Bissextile? You Bet!

In case you're wondering, (read the spelling sloooowly), bissextile means pertaining to Leap Day or Leap Year.
It's the day when according to an old Irish tradition, women can propose to men.  I always thought that option was available perhaps 365 days out of the year, but still, gotta mention the hoopla about today.


For me, it's mostly an extra day to get more things accomplished before the end of the month.  Maybe I'll shake things up a bit and ask my husband to marry me, again. I'm not sure if this is true to the tradition, but perhaps I'll get a hearty chuckle out of him.  


Happy Leap Day to you.  If you have special plans- let us know!

Beads of Courage's Stash Low- Beadmakers- HELP!

Beads of Courage has been helping a lot of kids recently and are REALLY LOW on inventory.  Here is a link for the form and address. Please help if you have a some spare lampwork beads- they need Acts of Courage beads, which means anything that has at least a 3/32 smooth hole.

I know the program, and especially the kids will appreciate your donation.  Thanks!

PIntereest Inspiration

I wish I can remember whose pin on Pinterest.com this was.  But I LOOOOVE the colors, the photo and  am saving it to inspire a series for my Spring line.  It is so warm, but fresh.  If you haven't joined pinterest, please do and just start checking out what your friends are pinning.  I'm finding new friends, ideas and all kinds of wonderful inspiration.  Join me, and don't forget to add me as a friend under Marcy Lamberson.

Morning After Landscape Planter

I love to see cool art projects made out of recycling glass and this one come up pretty high on my list.  I think a few really good parties, might produce most of the materials, depending upon the beverage of choice.

I had first seen outdoor landscaping done with wine bottles about 15 years ago for a Designer Show House here in Atlanta.  They (Boxwoods Gardens & Gifts) had used wine bottles to edge their show garden.  It really stuck in my memory, not only because it seemed unusual at the time, but also, it looked really cool then. (Nothing broke with the thousands of folks who went through either.)

So which would you prefer?  The journey, (to get the materials...ha, ha), or the end result?

ps  If you know the person who made this wonderful project, would you please post their name?  I feel badly not knowing who created it.  I can tell a lot of work went into it.

Yay for Public Art!

My friend, Jim Berry of Blue Moon Glassworks took this photo of a small section of a public art mural he is helping with in Austin TX.  Shipe Park is a cute little green space with a swimming pool-  not too far from his business in the Hyde Park neighborhood.  Austin is rich with public art and it's always a joy to see it, when I visit.

This is the second public mosaic mural that he's worked on.  Seeing photos and hearing about their process makes me wish my local government found a way to beautify my area too.  I love not only the end result, but the concept, the teamwork and all the other factors that go with it.

Do you have something like this going on where you live? I'd love to hear about it.

Leather Wrap Bracelets

Look at the fingernails and the wrap bracelets.  Can you tell this is from Fashion Week in NYC?  I kind of like the variety from the sparkle, although the leather wrap bracelets that so many people are making with the beads between two leather strips are really cool as well.  But these...well, immediately I thought of my old narrow leather belts from the 80's or whatever decade that was, and how easy it would be to find some of those at a resale shop and use them.

What do you think?  Thumbs up or down?  Or how would you restyle this look?  I'd love to hear.

Beads of Courage Ladybug Stars

Imagine dreaming up a bead design and having it chosen to represent your hospital.  Fifteen year old Beads of Courage patient, Christina Perry was the winner to represent Pittsburgh and I was the lucky beadmaker chosen to interpret her design.

Its a yellow outlined sculptural star, with polka dots, a fat ladybug with green legs and a flower on the back side and will soon be offered on the Beads of Courage website.  I like this design so much.  It is sculptural (always prefer those), it has cheerful colors and a happy design.  Christina's message was that it was to show HOPE.  And if I have ever worked in hopeful, optimistic colors, it's this one here!

There are  other beads designed by patients, parents and medical staff involved through Beads of Courage that will also be for sale. Some are listed already, you can find them HERE.  And they are so reasonably priced at $25.00 each.

See you tomorrow!

Call For Entries The 7th Annual Halstead Grant for Silver Jewelry Designers

This is a reprint from the Halstead Grant Website.


Prescott, AZ – February 8, 2012 – Halstead Bead Inc invites new silver jewelry designers to enter its 7th annual grant competition for artisans in the industry. The winner of the 2012 business development grant will receive a prize package including $6,000 in cash and merchandise.

