20%, $25 receives 30% and $40 or more earns a 40% savings. We have been raising money at our store for MANNA for over 5 years and our goal during this week is $1000. Last time we did this we raised $875.

Marcia DeCoster was here this past weekend. We hosted a book signing for her new book, Beads in Motion. We sold out! I reordered it today and the order will be here next week mid week. It is a great book with lots of fabulous seed bead projects and all have movable parts! Please call if you would like to reserve a copy. (805-499-1377)

We will be having a trunk show of vintage German buttons and beads July 24-25. This vendor has fabulous merchandise so please come by.

Our new calendar of classes for Finter, (Sept-Dec) is in the works and should be complete and posted on our website by the end of this week www.creativecastle.com   Registration for these classes begins July 27 at 10 a.m.

It is never too early to start making plans with your traveling buddies for this year's Bead Shop Hop. This year's theme is destinations. I am sure you will want to experience the various destinations each shop will provide. The dates are Sept. 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22.

I hope you have a great week.
Happy beading,
Carole
Creative Castle
2321 Michael Dr.
Newbury Park, CA
805-499-1377

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

News from Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations

       


 

 

 

 

July 9, 2013

Greetings from the Desert!
     Things are really heating up here at Monica's. Okay--I know--it's hot here in the summer anyway, but, seriously! We have been making new friends all over the country since being named one of the Top Ten Shops in the country by Better Homes and Gardens earlier this year. We launched a new website last December, just in time to make it easy for Quilt Sampler readers to shop in their pajamas. It has been such a thrill to connect with creative people who have discovered Monica's through the magazine. Last week, Monica's was featured in our local newspaper, The Desert Sun. Nice to be recognized by your home town.

     We're busy celebrating eight wonderful years in business here in Palm Desert this week with an Anniversary Sale: 20% savings on pearls, semi-precious stones, yard cuts (or more), and fat quarter packets. On Saturday, July 13th, it's a party from 10 - 3. I love a party--please come celebrate with me!

     Next week we'll be participating with other shops, giving back to the community. Beaders Give Back: Bead and Feed runs from July 15th to the 21st. We've teamed up with Food In Need of Distribution (FIND) for this SCLBSA event. FIND works in partnership with community-based organizations across eastern Riverside and southern San Bernardino counties, serving over 80,000 hungry people every month. Bring in $5 worth of canned food and receive a $5 discount coupon for a purchase of $30 or more. Bring in $20 worth of canned food and take a free bracelet class.



On July 18, make 3 different riveted leather bracelets. $10.95 for the kit.




 
 

On July 18, make a sparkly cup chain bracelet with a button closure. Kits start at just $5.


     There's always something new here at Monica's--fabrics arrive daily, jewelry-making and quilting classes happen all week long, join us for Sit and Sew, Sit and Bead...we are your one stop shop for top quality beading and quilting supplies. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to help.

       Visit our website to read our quarterly and weekly newsletters, browse through our growing list of merchandise available on line, and see a current list of classes and events. You can sign up on line, over the phone, or in person, of course!   www.monicasquiltandbead.com

Until next time,

Monica A. Gonzales

Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations
77-780 Country Club Dr., Suite C
Palm Desert, CA  92211
(760) 772-2400
monicasqbc@aol.com
www.monicasquiltandbead.com
Monday - Saturday 9:30 to 5:30, Sunday 11-4

 

 

       
    

Tuesday, July 9, 2013


Hello to all of our wonderful beaders from the Beadiak, in Agoura Hills! This will be the first time I've written to you, and there's much great news to share! First, I want to tell you how excited we are, planning for our upcoming events. The shop is abuzz with preparations for our chosen destination theme for the Shop Hop in September. We're busy re-arranging the shop, putting in new merchandise and planning our decorations. All of the shop destinations are still a secret, so we feel like we're part of a delicious conspiracy! But first, I'd like to tell you about the upcoming SCLBSA event called BEADERS GIVE BACK WEEK!

For one week, every participating store in the SCLBSA has chosen a way to give back to our surrounding communities by choosing a cause or an organization to support. Some stores will be collecting food to give to local food banks. Others will be collecting for organizations that fight cancer and other diseases. We will ask our loyal customers to help us in our efforts and then we will reward you in many different ways to show how much we appreciate you.

It's somehow so easy to fall into the habit of worrying or complaining about all that troubles us; all that is not quite right with us, our loved ones or with what is happening to the environment or in other parts of the country and the world. There's lots of temptation to feel sad. It's no accident that, when beaders meet at the table in the shop, everyone leaves feeling a little better, a little lighter, and a little happier. We listen and support one another. We know how to nurture each other. Now, it's time to share even more.

