| Following on from the Kinglake Bottle beads, I have extended my bottle melting tendencies through to wine, mineral water and spirit bottles. The array of colours that can be found in the bottles are fantastic! There have been a few bottles that have been colour treated that haven't worked, but there have been some amazing ones that have completely exceeded all of my expectations. A big thank-you goes out to all of my friends who are helping with the supply of these great bottles! do your bit for recycling! Whether you are a wine sipper, a beer swiller, a gin guzzler or a tetotaller - there is one to suit everyone! CLICK HERE TO SEE SOME OF THE GOODIES AT YARRA VALLEY GIFTS CLICK HERE TO BUY SOME OF THE BOTTLE BEADS |
| The Bottle Beads came into existence in response to the very first Kinglake Ranges Visual and Performing Arts Alliance Exhibition which was held in Kinglake just after the fires. I was feeling a little frustrated at not having all my usual tools and toys at my disposal, having lost them all in the fires, and I was just generally feeling a bit crappy. I knew that the Arts Alliance were gearing up for an exhibition and I wanted to go in it, but I had nothing to show. But then, as so often happens once a decision is made, things started to roll on for me. Inspiration came while driving up the winding Hurstbridge road just after a light rain. As I rounded a corner the sun came out and danced and sparkled on broken glass all along the roadside. The glass had been dumped there in times past and it was such a great feeling to see something so wasteful and of no value become something so beautiful and inspirational! It did take a while for my brain to connect the dots...I am a glass bead-maker and this was glass waiting to be transformed. My sister-in-law gave me her bead torch, tools and kiln to use and I got started on what has been a great process of healing for me and a project that has real meaning for me and so many others. Some of the bottles had lain hidden in the bush for decades, I found out as I collected Mello Yello and old green coke bottles. Even the short style CUB stubbies told stories of old. I call these first ones, Kinglake Bottle beads. |
| THE STORY OF THE BOTTLE BEADS |
RECYCLED
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