The focus on silver is new to the grant in 2012. Previously the competition was open to all materials in the bridge jewelry segment. “But that segment is now hazier than ever before due to volatile metal costs and shifting sales channels,” explained program coordinator Hilary Halstead Scott. “Requiring the primary material to be silver clarifies eligibility and provides an exclusive opportunity for silver artists,” she continued.

Designers using jewelry making techniques such as metalsmithing, metal clay, wire work or beading are eligible to enter the competition. Other accent materials are welcome, but the artist’s primary metal medium should be silver. Candidates must be US citizens who began their businesses within the last three years.

Complete eligibility requirements and the submission checklist are on The Halstead Grant Application PDF. Candidates are required to submit a design portfolio, résumé and answers to several business planning questions. Applications may be submitted between April 15 and June 9, 2012.

The grant sponsor, Halstead Bead, Inc., is one of North America’s leading distributors of jewelry supplies. The firm was established in 1973 and is trusted by thousands of jewelry design businesses and manufacturers around the globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. specializes in wholesale findings, chain and metal for silver jewelers.


There are hints and tips, lists of winners and finalists and all kinds of wonderful information on the original website... right here.  Good luck!!

Zeus and the Glass Smalti

I was trying to figure out why my cat Zeus was so interested in certain bowls of my mosaic glass smalti.  The top right one seemed particularly interesting.

I won't ever understand how cats think.  Especially this one, but I think I figured out this one.  It was close to dinner time, Sometimes he eats out of bowl and the smalti was pink.  I think he was hoping it was shrimp or something tasty.

Instead it's a tasty treat for someone else. I shipped out my spares to a friend who will give them a good home and turn them into lovely art.

Solar Charger with a Twist

I saw this "Ray" solar charger whose suction cup attaches to windows for optimal charging, and liked the idea.  Unfortunately, it is still in the "not available yet" category.  But I think folks who travel sure could get some serious use out of them.  And of course, I love that they are solar.  Why not use that free energy?

A Toast!

It's hard to be serious when you see a cat wearing a slice of bread.  Personally, I think it suits his coloring.  What attracted me to this photo, (as well as the humor in it), is that it is easy to see the shapes on the kitty's face.  This is a big bonus for making sculptural glass cats.  I like that it shows where his chin is in relationship to the muzzle and how the nose is rounded on top and the cute little indentation on the tip of his nose.  I may not get all those details in when making the from glass, but it's a good way to see how the details work together.

I can't picture my cat sitting still for it.  He doesn't like anything on him.  What about you?  Do you know any cooperative kitties?

May your weekend be as inconsequential, as this post, but as much fun.

Bonsai Tree Artistry

Japanese artist, Takanori Alba's natural material art invokes magical places that are carved and intertwined with bonsai trees.  You can see more of these delightful and intricate pieces by visiting here.

NY Fashion Week- Shoes!

This pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes spotted during NY's Fashion Week make me smile. It's kind of like trying to have the best of all the worlds...high heel, platform, comfort (looks like double padding in the ball of the foot area, and of course, "style".   The model is called "Luisa", I think.

So the questions of the day are...do you like them?  And would you wear them?

p.s.  These are the ones I really like. Manolo Blahnik's.  Yum!

Valentines Day...The Perfect Card

I think I found the perfect sentiment for Valentine's Day.  It's not too mushy, not is it too mean.  So for all my friends and loved ones who read this blog.......

(and I have to say, I am a big fan of bacon, so i must be a bigger fan of you!)  Happy Valentines Day from someone who doesn't take the holiday over seriously.

PS,  you can find this awesome card on Etsy right here.

Breakfast with Julie

Yesterday morning was a real treat with my friend Julie and her husband.  We went up to their North Georgia mountain cabin for the weekend, and had the most delicious meals that my friend cooks.  

This was the breakfast egg strata that she made.  I love it when people cook without recipes and that's her style.  She whisked about 8 or so eggs, some crumbled portuguese rolls, sauteed some baby bella mushrooms and onion then added a couple of handfuls of both grated cheese and fresh spinach.  To make it fluffier, she tossed in a sprinkle of baking powder as well.  A few seasonings and she popped it in the oven at 350.  It was delicious.

