I hope that you all had a good holiday season and are starting to settle into the new year. If we believe some of the doomsayers these is due to be a very eventful year. I hope it will be an eventful year and that we come out of the slump that our economy has been in so that bead sales pick up and we all have good sales of our work. In the meantime hone your skills and have fun at the torch.   Send details to me, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , by the 15th of each month so that I can share it with the rest of the region in the e-newsletter and on this ISGB West Region web page.

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Lena Rhodes reports that all the butterfly beads donated for the Stanford Bereavement Ceremony by the SGB NorCal Chapter was much appreciated. It was a beautiful day and ceremony. About 75 - 80 families were there to remember their loved ones. The event coordinator wanted everyone who donated beads for the event to know that they have achieved HERO status at the hospital that your use of your artistic talents - is sooooo appreciated. The 'extra' butterflies are going to be used in the CVICU (CardioVascular Intensive Care Unit) who are completely out of butterflies - and will probably need all of the extras to catch up/keep a small stash. Hoping for the day when we need LOTS of purple hearts and very few butterflies.

The Arroyo Road Bead Collective from Marin County has lost one of their beloved members, Mary Weaver. Mary was a familiar face at Arrow Springs.   With her friend, Kay MacDowall, she attended every BABE show, and gem show that was within driving distance. Mary fell and broke a rib on the way home from Arrow Springs last summer. She did not heal from the fall, and with further examination it turned out that she had cancer in many areas of her body. She died soon after an operation. She was loved by all in the group.   Ironically, her close friend, Kay survived open heart surgery a week after Mary's death and suffered a stroke. She is no longer able to make beads. Two giant ladies who will be missed.

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Chapters and Meetings:

SGB NorCal

Our next meeting is the annual Beads of Courage jewelry day on Saturday February 18th at Aimee Milan’s Studio in Hayward. At this annual event we all sit around, eat and swap lies as we make wirework pendants and bag beads for the BOC program. Learn to wire wrap simple headpin pendants and put those skills to work turning tons of heart beads into wearable pendants for the kids. Bring your wire cutters, round nose pliers, any extra wire and pitch in. We will have one of our typical calorie-laden potlucks so save up some room. See a bead you like and someone will be there to explain how it was made.  Please email Sharon Peters  for more information.

Upcoming dates for SGB Norcal:
Jan 21 Arrow Springs Demo Day
Feb 18 BOC Party at Aimee Milan's
Mar 17 Terri Carol in Half Moon Bay
April 28 Janice Peacock Glass Garden Party
May 19 Jim Kervin in Livermore
Jun (TBD)
Jul no meeting
Aug 18 (TBD)
Sep 15 Glass Bazaar at Arrow Springs
Oct 27 Glassblowing Pumpkins at BAGI
Nov no meeting
Dec 01 Holiday Party at Sharon’s

SGB NorCal Board
President Sharon Peters
Membership Shirley Cook
Treasurer Jim Kervin

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So Cal Flame Surfers
http://www.socalflamesurfers.org/

Our next meeting will be held in March 2012. It will be on a Saturday from 10 am to 1 am. The actual date has not yet been confirmed. It will be at The Mandrel located at 553 Mary Ann Drive, Redondo Beach, Ca. 90278. The bead exchange will be big holed beads so bring a wrapped bead(s) with your name included to join in the fun. We have social time so food/snacks are always welcomed. Dues are $5.00 a meeting and to towards providing raffle prizes, holiday gift to all attending members and food for the meetings. For further info, please see our website at: http://www.socalflamesurfers.org

The Flame Surfers first board meeting will take place Saturday, February 25th, 10:30 am at Toni Tracy Studio 3485 University Ave., Riverside 92506.

So Cal Flame Surfers Board
President Toni Tracy
Vice President StacyLynn Russom
Treasurer Karen Gassaway
Secretary Linda Dillard
Membership Kathy Spignese
Hospitality Alaina Oreman
Featured Artist Holly Hughes
Raffle Chair Shari Hagewood
Webmistress Carey Conley
BOC Liaison Wendy Leys

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Classes: Northern California

Arrow Springs - 800-899-0689
4301 Product Drive
Shingle Springs, CA 95682
visit website for more information

Classes: Southern California

For more information about the studio or classes please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Donna or call 310-413-9789
visit website for more information     

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NOCA Chapter
Northern California
Sharon Peters
3568 McSherry Way
Alameda, CA 94502
510-865-2138
sharon.peters @ smartassglass.com
noca @ isgb.org

So Cal Flame Surfers
Southern California
2605 Armour Lane
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 562-2029
Judy Carlson, President
http://www.socalflamesurfers.org/

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Submissions for The Bead Release (e-newsletter) are due by the 15th of the month.

Have questions about events, activities or anything pertaining to the West Region? Email your regional director!

 

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