One of the best ways to feel better is to think about those whose need is greater than ours. The trials and tribulations of daily life are inclined to make us forget to be thankful for all the wonderful blessings we have in our lives! Giving freely from what we have, whether it be a little or a lot, does something magical to our hearts and our minds. Giving feeds our souls. It creates a domino effect by putting a smile on our faces that changes the chemistry in our brains that changes our hormones, lifts our moods, fills our hearts and enriches our lives! What could be better! Our participation in the Beaders Give Back Week lets us give something back to the wonderful customers who support us, while helping those in need in our surrounding communities. 

This year, the Beadiak has chosen to support the MEALS ON WHEELS WEST program. Meals on Wheels West works tirelessly to provide both hot and cold meals to homebound people of any age who are unable to shop or cook for themselves. Many of these meals are given free of charge. Often, when someone is aged, alone or possibly disabled, cooking and eating nutritious meals becomes difficult or impossible. The Meals on Wheels program provides not only meals, fresh fruit and a newspaper, but also companionship. Sometimes, the only human contact is from the Meals on Wheels volunteer that brings life affirming essentials. Every MOW recipient is given a 3 day Emergency Survival Kit, and MOW also supplies flea medicine and pet food when needed, so that people don't have to share their own food with their pets. Meals on Wheels West serves homebound people in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Topanga Canyon, Venice and parts of Marina Del Rey.

Now, for the details! For 8 days, from July 15th through the 21st, we are asking our customers to make a donation for Meals on Wheels West. With each donation, customers will receive an equal percentage off a one time purchase. Sooo.... if you donate $10, you will receive 10% discount on a purchase. If you donate $20, you will receive a 20% discount. A $30 donation gets a 30% discount, and a $40 donation gets a 40% discount! All monies collected will be given to Meals on Wheels West, with our thanks for all the good work they do.

If you're close to Agoura Hills, please come visit us in Whizin Market Square. Westways Magazine selected Whizins as a day-trip destination point in Southern California. Plan a trip to come and enjoy the wonderful antique stores and restaurants that Market Square has to offer. Whether you've got a hankering for a wonderful panini, the best gelato in So Cal, an outrageous Italian pastry, or a vegan salad, we've got it. (Just don't tell our husbands why we're so happy to go to work!) And of course, check us out for our wonderful selection of beads from all over the world, focal pieces, beading supplies, finished jewelry and all kinds of other gifts and treasures!

 Please "Like" us 
 Beadiak Facebook Page 

Thanks for reading,

Anne Karam

Beadiak
Whizin Market Square
28853 Agoura Road
Agoura Hills, CA 91301
818.597.8020
www.beadiak.com
Open 10 - 6 Mon thru Sat
Open 12 - 4 Sundays

Check the SCLBSA website for further information on participating stores in BEADERS GIVE BACK WEEK.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Beads on Fabric: Observations from a Mad Costumer

(For clarity, that's "mad" as in "of questionable sanity" and not "mad" as in "upset", though I can tell you, making the transition from straight textile costuming to beads-on-fabric embellishment has its moments of ire.)

I began doing costumes for competition 15 years ago, but struggled to make the transition between Journeyman and Master, which required significant improvements in design, technique, and finishing. In the strange world of competitive costuming, needle-and-thread is king; judges tend to award the highest scores to costumes that are fabricated all or in part with hand-sewing techniques, especially if they're unusual, difficult, or time-consuming.

How does this relate to beading?  Seed beading (among costumers) is unusual, difficult, AND time-consuming. It also involves use of my beloved needle and thread, so I took to it very quickly and have been experimenting with ways to incorporate it into the detail work on larger pieces.

In competition costume, the work has to function at two levels: it has to withstand the scrutiny of the Workmanship judges (usually a panel of 3-5), who can poke and prod and examine as minutely as they and the contestant desire; it also has to be impressive, witty, strange, and/or engaging enough to play to a crowd of thousands on a proscenium stage 30-50 feet across in hopes of getting high marks from the Performance judges (a separate panel of 3-5). For me, the transition from Journeyman to Master began with seed-beading embellishments, in the form of bugle and 11/0s. I'd seen applique work, in which the pieces are assembled separately, and then flat-sewn onto fabric. However, I opted for a more integrated approach, in which the beads are sewn directly onto the fabric in the style of Native American beading, 3-5 beads at a time to make patterns and shapes.


There were over 5000 seed beads in this pattern, and it took me about a month to complete. At first, I had the single red rows, but I wanted a more "comic book" look to the shape, so I added the outer black row, which has become my new standard for defining shapes and separating sections.

