Donate to Beads of Courage & Win A Cricket Torch!

This is the Cricket Torch!

I am so excited!  It's time to for a little "pay it forward".  I was so lucky that my friends and family supported me in FlameTree Glass' Christmas contest and how fantastic-- I won a torch.  This one!  But on the other hand, I own one almost exactly like it.  (it's purple too!)

So I thought perhaps it's time to give back to all of you, my friends and it's your turn to win it.

I've started a blog with all the details right here.  http://www.GiveBeadsOfCourage.blogspot.com
It has all the details and fine print, but essentially here are the basics.

For every $25 or 25 bead donation to Beads of Courage, you receive a chance to win this GTT Cricket torch pictured above. This promotion is ONLY for the month of February starting on the 1st and ending on the 28th at midnight.  If you donate 200 beads, then you get 4 chances...easy peasy!

Please read the blog and check out the details.  There are some specific, (but easy) things you need to do to be sure you are entered for your donations.  Like send a photo of your donation to me, Marcy Lamberson, to post on that blog.  There are a few more minor points to be sure you can be contacted if you win!

Please join me in supporting kids with cancer and other life threatening illnesses.  Let's make their healing journey a little easier through our art and Beads of Courage.

FlameTree Glass Halloween Contest

Don't miss this one!
FlameTree Glass and GTT are teaming up again to bring you a fabulous Halloween Glass Art Contest!! 1st Prize: GTT Scorpion Torch, 2nd prize: Linx Torch, 3rd prize: Bobcat Torch and 4th Prize: Cricket Torch.

Contest Rules: "Make the best Flameworked Halloween themed glass art. Can be hard or soft glass, but make sure it is entirely flameworked.

Email the following to Contest@FlameTreeGlass.com....
-2 photo views- jpg. format, no larger than 7 x 10" 72 dpi.
-Description of the entry piece
-Short bio with your contact information

Only one entry per person. No "Adult" content
DEADLINE for emailed entries is October 24, 2010
Online voting at www.Flametreeglass.com open October 26-30th

Winners will be announced on Oct. 31st at www.flametreeglass.com

Shipping for prizes not included. Torch prizes may not be exchanged for cash or credit. Winners must send actual entry piece to GTT to redeem for torch prizes. Will be disqualified if entry piece is not what was represented in the contest. Winning pieces become property of GTT to be put on display in their gallery.
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Okay, now you have the scoop, get out there and start creating. Often folks think they don't have a good enough chance, but you do. Once you submit, rally your friends and family to vote for you. Where else do you get a chance like this to win a new torch? Yikes, I'd love a new Scorpion. I'm not participating this year, but I really hope one of my blog readers wins. Now one more hint...make sure your photography is great. Voters only see what you show them, so give them your best shot...literally.

And the Vampire pictured above was my entry the first year FlameTree had this contest...I think 4 or 5 years ago. He took second place and won a Bobcat Torch for me.

Now I want to see what you can do!

Spooky Night ~ Need Your Vote, Please!

It's that time of the year when goblins and skulls are in abundance at FlameTree Glass. It's their annual Halloween Glass Contest and I need you to vote here for my entry, please. If it's not your choice, how about voting for the one you like best. (But psssst, I'm the third one down just in case you want to find me easily.)

My entry is "Spooky Night" and (okay, so I know it's not too spooky, but at least the owl has a bit of an attitude) I'm afraid that really scary...well, scares me. My mind freezes, I break out in goosebumps and I have bad dreams. We don't want that, do we?

But there are some super-duper torches that those generous guys at GTT have donated as prizes and I would dearly love to win one.

And if I win, I'll show you the inner workings on how I put this together and the thought that went behind it complete with photos and perhaps just a touch of interesting commentary about it. My first "Glass-amentary". Scary thought in itself.

Thanks so much for helping me. I promise to make some cool bigger stuff if I win one of the bigger torches. (I'm hoping for second place with the Scorpion that would work on my concentrator, fingers and eyes crossed and knocking on wood.) Here's the voting place again.

See you tomorrow for more glass and creativity chat here at http://www.StudioMarcy.blogspot.com

FlameTree's Halloween Glass Art Contest

Wow! Once again FlameTree Glass has teamed up with GTT torches to create a Halloween Glass Art Contest that is no trick - just treat.

Please check FlameTree's website for the complete rules, but here are some of the basics...

• hard or soft glass can be used

• multiple pieces of glass can be used.

• entirely flameworked

• one entry per person

• follow the complete set of rules on the website.

The contest has just been announced, so you're some of the first people to know. Now get moving and make your entry! Such great prizes that can be won!

I'm debating what I'm going to make as I write. I know, it's got to be good, to even be a contender. Winners will be chosen by online voting October 25-30, 2009. Looking forward to seeing your work on FlameTree's website.

I'll have another blog post for you tomorrow. See you then. http://www.studiomarcy.blogspot.com

GTT's Scorpion Torch for Glass

I was lucky to have had a chance to try out Glass Torch Technologies' new "The Scorpion" torch at the International Society of Glass Beadmakers' Gathering in Miami last month. Unlike its name, I didn't see any sting connected with it.

In fact, it was a blast. I checked out the center fire, which is the same as their smaller torch, "The Cricket" and then cranked it up to a full blast using their jet outer fire. I understand that this surface mix design is to optimize a 10 LPM or two linked five LPM concentrators. Perfect. Just what I own.

The retail price of this baby will eventually be $780, but currently is $650 for GTT's roll out.

Now my biggest question is whether I "need" it. If you haven't read this blog at length, you might not be aware that I already own a few too many torches in my husband's opinion. I'm not using all of them as it is.

But...this one makes so much sense. It works with my current oxygen concentrator, provides more heat and more efficiency than my other larger torches. I must say it's very tempting.

But for now, I'm going to continue contemplating it. And if you have bought one, or have tried it and have comments, I'd love for you to speak up. Possibly you might be swaying me in one direction or another. I just know that I liked what I tried...very much.

Catch you tomorrow for more glassy thoughts.