Bead Giveaway Winner!

The winner is CRISTI BAXTER CLOTHIER!

Thanks to everyone who participated!  

Cristi, please get in touch so we can talk about what color(s) you might want. :-)  

Create Mixed Media and Bead GiveAway

Hi all,  Blogger has shut me out for the last several days and I've been unable to visit you  to say "Thank You!" for participating.  It's not too late to enter ... we have until next Tuesday! 

Your free e-book waiting for you at Create Mixed Media.com

But if you haven't stumbled upon this exciting new resource for how-to's and inspiration, I want to invite you to visit Create Mixed Media. It is a great new site sponsored by North Light, but goes way beyond North Light.  You'll be able to learn and be inspired by our favorite artists, like Ruth Rae, Jen Cushman, Susan Kazmer, Bob Dancik, Rice Zachary, Pam Carriker, Stephanie Lee, Judy Wise ... you get the idea.

My artist profile just appeared on the site.  You'll find more about me than you ever wanted to know. :-) 

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!

To thank you for visiting the site and taking a look inside, I'm giving away a set of beads (valued at over $75).  The best part is that you get to pick your color.  Just let us know if you want them as they are ... or possibly in pink, red, dark green, a robin's egg blue, black, navy ... you name it, we'll make it!

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.   :-)

Riveting Without a Hammer ...

BeadStyle Magazine ... Tucson Treasures

I think one of the great things about Tucson is that it keeps on giving.  I'm still celebrating that experience through great things like the current issue of BeadStyle.  Here are just a few things that are featured ... but there's more where this came from.  This issue of BeadStyle features lots of nifty findings and beads and so much more.  You'll want to get this issue. :-)

How cool are those head pins ... so neat!  And that wood-turned bead ... it's a work of art!  

Hey, what's so special about the Painting with Fire Technique?

I know you hear me talk about torch-firing all the time, but it occurs to me that you might not know some of the differences between the "traditional" method of torch firing and the Painting with Fire method.  It makes me smile when I use the word "traditional" to describe torch firing, because I don't think anyone would consider torch firing a traditional enameling technique!

In the traditional method, you must clean the metal because the enamel will be applied to cold metal.  You must apply a fixative like Klyr-Fire to keep the enamel on the piece. You must sift the enamel onto the piece and try to get an even coating.  Because you're sifting, you must wear a dust mask. You'll place your piece on a firing trivet and go at it, but that's only for the first coat.  Then you must place your piece in a pickle to remove firescale from the unenameled side, spray Klyr-fire, sift, and repeat the firing process. 

Now that you've got ONE coat on the piece, you'll probably want to add one or two more coats, at least. Finally, you need to grind off the marks that the trivet has left.  I forgot to add that you're wielding a 2 lb. torch in your hand.

If you turn the process upside down you get the Painting with Fire method.  We don't clean the metal, we don't apply a fixative, we don't sift the enamel ... and our torch is safely anchored to the table so we have both hands free!

You place your piece on a mandrel.  We dangle it in the flame.  This heating removes all oils, dirt and grime ... hence, no cleaning or pickling. We immerse the hot metal into enamel.  The minute the enamel hits the hot metal it begins to fuse to the piece. Hence, no counter-enameling to cover the back and no need for pickling because we get front and back with one dip.  So, no Klyr-fire or sifting are needed. 

We bring the piece back to the flame and reheat, dip, reheat, dip and you're done.  Now wasn't that easy!  

Sari Ribbon

Aren't these colors the bomb?   Who doesn't love green and purple together ... or should I say, "Purple Reign" and "Leaping Lizards!"  "Moonscape" is even more ethereal than it appears in this photo ... and "Dream of the Mermaids" is ... well ... dreamy!

Even though I'm a reformed fabriholic, I still can't stop myself from fondling these ribbons ... oops, that didn't sound right ...  

They're available in 2 yard ($1.50) and 5 yard ($2.99) lengths at my website:  www.paintingwithfireartwear.com.  

P.S.  These are Fair Trade items and help to support women and single mothers in Nepal and India. 

Laugh Therapy with Lori Anderson!

My husband had some business on the Maryland Eastern Shore this week and I thought, "Hey I could visit Lori!" so I tagged along. OMG, I laughed until my face hurt!  She's a pixie, an imp, and a dynamo!  Do those things go together?  Not usually!  

Here's Lori with her stash of unbelievable beads!  She's not really that short (she's bent over), but she is definitely that cute!!!  We talked and laughed and talked and laughed ... okay, enough laugh therapy, it's time for lunch!

Lori at her bead stash

But I couldn't go without giving Vernon some hugs.  He reminds me so much of my cat, Gizmo, who lives with my daughter in Florida.  Gizmo is a Maine Coon Cat and so it appears is Vernon ... at least his size and toes are!  He's larger than some small dogs!  And, look at the tufts of fur between his toes.  He was so purrfectly satisfied to sit with me on the sofa that he swatted at me when I dared to get up to go to lunch, which was calling both of us. :-) 

Vernon ... the cat!

Lunch was chicken wraps at a place in downtown Easton, MD ... Easton is incredibly beautiful!  I would love to live in one of those historic homes that line the streets leading to Main Street USA!  

