Glass Casting Jewelry

Since coming home from the Glass Craft and Bead Expo in Las Vegas in April this year, I've been wanting to create some Glass Links jewelry using the Oval Links casting mold from Colour de Verre. I saw so many ladies walking around with their creations. But when I stopped by Jayne Persico's booth, I was so inspired by her creativity that I had to order my supplies immediately!


So, I've been madly mixing color combinations in my basement with my scale and measuring spoons...I feel a bit like I've got my own glass lab! You've got to be careful for reactionary glass - glasses that will turn unexpected colors when combined (generally yellows and blues which turn a baby poo brown). Aside from that, let your imagination run wild!

Shortly after making my very first creation, the lime and lemon links necklace, I happened upon the news that Ed Hoy's was sponsoring a contest using Glass Links molds from Colour de Verre!


I am competing for the title of "Most Innovative Jewelry Artist" in a contest sponsored by Ed Hoy's International and I need YOUR vote! If I win I will receive some fabulous prizes as well as recognition and promotion for my work. To vote for me and my work follow the instructions at the top of this page http://edhoy.com/What_Hot.html Voting ends May 15th! Thank you!

Now, I don't remember exactly what the fabulous prizes are...But, I'm crossing my fingers for some more molds so I can create necklaces a bit faster! Right now, I can cook up 12 links in an 18 hour period. When the links are done, I have to clean out my mold, prep it with glass separator and fill them before popping them back in my Caldera. However, the cleaning and filling part sometimes have to wait until after dinner, or sleep. If I could have a second batch waiting to go in as soon as the first set came out, I could really rock and roll and have that Caldera running all the time!!!


As a side note, you'll be able to find my Glass Links creations next week at the LUX Center for the Arts Spring Bling jewelry trunk show! I'm so excited to share what I've been making the last few months. Stop on by, Thursday, May 19th from 6-8:30pm and try on some glass jewels!
I'll be previewing some new fused glass cuff bracelets, as well;)

Stocking Stuffer Give Away - Candy Cane Necklace

How's the holiday shopping season coming along? I've hardly begun, but I'm getting motivated! And I've decided to help out some other folks as well!


I'm giving away this fused glass pendant with a stainless steel magnetic choker cable. The pendant measures approximately 1" x 1" and comes with either a 16" or 18" cable neckwire. (I also have 24" chains available, if you prefer.)


How do you win? Simply leave a comment below with your favorite piece from CalyxAnn's Etsy shop. Don't forget to leave your preference of chain length (16", 18", or 24"), as well!

Additionally, you can enter by:

(**leave a comment for each extra entry!**)

• Become a fan of CalyxAnn on facebook
  
• Share this giveaway via facebook
  

• Follow my blog publicly on Google friend connect
• Blog about this contest
  
• Enter this into any give away link and tell me where you left it (worth 2 entries each place)
• AND, any purchase from CalyxAnn's Etsy shop earns 5 entries!
  

This contest is open to US and Canada Residents only, and ends on Wednesday, December 9th. The winner will be drawn randomly from a hat and contacted via email. If they don't reply within 24hrs a new winner will be drawn.

Happy Holidays and Good Luck!

Tapestry Mosaic Coffee Table

The inspiration - a tapestry that my mom picked up on
the streets of Thamel in Kathmandu, Nepal.


I started with the tapestry that hangs on the wall behind our sofa. I knew that I wanted the mosaic to mirror the quilt, but I wasn't sure of the exact design. So, first I started by cutting many, many little pieces of glass in the colors that I wanted to use. Then, I was able to rearrange them, like a puzzle, until the design was just right.

The Process:

Using No Days Glaze mosaic adhesive and a heat gun, I was able to work one section of the mosaic at a time. The No Days Glaze is incredibly convenient. It comes in packages of several rubbery-plastic-like sheets. You lay a sheet down on the surface you are mosaic-ing, place the glass pieces down (and move them around), and fire up the heat gun (on low) until the pieces are hot and the adhesive melts into place. This step is tricky. You want the adhesive to melt, but if you don't heat the glass up enough, the glass will pop off when grouting. Also, if you heat the glass too long, it will start swimming around on the glaze. Then, you end up chasing each piece back into place (with a pair of tweezers, or a pencil tip, and NOT your fingers - the glass is HOT!).
After several days and plenty of movies (a Harry Potter-a-thon and a terrible Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull), I had all of the pieces adhered to the surface of the table, and was waiting for a free day to allow me to start and finish the grouting process.

