Exciting Week Ahead at your local bead store!

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As Monica mentioned previously, a number of theSCLBSA store owners are having a mini-retreat at Inspirations in Big Bear today (8/13/12) totest the waters, so to speak, for our future Bead Shop Hop grand prize winnerwho may be YOU!

It's going to be a fun and busy week with our storesraising funds for various worthy charities and a bead swap at select stores onSaturday, Aug. 18.

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The LA/Ventura region of the SCLBSA chose The Art of Giving Foundation, anewly formed charity that uses art to help teach children the importance ofcompassion, empathy and helping others. They encourage and assist children ofthe world in helping other children in need, through the use of free artprograms. Through their art, the children in the Art of Giving programs willlearn to use their skills to help not only themselves, but other groups ofdeserving children, both here in the U.S. and around the globe.

Resin & Leather Necklace Kit at Beadniks. 50% of proceeds go to Art of Giving Foundation.

Participatingstores in the LA/Ventura region:

Beads of Paradise (Ventura)

Beadiak(Agoura)

Beadniks (Santa Monica)

Beadtopia (El Segundo)

CreativeCastle (Newbury Park)

CT’s Beads and Things (Lancaster)

San Gabriel BeadCompany (Arcadia)

Contact your local store to seewhat they have planned for you.

Stretchy Bracelet Kit at Beadniks. 50% of proceeds go to Art of Giving Foundation.

We are raising money by selling kits, card-stockhands for you to write your name on and post throughout the store(s) and collectingloose change in a jar.

Beadniks will have a reception on Friday, Aug. 17 from 5to 8 p.m. where Art of Giving will sell some of the children's creations.

Call Beadniks at 310.395.0033 for more details.

Waxed Linen Charmy Bracelet Kit at Beadniks. 50% of proceeds go to Art of Giving Foundation.

Beadniks
203 Arizona Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Phone: (310) 395-0033
www.beadniks.com/santamonica

What's going on in the Desert at Monica's?

    It's hot outside but it's cool at Monica's Quilt and Bead Creations in Palm Desert. Enjoy cool savings this month on all our classes & supplies! We're giving anyone brave enough to weather the heat 10% off classes and 20% off supplies for the month of August.
    We're so excited that Deb Benson is coming back to town and will teach a fabulous class on September 11 that combines her love of metals with her love of book making. Learn to make a Mini-Book Pendant with Deb--check our website for the details, www.monicasquiltandbead.com. Kits will be available during the Bead Hop. Isn't it darling?

      Some of the bead shop owners are heading up the mountain on August 11 to check out Inspiration at Big Bear Lake, the retreat center that's the Grand Prize for the September Bead Shop Hop. I'm sure you can understand why it was SO necessary for ALL of us to check it out, just to make sure our winner will be happy! (Don't tell anyone, but I've already been there--you're gonna love it.)
      Speaking of the Shop Hop, we're getting ready--choosing our Make it-Take it projects and the goodies for the goody bags. Time to line up your car pools for the Hop--you won't want to miss a single store. Maybe we'll include a way to use our terrific new real metal seed beads--honestly, I'm in love with them and have been trying to sneak them into every project I make. We have them in 11's, 8's and 6's, polished, matte, and antique in silver, pewter, nickel, zinc and copper.
      Seeing as how I'm a quilt shop too, I wanted to just touch on our quilt side. We've finished 2 of our 4 weekend retreats with over 60 enthusiastic quilters each weekend, all having the time of their lives at the fabulous Esmeralda Hotel here in Indian Wells. Our theme this year is Winter Wonderland, so our mystery quilt is called Tracks in the Snow. This year, a record number of participants finished piecing their tops before it was time to go home! Everyone has already signed up for next year!
     We're not just about quilting on our quilt side--how about trying your hand a mixed media project that's perfect for embellishing with beads! Take Mary Gorfine's Girlfriend Wallet class on Friday, August 10. Check out the website for more information. http://www.monicasquiltandbead.com/Pages/GuestQuiltngArtists.aspx

 Here's to a week of beading creatively!    ---Monica

Beader's Give Back!

It's time for beaders to give back. The Southern California local bead store association will be:

Region 1 member stores local charity: The Art of Giving Foundation

Region 2 member stores local charity: City of Hope

Region 3 member stores local charity: The Polinsky Center

All of the stores will be collecting donations. Please contact your local store for information.

Beaders' Night Out

We're growing!!

We are excited about the news that Ocean Sky Beads will be opening their second store. The new store will be located at 630A Grand Ave, Carlsbad, CA. Looking for an opening around first weekend of May so keep up the news by following us on the blog or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sclbsa

Happy Leap Day! and more...

It only happens once every four years! A Leap Day is a perfect way to get an extra 24 hours of beading in. What will you be working on?

Spring is just around the corner. Save the dates for some upcoming events.

March (entire month) is Craft Month. Go out and learn a new beading technique. Take a workshop you have always wanted to take. Have fun!!

May 4 - Beader's Night Out - The members stores will be featuring another special night with lots of fun and food!! More information to follow!

Beader's Give Back Week - August 14 - 18 - The members stores will be having Make N Takes and more during this week of giving back to the community with fundraising events. Plus, a BEAD SWAP! What is that? You bring your stash of goodies and swap them with others to gain more goodies! Now that's fun!!

Southern California Bead Shop Hop - Bigger and Better!! We have added one more weekend to the hop. Save the weekends of September 7-9, 14 - 16 & 21 -23 for your adventure.

Keep following us for all the details.

"FOR THE LOVE OF BEADS"

2012 Design Contest

Sponsored by the Southern California Local Bead Store Association

Be a “Design Star” at your local bead store.
Create an original piece of jewelry that is either strung or bead woven and show your love of beads!
Stringing and Bead Weaving Category
Two Winners Per Category
12 Winners
$100 or $50 Gift 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 23, 2012
Please submit entry to your participating SCLBSA local bead store.
Winners Announced: June 27, 2012
All entries will be on display from June 30 - July 7 at store submitted to.

Pick up the rules and regulations along with your entry form at your local SCLBSA member bead store.