Barbara Lewis - Painting with Fire Artwear: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

I'm becoming a Pinterest freak! It took me more than a minute or two to figure out how to navigate the site ... but that's just me. The site is wonderful for inspiration. You can set up virtual mood boards to which you "pin" images that you admire or for some reason want to revisit. You can become a follower of another. Which is how I saw this wonderful display cabinet. Barbe St. John had repinned this to her board. Then ... I fell down the rabbit hole!

Source: re-store.org via Barbe on Pinterest

You know that wonderful feeling where you follow links and you forgot where you got started ... something I commonly do in conversations. Anyway, I saw that this image came from restore.org. It's a nonprofit organization that repurposes stuff into beautiful things. Too bad they're clear across the country in Washington state, but no worries, I can still drool from afar.

While I was at their blog, I clicked on "Apartment Therapy" only to find out how to do this ...

and this ...

Remember to leave a trail of bread crumbs so you find your way back!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Virtual Book Tour says so long ... but not goodbye!

Thank you for coming with me on this wonderful ride. Even though the Virtual Book Tour may be over, it doesn't mean we have to stop having fun!

Source: allposters.com via Linda on Pinterest

Before I give you some interesting numbers,

I want to say ...

Source: None via Abbie on Pinterest

to a whole bunch of people!

Mary Jane Dodd, Gaea Cannaday, Linda Larsen, Andrew Thornton, Lori Plyler, Diane Cook, Lori Anderson, LeAnn Weih, Jen Judd Velasquez, Melissa Meman, Lisa Crone, Shannon LeVart, Cindy Wimmer, Laura Twiford, Erin Prais-Hintz, Jennifer Cameron, Sharilyn Miller and YOU!

Even though I haven't been able to communicate with each and every one of you, I've read every comment you left here and at the other artists' blogs. Thank you for your enthusiasm, kind comments, and for making this event so much fun!

THE VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR INVOLVED ...

17 ARTISTS

20 DAYS

19 PRIZES

1,105 BLOG COMMENTS!

But before we go we have a winner to announce! The winner of the Floral Cascade Necklace kit is ...

Kay Thomerson of Kayz Kreationz!

There's still time to win the Torch-Firing Kit ... or equivalent ($110 value) from www.paintingwithfireartwear.com. All you have to do is to leave an honest review of the book at Amazon and wait for the winner to be announced on November 24! How easy is that? :-) I'll be able to leave a comment on your review at Amazon as a way of communicating with you ... and you can always check back here to see if you've won. But I hope you don't wait until then to visit me!

I feel really weird right now ... like I'm saying goodbye and going on a long trip ... but I'm not ... I'll be back in a couple of days after I get some sleep! Actually, I'm beginning taping of an online Painting with Fire Workshop! More on this later ... but for now, hugs to you all!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Grand Finale ... Sharilyn Miller!

We're down to the last artist, but don't be discouraged because this one's a doozy, plus tomorrow we get to announce the winner of the Floral Cascade kit! Sharilyn and I struck up an easy online friendship ... I wish we lived closer. She's a very generous person. Not only is she a talented jewelry designer and teacher, she's the author of nearly a dozen books!

We're all in luck today because Sharilyn is sharing her tutorial on how to make these cage beads at her blog! I think these are some of the cutest things ... they have so much personality. They're like a family! You've got the fat one, the skinny one, and the one with the crazy hair!

Sharilyn Miller's Cage Beads!

But Sharilyn didn't stop there! Wait 'til you see the creation she made with these beads ... WOW! Please make sure to visit Sharilyn's blog today to find out how she make these cute little darlings and uses them in her design! You can find the great review she wrote for my book HERE.

Before we get on with the rest of the details and rules, I'd like to announce the winner of the enamel head pins. Congratulations, Patti Van! You're the winner! Please get in touch with me through www.torchfiredenameljewelry.com

The winner of these darling pair of earrings by Jennifer Cameron is none other than Theresa Fosdick! Theresa, please contact Jenny!