In 2012 came the Victorian Lady Doctor project, a 13-person costume entry with ladies in Victorian garb. Instead of the shapes and encrusting I'd done for previous wins, I used beads to emphasize seams, joints, and create patterns.


Detail of the center front panel of my gown. I used serpentine-shaped lines to emphasize the hourglass shape of the bodice. Note the double lines of black in hexes and round 11/0s along the edges of the black velvet ribbon.


Matching spats. The beads here are 15/0s, smaller than the ones I used on the bodice so they'd be more proportional. This pair was created so I could hide the zippers on the boots, and also because I loved the novelty of having tweed spats. (An in-joke for the character, which is from a Science Fiction show.)


Here you can see the outlining detail of the bow tie. In addition to giving shape and definition to the piece, it stiffens the edges of the fabric, making the whole bow tie more effective, especially from a distance. A customer liked the effect so much that she commissioned a hair bow, using the same materials and technique.

As implied above, costuming with beads for me is not just for flat fabric or shapes, but becomes vital for accessorizing looks. For this year's major group project, one of my friends needed a celery stalk, the shape of which was EXTREMELY challenging. I ended up using 15/0s, 11/0s, and silk 11/0s, which are just slightly larger.

This is approximately life-sized. My friend attached a pin back to it and will be wearing it on her lapel. (Another in-joke for the character, which is also from a Science Fiction show.)

As a final example of the transformative power of beads for fabric pieces, I want to touch on my latest project, which is a Roman Centurion as reimagined through the sensibilities of Erte. (Think Roman + Great Gastby.) I started with raw bronze satin, looked up a mosaic pattern that dates back to Roman times, and was pleasantly surprised at how much the beads could alter the whole texture of the piece. I will be bringing the whole costume (of which the following is one piece) to competition this year to defend my Best in Show win from last year.


On the right, the raw satin. On the left, the embellished piece, which is sewn to exactly the same material. Below, the original mosaic design. The beaded mosaic is in 11/0 Delicas of matte black, iridescent rose, matte bronze, and hex bronze. 

So what do I want you to take away from this blog post? Well, our organization is about promoting the use and love of beads of all kinds, so I've been teaching costumers basic bead embellishment, with good results in terms of competition wins, overall costume appearance and cohesion, and sales for our store. It's a niche market, yes, but one worth exploring. And for seed beaders, it gives a whole new sphere of useful applications for labors of love.

Starting this fall, I plan to add classes in bead embroidery to Ocean Sky Carlsbad's class list. I will also be applying to demonstrate/teach some basic methods for the 2014 Gaslight Gathering convention. Working among communities of costumers not only encourages me to bring my "A" game in terms of creativity, but has opened up new markets for my family's business.

For, as Polonius says in HAMLET, "Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."

Friday, June 7, 2013

For the Love of Beads design contest, entries due soon, June 22, 2013!


All of the stores from the association are starting to get entries for the "For the Love of Beads" contest that features amateur bead/jewelry designers from Southern California.

You still have time to get your submission in for the contest.

“Destinations” is the theme for this year’s challenge. Create an original piece of jewelry that is either strung, bead woven, or wire worked and displays your love of beads!

Criteria
  • Contest is open to all customers and is free to enter. Employees and family members of the local bead stores affiliated with the SCLBSA and professional and/or paid bead instructors are not eligible.
  • Pick a category: Stringing, Bead Weaving, or Wire Working.
  • Create an original piece of jewelry that includes at least 80% of the category technique.
  • Choice of materials is open to whatever you can find at a local bead store.
  • Although it is not required, we do ask that you support the SCLBSA by purchasing at least 50% of your materials with them.
  • Submit your entry to your participating SCLBSA bead store by June 22, 2013.
Judging

SCLBSA store owners in each region will be your judges.

  • Judging will be based on overall design and theme, visual impact, originality, and execution
  • Each category will have a First Place Winner and an Honorable Mention Winner in each region
  • Nine First Place Winners will be awarded a $100 Promotional Certificate.
  • Nine Honorable Mention Winners will be awarded a $50 Promotional Certificate.
  • Winners will be announced on June 27, 2013 on the SCLBSA web site.
  • Entries will be on display from June 27 - July 6 at store submitted to.
     
Stringing, Bead Weaving, and Wire Working Categories
  • * Two Winners Per Category in Each Region
  • * 18 Winners
  • * $100 or $50 Promotional Certificates

Contest is open to all customers and is free to enter.
Employees and family members of local bead stores affiliated with the SCLBSA and professional and/or paid bead instructors are not eligible.

