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.