Balance .....Happy New Year

2 years ago my New Years resolution was NEVER to have "loose weight" as a resolution ever again so January 2010 I started exercising using my WII aerobics and lost my first 20lbs then I started eating organic ...or as much organic as I could and lost another 15 pounds. I kept my resolution that year because by the beginning of 2011 I had lost the weight and so that was off my plate.... no pun intended. In the beginning of 2011 my New Years resolution was to get fit so January 1st I started going to Zumba and then a strength training class as well as adding Walk it Out on my WII ...I actually gained 5 lbs during year but I'm okay with that. I feel good, I feel fit, my cloths still fit and I feel like I am stronger this year than last and again ...I kept my resolution. It's nearly 2012 and this year my New Years resolution is about putting some balance in my life. I tend to go all out weather it's teaching, creating, dieting, exercising, cupcake making ...you get the idea. I am a Libra after all and my sign is the sign of balance so this year I have decided to try to put more balance in my life, I have just accepted a part time job that will get me out of the house a bit and out of the studio. I am still going to be teaching but will be keeping it to the weekends, I am still going to keep fit with exercising as a matter of fact I should be getting Dance Dance Revolution in the mail this week for my WII, and I will still try to eat as healthly as I can, of course there will be cupcakes but maybe not so many this year. So what is your resolution for 2012???

The Square is here!

I just got my square in the mail and and now able to accept credit cards in class ...how cool is that?

Etsy Shop Re-opened

For the last several weeks I have been trying to get my etsy shop up and running again and Finally ...the shop is open once again.  Whew! it's pretty time consuming trying to put together colors for everyone.
I will be adding to my shop so please stop by from time to time and see what's new. The next few weeks I will be working getting some of my finished jewelry posted so stay tuned.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/cfmcgraw

Enameling ...my new favorite thing to do

Check out my new batch of enameled componets.
I just love all the beautiful colors.
Life doesn't get any better when you are creating something you love.

Jiffy Jewelry

3 projects in 4 hours? That's just crazy..but true

Date: Tuesday November 8th 

Time: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm 

Fee: $50.00 includes all supplies except the lamp work bead shown in the copper pendant and the neck straps shown in both the necklace projects. Please bring a bead that will fit on 14-ga wire for the copper pendant

This class is always very popular and class size is limited. please contact me to sign up for this class via email: cfmcgraw@cox.net

Students should bring: 
Bead mat Chain nose pliers Round nose pliers Wire cutters

Happy Halloween

Bead Show This month

Our Bead Show is heading your way! This is YOUR INVITATION.
At this SPECIAL ONE-DAY SALE, we will have:

• New stone types, shapes and assortments
• An incredible selection of gemstones
• Thousands of bead strands
• A wide selection of our best-selling items

  

All customers receive 15 PERCENT OFF our already LOW WHOLESALE PRICES on gemstone and bead strands.
Come see the fun new shapes and sizes!

Our strands are tagged at retail. Wholesale is 1/2 that price. You get an extra 15% off the wholesale price!
Also stock up on some of our most popular findings, crystals, tools, books and stringing supplies (at wholesale, same as our website/catalog).

Free admission! -- This email is your invitation to this INVITATION-ONLY SHOW.

We're selling at wholesale, so bring your state resale number. (Otherwise, pay tax.)

Never seen one of our shows? Take a virtual tour.

Las Vegas, NV, Friday, October 28th, Noon - 4 PM
Henderson Convention Center
200 S. Water St.
Henderson, NV. 89015
(702) 267-2171
Free Parking!
Directions: I-215 becomes Lake Mead (NV -146) - right on S Water St.
 

Class Reveal

I love enameling...thats all I want to do in life right now.

Who said I can't do creepy?

New copper class for October, great project for newbies to get started into the wonderful world of copper. Learn how to use a jewelers saw, rivet and design this creepy Halloween pendant - class fee includes everything needed to create this project.   Please contact me if you would like to sign up for this class.                                        Class Day:Sat. Oct. 15th    Class fee:$45.00

OMG!! The Best Class Ever

I just thought I would give a little tease until I get some pictures of my class work. These are all the amazing colors of enamels we used in class ....it was the BEST class I have ever taken!!

To Be Continued......

Bead Shack is re-opening!

This is an email I received today, thought you all might be interested.

Dear Colleen,

Thank you so much for supporting The Bead Shack!

The response of our Bead Club members was touching

and overwhelming.  Because of wonderful people like you,

we are going to give it another try and will be there for you again.  

Please come by and say hi and let us know that you really do want

us to be a part of the beading community.  We look forward to your

support so we can continue to meet your needs to advance your

creativity for beading.  We missed the friendship, joy and caring 

that you brought to The Bead Shack.  

We officially open on Friday, September 2nd.  

Watch for emails from us about new roving discounts 

for Bead Club members and special events, such as 

Amanda Edwards teaching a new project/class and more. 