Please come back tomorrow where we sum up the tour and announce the winner of the Floral Cascade Necklace kit! And remember we have a major drawing for a Torch-Firing Enamel Kit! But if you've already got the kit, you get a $110 shopping experience at www.paintingwithfireartwear.com. Think of all the good enamels that will buy! All you have to do is leave a review of the book at Amazon ... Just be honest about your appraisal of the book. We'll have a random drawing on November 24 for the winner!

Remember, you're at the Virtual Book Tour for this book!

So you don't miss out on any of the blog posts, here is the list of hosts for you to follow:

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd, www.mairedodd.blogspot.com

October 7, Gaea Cannaday, www.gaeabeads.blogspot.com

October 8, Linda Larsen, www.objectsandelements.typepad.com

October 10, Andrew Thornton, www.andrew-thornton.blogspot.com

October 11, Lori Plyler, www.waterstonejewelry.blogspot.com

October 12, Diane Cook, www.rosa-josies.blogspot.com

October 13, Lori Anderson, http://www.prettythingsblog.com

October 14, LeAnn Weih, www.summersstudio.blogspot.com

October 15, Jen Judd Velasquez, www.jenjuddrocks.blogspot.com

October 17, Melissa Meman, www.melissameman.blogspot.com

October 18, Lisa Crone, www.abeadaday.blogspot.com

October 19, Shannon LeVart, www.missficklemediacom.blogspot.com

October 20, Cindy Wimmer, www.sweetbeadstudio.com

October 21, Laura Twiford, www.souvenirsfromlife.blogspot.com

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz, www.treasures-found.blogspot.com

October 24, Jennifer Cameron, www.glassaddictions.com

October 25, Sharilyn Miller, www.sharilynmiller.blogspot.com

To thank you for following along, we will have a BONUS PRIZE at the end of the book tour! All of the entries will be included in the drawing for a kit containing all the elements of "Floral Cascade," one of the projects in the book. You'll receive everything you need to make the necklace, including the chain, jump rings, clasp, enamel beads, and head pins!

But that's not all! Really? Seriously? Seriously.

For a chance to win the Grand Prize - a Torch-Firing Kit (or $110 shopping experience atwww.paintingwithfireartwear.com) - please leave a review at Amazon.com by November 24. Remember, leave an honest review... the book must stand on its own.

Thanks for playing along! This is going to be a lot of fun!

P.S. Unfortunately, we have to restrict the giveaways to U.S. residents. Winners should contact me with their name and address through my author website: www.torchfiredenameljewelry.com so that you can receive your prizes!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Jennifer Cameron's in the house ... no wonder it feels hot in here!

I'm always tickled when I find that a lampworker wants to try the Painting with Fire technique. I guess it's because I know what a treat is in store for them. If an artist can make beautiful lampwork beads, they can make enamel ones in their sleep using the PWF method. They just don't know it yet. Well, that's the feeling I had when Jenny Cameron came around!

Some of Jenny's first beads went into making these darling earrings, which she provides the tutorial for HERE. She wrote a rockin' review of my book HERE. I think she nailed it and I'm very grateful ... I know how much time she spent on the review ... it's so thorough.

Jenny's Lantern Earrings

Today I'll be giving away some enamel head pins. I know some of them look like glass ... well enamel is glass, what am I saying?!!! But the largest head pins with the transparent glass are made with a Thompson Enamel grain size called 6/20, which is the size of lampworking frit. The book goes into detail on how to make an enamel head pin. I know you're sitting there thinking, "What the big deal?" Well, enamel head pins have a tendency to crack, leaving bits of enamel chunks on your beading table. I spent so much time trying to figure out a foolproof way to get enamel head pins. If you're interested in learning how, join www.paintingwithfire.ning.com and search the forum for "enamel head pins." It's all there, free of charge, plus you'll also find it in the book.

Here's the giveaway from my blog...

Head Pin giveaway!

Jenny has a great blog giveaway. On Friday, she will post the directions on how to make these great earrings and have kits for sale for those you don't want to enamel their own.