Entry Deadline: June 22, 2013

Monday, May 27, 2013

Hi Everyone for Newbury Park

I hope you are enjoying the long Memorial Day weekend. I hope you are making time to bead, wire wrap, play with sheet metal - i.e. make time to do something you love. Please take a moment to remember those who have served in our armed forces. Oftentimes, that part of the weekend (reason for the season) is overshadowed by picnics, trips and other fun activities.

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for supporting your local beads stores. As you have come to know, not only are we a knowledgeable source for your beading supplies but aslso perhaps for your inspiration, encouragment and friendship. I can't tell you how many people I have met over the years through the store who started out as customers and have become friends.

Creative Castle will be hosting a Make n' Take on Saturday, June 8th to make leather, unisex bracelets - a very suitable Father's Day gift! We offer a large and comprehensive selection of beads, findings, supplies and books as well as classes.

The deadline for entries for For the Love of Beads contest is fast approaching. We encourage you to enter and submit your entry to any of our association stores. Entries will be accepted until June 22. To see the complete contest rules and download an application, click here.

We are getting ready for Gail Crosman Moore's classes (June 21-23) and Janice Berkebile's classes (June 27-30) Both are what we call metal/wire artists as opposed to seed bead artists. Gail works with metal clay and enameling and other coloration techniques with metal and will be sharing those with students. She also is a fabulous lampworker and will be bringing a trunk show of her beads and jewelry. Janice is a wire gal who wraps, fuses and otherwise shapes wire into beautiful jewelry. Janice will also have a trunk show of jewelry and kits.

Creative Castle hosts many trunk shows throughout the year. A trunk show is when a vendor or artist sends a collection of merchandise for a specified time period, thus allowing us to present to you a much larger selection of product than we could under normal circumstances. Right now we have a trunk show of lampwork beads from Galactic Glass. The name is very appropriate as there is a small galaxy in each bead; they are beautifully anmazing. The beads will be here through June 9th. We will be having a trunk show of Tom Boylan's lampwork beads in June. His beads were some of the first beads I fell in love with when I started the store (Gail's were the others)

Please visit our website for a complete list of classes and events. We hope to see you soon as there is always something to share with our beading friends.

Carole Tripp

Creative Castle
2321 Michael Drive
Newbury Park, CA 91320
805-499-1377
877-BEADS4U (232-3748)




.

Monday, May 20, 2013

        April 22nd seemed like a normal Monday at Beads and More.  I was getting ready for the week making my schedule, paying bills, and planning my beading projects.  A neighbor above the store had a plumbing problem, a clog, with one of their pipes and had a hired plumber to "snake" down the pipe.  The pipe runs down the length of the bead store and then makes a turn in one of our connecting walls.  After a couple of tries with the snake I heard a rush of water and thought to myself "oh good, they found and freed up the clog".  A second later I realized the pipe had ruptured and water was filling the store.  Beads and More has been closed ever since.

      It took a while for the above events to finally sink in.  The water had caused a lot of damage.  Four tables and 4 cabinets had to be replaced along with the carpet and removal of some of the dry wall.  But then it hit me.  Beads and More is getting a make-over and we will be starting our summer with a brand new look.  As owners, Juan and I will be completely refreshed and rejuvenated from having some time off.  Thank goodness for insurance! 

     So I've spent the last few weeks looking forward and planning our grand re-opening.  We have selected new paint, new carpet, new tables and cabinets.  I am starting to get really excited.  I have owned the store for 15 years and I bought Beads and More pre-established and furnished.  Now I get to redesign the store I love and truly make it my own with my own sense of style.  We are moving away from a pink colored store to a beachy cool blue store.  Last week the walls finally got painted and this week we get new carpet.  Things are looking up!

       We are still a few more weeks away from re-opening.  The tables and cabinets have not arrived.  Then we will have the daunting task of putting the rest of the store back together.  All of the beads have been packed up in storage and it will take a while to put them back into their new home.  We can't wait!

      So if you have shopped with us before or you were planning on visiting us this summer we will be opening up again mid-June.  I will announce the date on our Facebbok page as soon as we know.  We hope to see you soon with a new and improved and happier Beads and More.

