Greetings Flame Surfer!

Summer is in full swing and not only is it a busy one, it is HOT! I happen live to close to the beach, which tends to be a bit cooler, so I can only imagine what it's like for you folks inland! Hope you are staying cool! I have been learning a new format for the newsletter.....I hope you enjoy it! (ps...still learning....hope to have it down better next month!)

Aside from the high temps, lots going on here in So Cal! We had our 2nd quarterly meeting in June at The Mandrel in Redondo Beach. We had a record turnout for a June meeting! Judy Carlson (uh...that's me) was our demo artist and made a huge fish....which was raffled off and won by our new raffle chairperson, Shari Hagwood. No...it wasn't fixed...you just need to buy lots of raffle tickets! We had plenty of other goodies too.

Our Next meeting will be on September 19th at Glass Obsessions in Yorba Linda. We are very excited about our demo for this meeting. Cynthia Baker (a new member this year) will be sharing her skills using the Japanese air torch and Satake glass. She will be setting up a couple of these torches for folk to try out after her demo. If you have never tried this, it is quite different from soft glass...and of course boro. Satake has a totally different feel and it's fun to experiment with a new glass. Cynthia will also be sharing her experience making furnace glass beads from a trip she will be taking next month. Be sure to make your plans to join us! Our bead exchange theme will be "EDILBLES", so use your imagination (and maybe your belly!) and join in the fun!

I was just looking through the latest "Glass Bead" (the quarterly publication from the ISGB) and was happy to see photos of all the beads chosen for the Perspectives. Once again, congratulations to our own Barbara Birbeck (our featured artist chair extraordinaire!) whose beautiful shell bead is included in the exhibit. And then, I get to the back page and I right away recognized Susan Walter's adorable "message" beads. Way to go both of you!

Speaking of the ISGB, the Gathering is this week in Miami.I went last year when it was in Oakland and what an amazingly inspirational experience that was! Timing wasn't good for me this year, but I definitely planning to go next year. The Gathering will be held in Rochester, NY and a day trip to Corning Glass Museum is in the works. We'll talk about that more in a few months. By the way, if you are a current member of the ISGB, you will receive one free raffle ticket at our meetings. We have started a separate drawing for these tickets, so be sure your membership is renewed!

Our new membership chairperson, Bindy Lambell has a challenge for the So Cal Flame Surfers and the rewards could be...well...rewarding! Here is Bindy's message:

I am sure there are people you know who have admired your beads and maybe even have bought them. Maybe they have asked how you make them and have shown an interest in making them themselves. All you have to do is invite them to our next meeting and for every paying guest that signs up with us you get a ticket for a chance to win a free class from ME!!! It will be a class on my sculptural Halloween beads held at a studio as close to you as possible. I will contact a studio nearest you to see if we can have the class there. This is a $150.00 value that can be yours for absolutely FREE. You can see the Halloween beads in the current Bead Unique issue in the Gallery pages. My feeling is someone has to win so it might as well be YOU!!!

So next meeting, bring a friend, family member, co-worker and have a chance to win a class with Bindy! You can see more of Bindy's fun and colorful beads:
http://www.bindy.com/There are plenty of classes going on through out the southland. Be sure to check out the SCFS website or check out the following local studios:
The Mandrel
Glass Obsessions
Pacific Art Glass
Brea Bead Works

A week ago I had relatives in town and decided to take them to the Laguna Sawdust festival. I can't believe I have been living in So Cal for all of these years and never attended this before! What fun! It's a beautiful setting against the hillside, lots of shade from the eucalyptus trees and the ART! All local Laguna artists including one of our long time members, Linda Ames. Linda sells her glass art jewelry as well as her new metal work. If you get a chance, check it out. The festival is open every day and runs through August 30th. For more info and discount coupon, visit: http://www.sawdustartfestival.org and go say hello to Linda!

There are a couple of bead shows coming up soon. The Bead Society of San Diego County will be holding their 10th annual bead bazaar on August 1st & 2nd in San Diego. Click HERE for directions and more info. This is a great show with lots of glass art as well as all your beading goodies.

The same weekend, starting on Friday the 30th, the Pasadena Bead & Design Show will be taking place at the Hilton Pasadena.

Well....there ya go! A sea full of possibilities....see what happens when I combine two months! Please make your plans to join us in September and until then, have a great summer!

Cheers~
Judy Carlson
President
So Cal Flame Surfers