This is Julie. She's actually a PhD, who has been working on a bill in front of the legislature regarding concussions and head injuries.  She teaches college, does neural something something research (you fill in the blanks, because I can't remember all the technical words), raised three wonderful sons, (one is my son's good friend), and lives a very full life.  Did I mention she's an excellent cook?

I hope you all have friends like this in your life. Not just the good cook type person, but someone that you really enjoy being around.  And I also hope you had as much fun as I did this past weekend.  Laughing, chatting and catching up are good for the soul.

Southern is Relative

I've been living in the South for quite a few years now...almost 20.  But I have to say, that my daughter wins this one.  Here is a recent photo of Sparky in Antarctica.  I guess her "south" beats my "south" by a landslide...or perhaps a polar ice cap.

Blues Name

I saw this on Facebook. (How many times have you heard that one?)  Anyway, it was mildly amusing and perfect for a Friday afternoon when you're ready for the work week to slow down.

So what is your blues name?  I'm "Jailhouse Killer Parker" which cracks me up.  I'm about as far from a jailhouse or killing as you can get.  So of course, it's perfect

I'm waiting to hear some good ones.  So post 'em here and let's see how funny you can get.

See you on Sunday.  http://www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com

Picture Worth a Thousand Words

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I bet you can tell where I was on Tuesday.

And here's a second chance, if there was some way you didn't catch the first.

I loved my day in New Orleans.  It started with beignets and cafe au lait and ended with a great late lunch with Deanna Chase.  I'll post more photos later of some of my finds in the French Quarter, but first, I wanted to say more about Deanna.  What a delightful and talented glass artist and writer.

Did you know that she has written a book, Haunted on Bourbon Street, which of course, is set right around the corner from where we had lunch.  And I found out her second book is getting close to being completed.  I'll let you know when it's out.  We chatted about the book business, which is fascinating to me.  I love learning about new topics and especially love hearing about specific industries.  This is cool.

And you can find Deanna's glass beads and her husband, Greg's marbles and fun murrini right here!

I'll write more about NOLA another time.  I have some more photos to download and then I'll show you what I found.

A Word from Zeus

My cat, Zeus wanted to say hi, because he thinks he needs attention.  I'm sleeping in today after a quick trip out of town yesterday. I will be back tomorrow with photos and stories of my adventures in New Orleans.

(Did you notice the "M" on his forehead?  That's for Marcy)

Inspiration from Italy-- Wait til you see it!

This great Pasta Mista by Torino, sure caught my eye at the store.  I bought it for it's gentle, spring colors and fun shapes.  Honestly, I want to make jewelry out of it- kind of a new style macaroni necklace  a la preschool.  But instead, I will use it as inspiration and serve it for dinner instead.

ps thinking that this would be really nice if it were electroformed too!

Natural Nail Polish...Didn't Know

We're getting more and more careful with what we're eating, putting on our bodies and surrounding ourselves with...but I hadn't thought of nail polish, until I saw it on a natural products website.  From what I can tell, I think you can remove it with rubbing alcohol.

I'm not sure if I am ready to transition.  My hands need something sturdy to stay on really well and I don't know if this does.  But if I had little girls wanting to play dress up, I sure would be using a product like this.  You can find it on this awesome website - www.AbesMarket.com.

Ready for a Re-Write?

I love the idea of using recycled newspaper to make these pencils.  They almost look like a work of art, instead of something you'd sharpen away.  TreeSmart Industries in Oregon makes them.

Music To His Ears?

The outdoor extension cord draped over this lion's head fountain, gave me a double take from a distance.

Somehow, it kind of looks like he's wearing a headset and roaring along to the music.   What kind of music do you think he would enjoy?

Glass Igloo Village in Finland

Seeing the Aurora Borealis has always been on my bucket list, but after finding this awesome glass igloo village in Finland, I think I may have expanded that entry.

It's located in Kakslauttanen.  And here is what a sample room looks like.  I've had some pretty cool hotels on my bucket list, but this might just be in the top 10.

Anyone else want to come?

Help Yourself To This Photo of Colorful Transparent Glass

We were in a little, very casual cafe, and this small rack of colored glass bottles was sitting on the booth divider.  I loved how the light was shining through.  I was hoping that the transparency and color would illustrate how watercolor paints work.  If you look really hard, you can see a bit of the color overlaid onto another and the difference in the hue.  Otherwise, it's just a fun photo.  And you are welcome to download it and add it to your glass photo collection if you wish.  I know its bright and joyful colors sure make me smile.