Here's the other side of Lori that we all love ... the side that has the focus and tenacity of a pit bull ... who bites and won't let go!  Yep, she's closing in on ... on ... well, that's a surprise!  

Lori, with the focused beam of a laser!

Thank you, Lori, for a great day.  I was sorry when it was over, but I'll look forward to another time soon. :-)  

                                                                                 Source: anabundanceof.blogspot.com on Pinterest

I love this quote ... and truly appreciate it as I pare down even more of the remnants of my pottery studio :: electric kiln, pug mill, potters wheel, glaze chemicals, pottery tools.  Things, in and of themselves, are not useful, it's when they function for their intended purpose that we embrace them and bask in the glory of our excellent decision to buy it!

Just curious ... have any of you experienced this shift ... one so great that you rid yourself of the things that were a beloved element of a past life?

Design Sponge's Biz Ladies

You guys have heard of Design Sponge, right?  I mean, I had heard of it and felt it dealt mostly with decor but a friend turned me on to the the Design Sponge Biz Ladies!  Talk about getting an MBA online!  Holy Cow!  Come join me there!

New copper shapes at PWF!

Hi all, I hope everyone had a great mother's day.  I spent some time photographing these new copper shapes that are for sale at my website: www.paintingwithfireartwear.com.  Come for a visit ... and stay a while!

Sharon of Livewire Jewelry

When I saw these earrings on Sharon's blog, I just had to have them.  I love milky, opalescent beads and was drawn to Sharon's design.  The earrings are even more beautiful in person because there's a halo around the perimeter of the bead that you can only see when they're hanging. Sharon's attention to detail is the finishing touch! But I mentioned to Sharon that I was buying these as a birthday present to myself.

When I opened the box, look what else was inside! A birthday present of more beads and pendants from Sharon and a nice little note that she had made several of the pieces with her little ol' hands.  Beautiful!

And, here are those milky opalescent beads again ... oh boy!  Look at Sharon's resin piece.  It's amazingly delicate in feel and look.  Wow!

The packaging was delightful.  I should have taken a photo of the silk velvet ribbon that adorned the box, but I couldn't wait to tear into it!  Thank you, Sharon.  You made me feel very special! :-)  I'll think of you and your thoughtfulness every time I wear your beautiful earrings ...

Painting with Fire Workshop Schedule

I finally have the workshop schedule for the next several months. I hope to meet some of you in a workshop where you'll learn how to play with fire without getting burned! :-)

Painting with Fire Workshop

During the workshop we'll enamel between 30 and 50 beads, several pendants, charms, and doo dads. You'll learn the Painting with Fire immersion process of torch firing, which is the quickest and easiest way to enamel an item that has a hole, such as a bead, pendant, charm, etc.  We'll also work with lump enamel, millefiore, and cat whiskers.  Learn how opaque and transparent enamels can be overlapped to create lively color variations.  I'll demonstrate how a reduced flame can add age and texture, as well as smoky hazes, to our work.  Walk away with beads by the fistful!  No experience required. All tools and supplies are provided. 

May 21, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

June 5, Ric Castro Salon/JuxtaCenter, St. Petersburg, FL, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

June 18, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

August 21, Bead Fest Philly, Valley Forge, PA, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 17, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis*, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 29, Art and Soul/Portland (FULL)

Forging Ahead/Forging Away

You get two for the price of one in this class.  First you learn the Painting with Fire immersion process of torch firing.  We'll enamel the beads for our bracelet.  During the enameling process, we'll forge several of the large copper beads into different shapes to which we'll apply millefiore, cat whiskers, and lump enamel.  We'll be working with 14-gauge wire as an armature for our bracelet and fashion an S-clasp from 16-gauge copper with sterling silver accents.  No experience required. Bring a bench block, hammer, some additional beads that will fit on a 14-gauge wire, round and chain nose pliers. 

August 20, Bead Fest Philly, Valley Forge, PA, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept.  27, Art and Soul/Portland, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Enamel Explorations ... Suitable for Framing

Want to take your enameling to the next level.  It's all about decoration in this workshop.  Work with liquid enamel, ceramic underglazes, ceramic overglazes, decals, fused and reticulated silver, millefiore/murrini ... it's all here!

June 26, Ric Castro Salon/JuxtaCenter, St. Petersburg, FL, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

July 16, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sept. 28, Art and Soul/Portland , 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

October 8, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Annapolis*, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Treasured Snippets

Based on a project from "The Book," this is an incredibly fun project.  Bright and colorful or a whisper of color, it's your choice. 

September 30, Art and Soul/Portland , 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

*Schedule has not be released yet. 

The Book is Finally Here!

How cool is this!  Please take a look at amazon.com and visit my page there! I've posted a little video of the process.  Don't blink or you'll miss a bead being enameled in about a minute.  I can't wait until the publisher gives us a peek inside!

I want to thank you all for your encouragement over these many months.  I have been the recipient of so many kindnesses ... thank you!

Thanks, Kerry!  I forgot to mention that signed copies of "The Book" are available for pre-order at my website: www.paintingwithfireartwear.com.  :-)