A dirty job, but I was excited to get it over with....

and to let it dry so I could polish it to the beautiful and intricate table that it is:

Oh! And I finished it just in time to enter the "It Pays" to use No Days Glaze Mosaic Contest!!
They have started another challenge for 2009, as well! So, if you'd like to try your hand at the mosaic adhesive, enter your project for a chance to win $250!!

Fire Mountain Gems 2008 Beading Contest

Get your design in by April 15, 2008!

Grand Prize: $1000 Gift Certificate to Fire Mountain Gems!!!

OMG! I've got two projects I'm working on right now.

There are several categories, just too many to list. So, to see where your design fits in, check it out!

Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt

Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt

Ah, St. Valentine's Day, the day of love. (sigh) Feel the love and join the CGGE's Hidden Hearts Scavenger Hunt!

Members of the Creative Glass Guild are holding another scavenger hunt, and you are invited to join us. Find the hidden image in our Etsy shops, and win cool glass prizes!

Take a good look at Pippi Love, the cupid girl, above. She's the clue that will lead you to the prizes! Participating members of the CGGE will hide Pippi somewhere in our shops. Find her in every participating shop, tally your results and send them in to Artglassfusion

From The Poppy Fields Edonated copper on glass enamel Sgraffito pendant by DichroicDazzle

Time Machine Dichroic Fused Glass Pendant donated by Quotentials

Heart lampwork bead donated by DjinnGlass

And while you are searching our shops for Pippi, you'll notice fabulous sales which may include set percentages off, Buy-One-Get-Ones (BOGOs), free shipping, and more. See each shop's announcement for its special SALE!

Here’s how to play!

• Contest runs Feb. 1-7.


• To play, you must be an Etsy member. It’s EASY, sign up here if you are not a member
  already: www.etsy.com.


• Each participating shop has one Pippi secreted somewhere. When you find one, make
  a note of the shop name, and the item number shown in the address window of that
  item. For example, you find Pippi here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=285136.
  Jot down "creationsinglass 285136" (shop name and item number). Remember she may
  be hiding ANYWHERE in a shop. Simple!


• When you've found a Pippi in each participating shop, send a convo to to Janet at
  artglassfusion, with all your answers.


• The contest will run for one week, Feb. 1-7. At midnight on Feb. 7, our CGGE judges
  will check all of the entries for correct Pip sightings. Winners are the entries
  with the most correct sightings. In the likely event of a tie, the three winners
  will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The lucky, clever winners
  will be notified via convos on Feb. 8, and their names will be published before
  the cheering throngs on our website and in the Etsy forums.


• CGGE members are not allowed to participate, but will join in, chat and cheer contestants
  on in the thread while you are searching for Pippi Love!

Participating shops:

CalyxAnn	glassprimitif	Getglassy
glasscatjewels	shasglasscrafts	creationsinglass
matechuk	smokeylady54	colorshoppestudio
gimmebeads	melissabeads	CassaroCreations
ccvalenzo	dichroicdazzle	periwinklesuz
kerichrystian	artflowe	artglassfusion
JoanJewels	papernclay	eccentricity
squidglass	geltdesigns	LaWatha

Have fun and good luck!!!

A Belated Thank You...

...to the IN Crowd of Etsy, the Indiana Street Team.
I had so much fun taking part in their online Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt.

They hid Thanksgiving themed items in item listings from their shops.
It was quite a challenge to find all the items, there were some tricky ones!
I was just lucky enough to be drawn as the winner from 16 correct entries!
I was so excited and surprised to find out that I won! My fiance jumped when I shouted "Whoo-hoo!"
My gift basket included beautiful jewelry, lovely candles, and more!!
Special thanks to:
PinGwen
TexturedTurtle
Berry Creek Candles
Nana's Sewing Room
The Peach Martini
Celestial Beings & More
Guiding Light Candles
(and forgive me if I've forgotten anyone)
Thanks again!

Win $100 from Etsy!!

Just by taking this simple survey to help them make the site better!!
For those of you who don't know Etsy, it's an online community for crafters and artists. It was created as an alternative to Ebay, where you could go to find homemade, one-of-a-kind, hancrafted items. I love shopping on Etsy, because of the opportunity it offers me to support other artists. I'll avoid the big chains any chance I get, and am especially averse to buying from China.

I hope everybody on Etsy takes this survey!

For all the love that I have for Etsy, it could still definitely be more user friendly.
So, pipe in with all your suggestions, here!

