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Melted Moments – Day 3 – Blue Glass Object

July 3 — Melted Moments 💙
I get all sorts of glass donated to me — sometimes it’s an old bottle someone wants turned into a keepsake, sometimes it’s just an interesting piece they think I might like to melt down. I love that.
Sometimes I get to it straight away… sometimes it waits its turn for years! This piece was given to me by my mum many years ago. I was curious to see how it would melt — it has this beautiful blue streak running through it.
Thanks, Mum — for the glass and for everything. 💙
Do you have a special piece of glass you’d like to see transformed?

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Melted Moments – Day 2 – Coopers Sparkling Ale

Today’s beads are in honour of Coopers Sparkling Ale — a proud local South Australian company with a long commitment to looking after the environment.
Back in 2013, I created a necklace with beads made from a Coopers Sparkling Ale bottle, finished with gold leaf. It was a finalist in the Toowoomba Contemporary Wearables Exhibition — the judges loved the contrast of high-end gold on something once destined for the bin.
I still love turning the ordinary into something precious. Gold leaf can be incredibly difficult to work with, but worth it!

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Melted Moments – Day 1 – Green Depression Glass

July 1 — Melted Moments begins! 💚
First up: Green Depression Glass. 16 years ago, I first thought about melting this glass down for beads when I had a SALA exhibition at Lustre Galleries. We were in the middle of the global financial crisis and I had a six-month-old baby on my hip!
I remembered how Green Depression Glass was made to lift spirits and stimulate economies during the Great Depression — so it felt right to upcycle it into something new back then, and it still does now.
I love how pretty these beads are, plain or decorated — that soft green is timeless. Looking back, this was really the beginning of my recycled glass journey. 16 years on, I’m still melting moments.

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Pikes Riesling Bottle Jewellery

And this collection of jewellery is made using beads I created from a Pikes Clare Valley Riesling bottle. Celebrating all things Clare during the T’Arts on Tour exhibition opening July 2. I am looking forward to a day trip in the school holidays to check it all out! It’s been a long time since I have ventured to Clare.

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Mr Mick Flower Sticks

Happy Winter Solstice! Here’s to longer days. These flower sticks are also heading to the T’Arts on Tour exhibition in Clare. They were made from a Mr Mick Fiano wine bottle. I am looking forward to using more recycled glass to make the flower sticks, it’s exciting that it’s working!

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Jim Barry Riesling Bottle Beads

From bottle to bead. This set of beads started life as a Jim Barry Riesling bottle—now transformed in the flame, one bead at a time. I love the alchemy of turning something destined for the recycling bin into something to wear and treasure. Each piece holds a little story of place, process and possibility.

You can see this work as part of T’Arts on Tour in the beautiful Clare Valley.
📍 Clare Art House 🗓 July 2–28