The Definition of Friendship

I've heard it said that a friend will help you move....but your best friend will help you move a body.
Well, I have a best friend, and she not only meets the definitions, she make a new one!
A little background:  Susan Griffith and I have been best buddies since we met in 1989 and became house-mates.  We rented a 4-bedroom house so that our young boys could live in a good neighborhood and go to good schools in the Poway School District (more about that later).  But we were also a couple of hot single 30-somethings that still wanted to have some fun (well, she was hot...I was OK)
Flash forward a few years, and Sue introduced me to my now husband...seems a friend of her friend had a friend....you know how that goes......
Sue and I have seen each other through a lot in the past 23 years...and sometimes we feel more like sisters than friends.  When I was picked for the finals of the very first CREATE YOUR STYLE with SWAROVSKI design competition and the awards ceremony was held in New York, Sue cashed in airline miles and was right there with Cliff and me at Swarovski's big event.  Can you even imagine how much fun that was!
And do you know why I now teach beadwork and jewelry making classes for the Poway Adult School -- Yup, cause Susan pushed me to go to a "So You Want to Be a Teacher" meeting when I didn't believe that I would qualify.
We kid each other that we have to stay friends, because we each have very incriminating photos from our shared past that we might not want to have made public!
Well last weekend Sue completely redefined friendship!  Because I begged her to (oh, and I mean begged!), Sue accompanied me to Fresno and assisted me in my booth at The Heart of California Bead & Design Expo.  Now Sue is a Real Estate Agent in the Escondido/Rancho Bernardo/Poway area of San Diego, and knows nothing of beading or beadwork...other than what I tell her when I'm prattling on about what I'm doing.  And my original idea was that Sue would just be there to back me up and cover the main table while I was doing a couple of ring Make & Takes.  Yeah, that was what I THOUGHT would happen.
What actually happend was that the Sparkle-Ing Sparkle-Rings made with SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS were a big hit at the show, and I spent almost all my time making rings.  So there was Sue, not knowing a bicone from a briolette, or a seed bead from a seed pod doing her very best to answer questions and sell my patterns and kits.  And boy did she ever sell!
So, if you have a friend like Susan...you know how very, very lucky you are!  And if Sue had enough fun to be enticed to help out with a booth at another time and you see her, please tell her how lucky I know I am!  Oh, and if you are looking for a house in North San Diego County....send Sue a note!
Sparkles and smiles!
Diane

Heart of California

Well, I'm off to Central California  next week, specifically to Fresno,
and it is a little like going home...but more about that later.

I'm participating in the very first "Heart of California Bead and Adornment Expo" smack-dab in the middle of the state.  This is a first for me, I'm going there as an exhibiter, not just as a teacher.  I'll be selling instructions, kits and filigree components.

I'm also holding my SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS "Sparkle-ing Sparkle-ring" make & take which has been very popular at the Pasadena Bead & Design shows over the past year.   I just love introducing people to new SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS that they might not have though about incorporating into their beadwork or jewelry making before.
I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new friends in the Central California area....I understand there is a very healthy beading community there.  And as I'm coming back next spring to teach for the Central California Bead Society, I'm really looking forward to meeting as many of the members as I can.

The show is being organized by Stephanie Harrell, owner of Bead Artistry.  I am definitely going to stop by her store while I'm there....I promise to take pictures and share!  This show is a brilliant idea and fills a very large need for that part of our state.  The closest bead shows to this area are either the Bead & Design Shows in Pasadena or BABE in Oakland, a long drive in either direction.  So all you beaders in Fresno, Clovis, Visalia, Hanford, Merced, Tulare, Dinuba, Selma, Madera and even Bakersfield, come on into Fresno, to the Ramada Inn at 324 E. Shaw (right off the 41 Freeway) next Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23 from 10:00am till 5:00pm each day.  Stop by and say "Hello" when you do, OK?

Many, many years ago, I lived in Hanord, a little more than 35 miles from Fresno.  While I lived there I drove to Visalia (about 25 miles) every day through pure farm country to attend college classes at College of the Sequoias.  Told you it was many years ago!  As I had moved there after living and working in downtown San Francisco this was a bit of culture shock for this city girl to be that far into California's heartland, and farmland.  The area made quite an impression on me though, and a lot of good memories were made in the 1-1/2 years I lived there.  Ahhh...there are some smells you never forget!  When I lived in Hanford, the closest movie theater with new movies was in Fresno.  So guess where I stood in line to see the first Star Wars... yup, told you it was a long time ago!

So now I'm heading to the Heart of California, and bringing my best friend Sue with me.  Wonder how many cows we'll see along the way?  Wish us luck on our new adventure!

Exciting New Tucson Show Coming!