Win This Free Lampwork Bead Set

From Lloyd over at Burning Scentsations, http://lampofluxury.blogspot.com/

How would you like to win this set of leaf beads? This little set if the perfect size for earrings or as pendants. They're decorated with two leaves on both sides in different colors. To see the full information on this set, take a peek in my shop here: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6599761

How do you enter the drawing, you ask? Well it is really quite simple. I've donated this set to the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy (CGGE) and everyone who signs up in the month of December for their newsletter is automatically entered for the drawing.

Want to sign up? Just visit this page and enter your e-mail address: http://www.cgge.org/emailsub.aspx

Be sure t0 look around the site at all of the wonderful glass creations from the artists who sell their artwork on Etsy as I do.

If you haven't heard of Etsy, then you need to check it out. It's an on-line shopping mall for unique, hand-made items and supplies. You'll find lots of talented folks who work in all mediums on this site. Come take a look at http://www.etsy.com/ or follow the link for my shop below.

If you have any questions or would like to suggest topics, I can be reached through this blog or through my web site or shop at:

http://LampOfLuxury.com/

http://burningscentsations.etsy.com/

Want to win something totally cool?!?

I've entered a few drawings on Etsy.com in the past with great success! I won an Autumnal Equinox Drawing with theEclectic Jewelry Artisans's of Etsy, and just recently won the Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt hosted by the IN Crowd! There's always a great game/contest/drawing to be had!
So, why don't you have a go...
Here's a chance to win a little monster iPod cozy from FeltAtHome.
The EJA is having a Winter Wonderland Giveaway and three lucky winners will get a prize package worth $50!
Oh! And, of course, there's always "Your Chance to Win FREE Glass Prizes, drawn Monthly" with the Creative Glass Guild of Etsy (CGGE). Simply sign up for the newsletter here.

Okay, well, that's enough for me tonight. Back to laundry and gift wrapping...
Good night!

EEJA Autumnal Equinox Contest Winner = ME!!

Awhile ago, I signed up to receive the monthly newsletter from the Etsy Eclectic Jewelry Artisans. In doing so, I was entered into their monthly drawings. Well, guess who won their Autumnal Equinox drawing? Yup, you guessed it! I was one of three lucky ladies to wins fabulous jewelry, makeup, and a gift certificate.

Yea!!! And finally, for the unveiling:

Patty of BrokenTeepeeDesigns included a very generous $50 gift certificate that I immediately spent, receiving this gorgeous set of earrings just days later. By the way, the packaging was super cute, too, but in my excitement, I forgot to get my camera out! Oops:(

Ahna of ArtCreated.com made a beautiful pendant of Sunstone and a Swarovski crystal with 12k gold filled wire.

Lovely earrings by CubicleBoutique.etsy.com...

and a fun necklace from AsilomarWorks.etsy.com incorporating a Ming/Ching Dynasty porcelain pottery shard, I think...

Thanks again to everyone in the Eclectic Jewelry Artisans!
You made my month wonderful!

Trivia Contest - CGGE

Creative Glass Guild of Etsy~ Trivia Contest: August 26th

The Creative Glass Guild of Etsy (CGGE) would like to announce our Sunday Street Team Trivia Challenge! On August 26th at 4pm PST (7pm EST, 10pm UK), CGGE members will host our FIRST Sunday Street Team Trivia Contest.

This is a fun trivia contest featuring questions written by CGGE members about the CGGE team and members, it’s kind of a meet and greet, but you will have the chance to win some AWESOME prizes!

We will be giving out a total of 3 glass prize packages! The first place winner will receive a fused glass slider pendant donated by lisahammer ,

a stained glass butterfly donated by creationsinglass,

AND a fused glass bubble sushi dish donated by glassprimitif, similar to the one pictured here!

WHOA! If that is not enough, the second place winner will receive a stunning pendant donated by Smokeylady54 ,

and the third place winner will receive another stunning pendant donated by Aardvart .

Here are the details for this contest:
August 26th, 4pm PST (7pm EST, 10pm UK) in the Etsy P&C forums http://www.etsy.com/forums_board.php?forum_id=6
To play, you must be an Etsy member, it’s EASY, signup here: http://www.etsy.com

CGGE members are not allowed to participate, but we welcome you to join in and chat in the thread while the contestants are searching for the answers!