 Hope to see you soon!!

Sincerely,

All of Us at The Bead Shack

Barbara Lewis Bead Give away

Bead Giveaway! Let's have a little fun!  If you were here a few days ago, you saw my video of some pieces I had made with a technique I discovered in the studio.  It is so easy to make a rivet with heat instead of a hammer!  So now that amazon.com has the "Look Inside" feature activated for my book, you'll be able to see how it's done! Here's what you have to do ... visit Amazon (just click on the link above), take a "Look Inside", click on the "Liked" button, post the contest on your blog and become a follower ... if you aren't already. :-)   But don't forget to come back here and leave a comment on my blog so I can enter you in the drawing. We'll be announcing the winner next Tuesday at this time! I love giving gifts ... and thank you in advance for helping me to get the word out about my book.   :-) Thanks for visiting me at Painting with Fire Artwear ... Barbara Lewis

Back To Vegas

ART AND SOUL 2012
Please don't say you never heard because now you know .... Mark your calendars for next year's Art & Soul back at the lovely Green Valley Ranch. Keep an eye on the Art & Soul Web site to find out when they open registration, there is a link to this site on my blog -top right "special events".

That’s right all of you Art & Soulers… mixed media maniacs… traveling art gypsys… you asked for it and we’re giving it to you. That’s right…

We’re goin’ to Vegas!

We’ll be returning to the lovely Green Valley Ranch Resort in Henderson, Nevada once again. So, mark your calendars for June 14-18, 2012 — and we’ll be sure and keep you up to date on the workshop offerings and all that good stuff. Stay tuned! P.S. Don’t forget — whatever happens at Mixed Media Art Retreats in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Woohoo!

Have a safe 4th of July

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. — George S. Patton

Coming in July

Bead Show-Open To The Public

Friday June 3 - 10:00 - 6:00 pm  Saturday10- 6:00 pm
Sunday 10-5:00pm
Palace Station

Newest Student

In Yesterday class I taught a basic form folded bracelet and everyone one of them turned out so different and ALL of them were just spectacular. This particular bracelet was made by my newest student, Sharon Palac. Great Job Sharon & we are all so happy to have you join us.

Sneek Peek - May Classes

Schedule Your MRI Now

Starting April 1st - Monthly Referral Incentive Program
How does it work?

Refer a new student to The Bead Metaler Studios & make sure you give your referral your name.
Once the new student has taken their first class you will receive credit for the same amount they spend on their class fee.

Example:
You refer your new friend to me and they sign up for a $45.00 metal class and take the class on April 5th.
You will have 30 days from April 5th to use your credit of $45.00
The rules are simple:
This is a use it or loose it credit with no roll over credits allowed
Credit is not transferable with no exceptions
MRI's are good for NEW students only.

Pick up some business cards next time you are in class and start getting your classes for free!

Cup Cake Fun

Most everyone knows that I make and teach jewelry classes in Las Vegas but once in awhile you have to step out of your comfort zone and do something new and for me ...crazy. I have a very good friend who is an expert scrapbook maker and so for her birthday this year one of her gifts I gave her was this cupcake made of paper and paper flowers. The cupcake has a secret hiding place for a gift card, I just love secrets don't you?

Art And Soul- Las Vegas

Art and Soul is here in Las Vegas this week for the second year in a row, and word of mouth is that it won't be coming back due to low attendance. I don't know if that is Art and Soul's fault for not advertising enough, or Las Vegas's fault for not advertising enough or our fault for knowing about it and not taking advantage of all it has to offer.
This was my second Las Vegas Art and Soul and I went to Portland Art And Soul Last year and had so much fun each year.
This year I took 2 classes, the first was a Sally Jean class in Soldering for Virgins, I was a little disappointed in that class due to the
over booking - there were just way too many students in that class ...36 to be exact. The project I made or am still making I should say is a 3 piece pendant that has a photo of my parents cutting their wedding cake over 60 years ago on one side and on the other is a paragraph of one of my mother's original poems and two other 2- sided little soldered pieces one says Home/Keepsake and the other says Tender/Love."

The second class was actually suppose to be with the fantastic teacher Robert Dancik in working with Faux Bone but a day before the classes started I got email saying that he came down with the H1N1 flu virus and would not be able to travel at all and so I ended up changing to a class with Sherri Habb and it was an etching class without using all the dangerous, messy chemicals ...It was an awesome class for a few reasons ....1. My friend Jerry took the class with me 2. Sherri Habb is a wonderful instructor and 3. I met so many nice people in that class. By the way you might want to go check out my "Cool Stuff" page to see how this etching system works.

Lessons learned? Sign up for classes when they come to Las Vegas or we will be left out and ....GET A FLU SHOT people.
Feel better Robert I really missed taking a class with you this year.

Wishing you peace in 2011