One World, One Heart

VOTING IS OVER!!! WINNER ANNOUNCED SHORTLY!

I am participating in the One World, One Heart giveaway on BOTH my blogs. First, about One World, One Heart, created by artist Lisa Swifka

The common denominator in blogging is that we all have stories to tell...We can be inspired or inspire others by finding a blog and taking the time to read/see someones story. Often times a spark happens....this palpable spark of recognition through kindred understanding and shared passions in life. It is in those times when we take a moment to comment and comment again.......when those comments are reciprocated a discovery is made that we share commonolaties which connect us sight unseen. Sometimes we may live on separate continents or at either end of the same country or even discover you hail from the same general area. By paying attention, by connecting with others, we are creating a circle of amazing individuals who can literally enhance our lives and we can enhance theirs.

In the first 2 years of hosting OWOH I came away with an amazing sense of how genuinely good people are and how open their hearts are. I've read blogs where since they participated as a fairly new blogger made connections that stuck.....art swaps began, shared stories and so on built to a genuine friendship. That makes my heart sing as that is precisely the goal here.

The giveaway portion is like hosting an open house......as if we were all living in this gigantic neighborhood where once a year we visit homes to meet, reacquaint and get to know one another. At each home there are samplings of goodies that you have a chance to take home like a door prize. You leave your name and at some point each home choses a winner or winners......and now you not only have met a new "neighbor" and you've seen where they live.....you have something that someone lovingly chose to give..... AND visa versa.

What you'll win: One of my lampworked off mandrel hearts (photo of both sides of the bead below) AND a slider chain in your choice of silver or gold tone (available in 18 and 24 inch lengths)

This heart is made from an elaborate cane of all lavender and purple glasses and is one of my favorites. All my beads are kiln annealed for strength and durability.


To win: Simply leave a comment. If you are not a blogger, please leave an email so that I may get in touch with you if you win. Drawing Feb 12.





And... in the spirit of One World, One Heart, I have a a give away on my other blog too! You may enter both contests!
And don't forget to check out the One World, One Heart blog for lists of over 600 participating blogs! You may find a new blogger to connect with!

My New Must Have Tool

I'm a tool hound....always have been. I grew up in a construction and contracting family. Every one of my uncles and my mom all believed in the right tool for the right job. I have more tools than many men I have dated!

I usually don't expound upon lampworking tools...there are so many out there... some are great and some are WAY over priced if you have a clue where to shop!

But I have a new favorite. Something I can't live without and must share! Here it is:


Looks like it belongs in the bathroom, doesn't it? It does... it is the cheapest waterpik I could find.

And how does this help with lampworking??? I had an idea that it may help with cleaning my hollow beads. I adore making huge hollow beads and get really frustrated at how long it takes to remove the mandrel poop from inside the bead. Sometimes I leave the beads in soak and work on them every time I come in the kitchen... it can take days!

But not with my new best friend! It took me less than five minutes! Brilliant!

It's Time for Hearts

I've been making a number of hearts lately. It's funny but it's a shape that seems to have endless possibility for me. The first lampwork beads I ever bought were boro hearts.

I love all sizes and shapes of them... off mandrel, vertical, horizontal, long skinny tails or big and fat...they all have a place in my...er... collection!

This one is new on the Holly's Folly site and I should be adding more by week's end. This one is hollow in pink / lavender and aqua with holes big enough to add small crystals or czs.