Trivia Game Instructions: It’s easy! I will be posting a series of questions to the thread every few minutes. The first person to respond with a correct answer to the thread will receive 4 points, the second person will receive 3 points, the third person will receive 2 points and any other people responding with a correct answer will receive 1 point. At the end of the game, I will tally up the points and announce the top three winners. PLEASE REMEMBER TO POST YOUR ANSWERS IN THE THREAD TO GET YOUR POINTS COUNTED. 

**IMPORTANT: Following our first Sunday Street Team Trivia contest, we would like to invite ANY other Street Team to continue this contest each recurring Sunday. Each team, will be responsible for coming up with their own prizes, questions, and administrators of the thread. If you are interested please convo creationsinglass to be put on the schedule! WE plan on working with Sara of EtsyTeams to promote this NEW recurring TEAM EVENT! It’s a great chance to get some additional exposure for your team and make a lot of new friends in the community!


♥A special “Thanks” to lisahammer for helping to organize this contest, blissbyheather for allowing us to modify her original contest, and our talented glass artisans who donated the gorgeous prizes, lisahammer, creationsinglass, glassprimitif, Smokeylady54, and Aardvart. ♥

The Postcard Game - Sounds like fun!

I stumbled upon a blog by Jennifer Dangerfield (what a great name!) and she's recently started to turn her jewelry design into a business, it sounds like.
As a way of commemorating and celebrating, she's started The Postcard Game.
Here's what she has to say about it:

"The question is this: would you be willing to send me a postcard (kitsch or cute, reality or technicolour touch-up, beauty or beast - the choice is yours) from wherever you are in the world to me in little old England? In return, I would like to offer you some beautiful jewellery as a prize.

Briefly, if you email me & tell me that you'd like to play, I'll send you a code number for every postcard that you'd like to send. Whenever I receive a postcard, I will scan it & post a picture of it along with the code number on this blog. Come the day of the draw to be held in, let's say, a month's time after the start of the competition, I shall press-gang my MILlie ( Mother In Law) into drawing a number out of the hat. Don't worry - there'll be some innocent bystanders to ensure justice."

She's also decided to donate $1 for every postcard she receives (cut off at $250) to Ovarian Cancer Action. Like me, she lost her mother to ovarian cancer after her mother (and Drs.) mistook the symptoms for menopause. I think it's a great idea and a worthy cause, so if you're reading this, I think it would be a nice gesture to head on over to Jennifer's site and comment so she can send you an address for the post card! (Oh yeah, she's also holding a drawing with prizes - her own beautiful jewelry!)

Bullseye's e-merge 2008

"A juried kiln-glass exhibition for emerging and intermediate-level artists"

Yowsers! Talk about exciting news! Bullseye has announced its juried contest for 2008.
From their postcard:

"e-merge 2008, the fifth in a series of juried kiln-glass exhibitions, aims to recognize students, early-career artists, and those artists not regularly represented by the top-flight national and international galleries...e-merge 2008 is your opportunity to compete for $5,750 in awards and representation in a full-color catalog documenting impressive kilnwork by the rising talents in the field."

The great part about this announcement is that the submission deadline isn't until February 22, 2008. Plenty of time to implement those great ideas that have been brewing!

For more information, check out the Bullseye website at www.BullseyeGlass.com/emerge.

Business Development Grant for Bridge Jewelry

So for those of you who are over-achievers, and have your taxes done already...I'm sure you're looking for another project to tackle. PLUS, this one gets you money back...a whopping $6,000.00!!!

Okay, so what's the catch? Well, you must be an aspiring businesswoman who:
-is a student or professional jewelry designer
-intends on pursuing a full-time career in bridge jewelry
-intends on developing a branded line of bridge jewelry for resale
-intends on selling their branded line on a regional or national level
-started their bridge jewelry business after January 1, 2004
-has never been convicted of a felony
-is a US citizen

What is bridge jewelry, you say?
It is the middle segment of the jewelry industry that falls between fine jewelry (precious metals and gemstones) and costume jewelry.

Halstead Bead Inc. is interested in supporting jewelry designers in this segment due to the increasing competition from mass merchandising and cheap products from overseas.

A list of the things they require for entrants:
-Short Answer Application Questions
-Long Answer Application Questions
-Application Form
-Signed Contest Terms and Declaration of Originality
-5-10 Color Photographs of Original Bridge Jewelry Designs
-List of Materials Used in Each Design
-Wholesale and-or Retail Price for Each Design
-Marketing Collateral Materials- tags, brochures, catalog, etc.
-Resume including education and past employment
-Business Plan

If this sounds like something you may be interested in, check out http://www.halsteadbead.com/Grant/.

Have fun and good luck!