Julia Armfield
owner,
Beads and More
4150 Mission Blvd., ste. 111
San Diego, Ca 92109

Monday, April 22, 2013

Whew here it is another HOT day in Lancaster. Good thing we have air conditioning in the store!
We will have our place nice and cool for Beaders' Night Out. Sign ups for this great event have started. Remember to sign up soon with your local bead store because space is limited!!
We have been working hard and looking forward to this night getting everything ready to have fun with our customers. We hope to provide THRILLS (learn a new project), FRILLS ( you get to wear it) and CHILLS ( refreshments).
When you come into our store don't forget to see all our new items. We have been packing, counting, stringing and displaying all sorts of new items. We just can't help ourselves when we see something new we feel we have to bring it in and share it with you.
We hope to see you soon at least at Beaders' Night Out, or for other exciting classes coming up.
Have a beadyful day.
Lupe
CT's Beads N Things, Inc.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

 
"For the Love of Beads"
Jewelry Design Contest
Sponsored by the Southern California
Local Bead Store Association

“Destinations” is the theme
for this year’s challenge.

Create an original piece of jewelry that is either strung, bead woven, or wire worked and displays your love of beads!

Stringing, Bead Weaving, and Wire Working Categories
• Two Winners Per Category in Each Region
• 18 Winners
• $100 or $50 Promotional Certificates

Contest is open to all customers and is free to enter.
Employees and family members of local bead stores affiliated with the
SCLBSA and professional and/or paid bead instructors are not eligible.

Entry Deadline: June 22, 2013
Please submit entry to your participating SCLBSA local bead store.

Winners Announced: June 27, 2013
All entries will be on display from June 27 - July 6 at store submitted to.

For more information visit:


Or visit the your local participating bead store.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations

We are so excited here at Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations! In January we announced that, after 20 years of being nominated, Better Homes & Gardens named us one of the top 10 shops in the country! I was beginning to feel like the Susan Lucci of the quilt world! Check us out in the Spring issue of Quilt Sampler, available May 7. In the meantime we are offering our customers a chance to pre-order kits for the quilt we designed for the article. Everyone is grinning from ear to ear as we plan a HUGE "Coming Out Party and Sale" for the weekend of May 10 -12! Here's the new logo we've added to our advertising.


Our bead classes are hummin' along these days--the hottest item? Wraps! We're making them with leather cord, waxed cotton or linen cord, and C-lon. Students incorporate all kinds of beads--anything with a hole large enough for the cord is fair game. We've been known to drill pearls to make them fit, but we are also adding lots of great beads and findings specifically for these projects. The lastest and greatest wrap designed by one of our teachers, Rose Mary Jameson, incorporates a watch face. She calls it the Watchful Band and we love it.


Here's a "Save the Date" for you--plan to spend an evening of jewelry-making fun at your local bead shop for Beader's Night Out on Friday, May 3. Reserve your spot--you'll a kit and free instruction.

We're also busy encouraging customers to enter the SCLBSA Jewelry Design Contest, "For the Love of Beads." Entries will be accepted until June 22. To see the complete contest rules and download an application, click here.

Since our last post, we've launched a new website--you can now sign up for our classes on line! And our Quarterly Newsletter is now in full color with photos of class projects. We've had a great response to these improvements. As my staff says, it's about time I joined the 21st century!

Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations
77-780 Country Club Dr., Ste. C
Palm Desert, CA  92211
(760) 772-2400

Monday, February 18, 2013

There are so many new things happening at Beads and More these days it makes me happy to be the owner of a bead store and a member of the SCLBSA .   Beads and More is located in Pacific Beach on the coast of San Diego.  Our store will be celebrating 21 years of business on April 1st of this year.  I am the second owner of the store and have owned it now for almost 15 years.  I love beading today just as much if not more as I did the first time I made a piece of jewelry.  One thing that I love about owning a bead store by the beach is "having to" purchase seashells, pearls, coral, and ocean themed beads and findings.  Oh darn!

I just got back from shopping at The Tucson Gem and Mineral show where I was on a hunt for four days for items that would stun and "wow" our customers.  Finding new ocean themed products can sometimes be a challenge but I think that I accomplished my mission.   I bought beautiful new Abalone shell pendants in the shape of Plumeria flowers.  Perfect for a day at the beach.  I also found stunning Mother of Pearl flower shaped pendants in two different sizes.  Great for earrings and necklaces. 

Next I purchased semi-precious and natural stones that may remind one of their trip to the beach with stunning colors of aqua blue and turquoise.  My favorite of these purchases are the stands of Apatite and Peruvian Opals..  Both are beautifully cut and are clear like the water of the Pacific Ocean.  I love them and I know that you will too.  Simply stunning!

There are so many new products I could go on and on but now I have the undaunting task of getting them all out on the floor for purchase. So the next time you are in Pacific Beach, stop by and say hello.  My name is Julia and I would be happy to help you make a beautiful piece of jewelry.  There is always something to new to show you and I would be happy to do so!


Julia Armfield

owner of.....
Beads and more
4150 mission Blvd., ste 111
San Diego, Ca 92109