THE TUCSON BEAD SHOW

AT THE WINDMILL INN

FEBRUARY 5 - FEBRUARY 10, 2013

Garan-Beadagio shows is expanding The Tucson Bead Show for 2013 to include the Windmill Inn at St. Philips’s Plaza (former site of the Whole Bead Show.) This event will include teachers and bead artisans in their own classroom/showroom settings.

I am honored to be sharing my suite with Diane Fitzgerald, so stop by beginning February 5^th and see us both!  Come for a class or stop by and snap up kits, books or finished jewelry and beads.  Free Shuttle will run between the 2 shows.

My Class Schedule

Friday, February 8, 2013

         10:00am – 4:00pm 

                (with ½ hour lunch break)

  

Double Lattice Bracelet

Why make just one pretty bracelet, when you can make two at the same time!  

This pretty bracelet begins as an easy Right Angle Weave (perfect for beginners) in SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Crystal Pearls and then uses a variety of netting techniques to embellish both sides in different colors and different designs. The innovative clasp works on both sides.

All SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS, beads and other materials are included in kit.   Please bring reading glasses or magnifiers.

6 hours   $60.00 (all inclusive)

Saturday, February 9, 2013

    10:00am – 1:00 pm

Crystal Garden Path Bracelet & Earrings

Take a walk in an enchanted garden; SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS crystal cobblestones are edged with seed beads and Xillion bead "flowers"; a bracelet and earrings fit for an elfin princess. 

You'll love learning this innovative use of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS 2-hole square beads.  Beginning and experienced beaders will be equally enchanted with the delicate stitching and the clasp attachment techniques.  All SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and supplies are included.  Please bring reading glasses or magnifiers.

3 hours   $65.00 all inclusive

Saturday, February 9, 2013

       3:00pm – 6:00pm

La Virreina Necklace

Her Galas in old Barcelona were legendary and attended by the highest of society…. yet she never turned down an invitation to dance with the flower vendors in the square….

More innovative usage of SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and filigree findings make a lively and colorful necklace that will have you dancing. All SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS and supplies are included.  Please bring reading glasses or magnifiers.

3 hours   Special “Happy Hour” price, $40.00 all inclusive

Sunday, February 10, 2013

       9:00am – 4:00pm

          (with ½ hour lunch break)

Princepessa II Pendant

She has a wardrobe of romantic jewelry, as every Princess should!  And so can you when you learn the basics of bead weaving on filigree components.

SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS Crystal Chessboard Flatback, Crystal Pearls and Xilion (bicone) beads are combined with filigree components make up this ornate and romantic pendant.  You will learn the techniques and then learn how you can design your own. All SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS beads and other materials are included in kit. Please bring reading glasses or magnifiers.

6 hours   $80.00 (all inclusive)

Reserve your seat and color choices by e-mail: dwhitingdesigns@cox.net

or call 619-665-1504

Multiple color and metal choices will be available.

Advance payment accepted by credit card or check.

Burger Babes and Beads!

Well, Donna and I were at it again. This time we visited Slater's 50/50 Burger in the Liberty Station area of San Diego. First....I LOVE Liberty Station, I love the location, the layout, and the idea of it. This is the former Naval Training Center (aka San Diego Boot Camp)that has been redeveloped and now is a compilation of retail shops, restaurants, art and community centers and housing. This is prime San Diego real estate, and very close to the water, so there are gorgeous views and cool breezes. That said, I don't love the location of Slater's 50/50. It is well hidden behind the area that my GPS says it is located, so on one of the hottest days of the summer (when there were no aforementioned breezes) I was hiking around in circles looking for the front door. However, the crowds indicated that perhaps I was the only location-challenged person -- the place was full by 11:45!


There has been a lot of local buzz about this new place that makes their burgers with 50% bacon. There is a small drawback to the bacon burger, though, they must be cooked to the well-done stage, so I passed on one, and opted instead for their standard ground beef burger, cause I really like mine medium-rare. So...burger was tasty but I opted for the bacon mayonnaise, and it was a bit slippery...my burger literally slipped out of the bun on the first bite! Very funny to everyone watching, just not so funny from my perspective ;-) Donna opted for the same burger, but didn't get the mayo, so her's at least stayed in the bun. So this is definitely a good burger place, but not a great burger place. A bit up there on the $$$ scale, and a little too far away from most everything to be a work-week lunch destination unless you have more than 1 hour to spare.



And with their wall of beer taps, I'd much rather go here in the evening, or on the weekend!







So, the beads this time belonged to me. I wore my Swarovski Elements Disk Pendant necklace in gorgeous Bermuda Blue...and got lots and lots of attention.
Stopped at Macy's on the way home, and one of the salesladies is now a new customer!

Now that's what I call Sparkles and Smiles!