Lucky Charms and Talismans

Many of you already own several lucky charms or talismans. You just may not be aware of the object's symbolism or meaning. Below I have compiled a list of some of the more popular and common good luck symbols that can be purchased in the form of jewellery, paintings or statues.

The Ring: A ring made of gold represents eternity and the circle of life. A diamond on a gold ring symbolizes fidelity. The tradition of the wedding ring goes back to the ancient Romans. Puzzle rings that interlink symbolize the integration of the spirit with the mind. When you give a puzzle ring to a friend, it means that you never want the two of you to part ways.

The Clover: The three-leafed clover is a symbol of health and vitality and for the Celts, symbolized The Holy Trinity. A four-leafed clover symbolizes sudden good fortune. A five-leafed clover symbolizes a happy marriage.

The Heart: A heart is the classic symbol of love. A picture or lock of hair carried inside a locket is thought to be the ultimate way to symbolize the carrying of another's spirit in your heart. As an amulet the symbol of the heart protects against heart disorders, anxiety and the tendency to blame others.

The Pentagram: This five-sided star is also known as the Druid's foot. It helps as a talisman to fulfill wishes, invoke spiritual powers and activate inner powers. It also serves as a protective amulet against the "evil eye" and casts evil back to where it came.

The Star of David: This six-pointed star is also known as the Seal of Solomon and the Hexagram. It consists of two interlocking triangles and is used as a talisman to attain harmony, gain knowledge and invoke the aid of the angels.

The Heptagram: Also known as the Mysterious Star or the Love Star, this seven pointed star is sacred to Venus and helps one radiate beauty and attractiveness as well as radiate harmony and love.

The Crescent and Star: This symbol is a powerful love talisman that also symbolizes sexuality, wisdom and well being.

The Eye in the Triangle: This is an amulet that finds its origins in the culture of Europe, Asia and Africa. An image of an eye within a triangle is thought to reflect evil back to the wisher of bad luck and protect against envy, jealousy and misfortune.

The Eye in the Hand: These good luck tokens which feature a human eye centered in the palm of a human hand originate in the Near East and are of Jewish-Arabic origin. The open hand represents the intervention of God and the eye represents the all-seeing eye of Go. This talisman is thought to bring God's mercy, strengthen faith and protect against bad luck.

The Ankh: This looks like a Christian Crucifix but with a loop at the top. This lovely ancient Egyptian symbol represents love and long life.

Thor's Hammer: This talisman usually looks like a small axe or very blunt edged cross. Carrying this symbol is thought to help achieve social success and protect against petty quarrels, making the wrong move in life and losses on the stock market!

The Pictic Knot: This is a Celtic charm that looks like three interlooping triangles. It is represents the three realms of consciousness and is worn to protect from black magic, magickal mistakes and dangers in general.

The Celtic Knot: These come in many designs and look like knotted threads. The knots based on mirror images or the number two represent passion, inspiration and a happy marriage. Knots based on the quadrupling of an image represent personal power and wisdom.

The Medicine Wheel: For about 5.000 years, almost all Native American Indian tribes have designed some form of a medicine wheel. The design varies but basically medicine wheels are Mandalas whose imagery is based on the number four. Medicine Wheels help you develop personal power and equilibrium, attain wisdom and understand the ups and downs of life!

The Dorje: This is a Buddhist "thunderbolt" that also resembles sceptre or a dagger. They are usually freestanding brass objects about the size of a paperweight done. This symbol is thought to repel demons, help one follow the true path and not be misled by false prophets.

Roman Coins: Antique Roman coins are thought to bring prosperity and good fortune to those who wear them as jewellery.

The Two Headed Ax: This image is found in almost all cultures: ancient Crete, Asian, Northern Europe and African cultures. It represents justice, authourity, and strength of character.

The Human Skull: Human skulls, whether bone or silver are usually worn to protect one from death. Shamans wear them to symbolize the accessing of deceased spirits.

The Devil's Trap: This is a circular gold or silver coin or talisman which features tiny Hebrew text that spirals more and more tightly inward towards the center of the circle. The idea is that the "Devil's Energy" is trapped inside the circle so it can't escape. This is worn or placed near doorways to protect from evil and clear one's path of obstacles.

The Zen Symbol: This looks like a black teardrop shape and white teardrop shape embracing each other in a circle. It is from the Far East and is also known as the Ying Yang or Tai'Chi symbol. It is worn to achieve equilibrium, balance and harmony between the sexes.

Samantha Steven's articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy Samantha's books about metaphysics click here http://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110 You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com

Charms Make Perfect Gifts

If you are thinking of a present to give to somebody, have you ever thought of giving them charms that they could use as a pendant or as something they could hang on their bracelets. You could include with the gift a bracelet or a necklace and then every special occasion you can give them additional charms or pendants to add or use as a substitute for the ones they currently have.

These gifts will be appreciated by people of different ages and backgrounds irregardless of their gender or race. They make perfect gifts not only because they look so adorable but every charm could somehow represent a significant or important moment in their life that they could treasure as a special remembrance.

I know of somebody who has a bracelet full of charms, some given by friends and some she purchased herself. The charms on her bracelet somehow reflect the different experiences and memorable moments in her life. One of her charms is a flag to constantly remind her of her heritage and culture. She has an Eiffel Tower charm to remind her of her honeymoon in romantic Paris. You could also do the same with your very own charms as well as when you give these to friends or family as a gift.

You can find these trinkets in a variety of designs, shapes, sizes and style to find a perfect fit for whom you will be giving it to. You could start by buying a charm bracelet with a single or several charms and your recipient would then just add charms according to her tastes or you could give her one every time there would be any special occasion. In time the charms will accumulate that not only looks cute and attractive but would also begin to tell a story of the different memorable experiences in her life.

It is important though that when you buy charms for someone that you know well the person you are giving it to so that you would have at least a general ides of what she will like. If you will be giving a man a charm or pendant for his necklace, opt to buy those that are masculine looking so that he would use it. You also have to consider the size as well as the weight of the charm. Quite often it does not look nice to have very big charm on a bracelet with small chains. Also, others don?t look good with very big charms or pendants on their necklaces especially if they have small necks. If you will be buying from the internet verify if the charm you will be buying is flat, 3d or hollow. It is imperative that you select an online store that provides products that are of quality and can provide good customer service.

Mary Lorainne writes about JewelryBracelet sales, ICEcom promo and jewelry coupon

c Hath Charms ...

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News Canada

(NC)-Sandra Trehub at the University of Toronto studies how people develop hearing and speech perception from infancy to adulthood. She has developed ways to measure hearing and speech perception in both quiet and noisy surroundings. This work leads her to believe that background noise interferes with children's abilities to understand natural speech. Trehub is comparing monolingual and bilingual kids under similar circumstances. She is also studying perception of musical and speech patterns by children with cochlear implants and by children with a genetic disorder that is associated with unusual talent in language and music. Trehub's work in this area may have far-reaching effects on issues related to hearing, learning and musical abilities in both children and adults.

Dr. Trehub's research is being funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). CIHR is Canada's preeminent health research catalyst and is funded by the government of Canada. An exciting new concept, CIHR is modernizing and transforming the health research enterprise in Canada.

To learn more about CIHR please visit: www.cihr.ca, e-mail: info@cihr.ca or write to: CIHR, 410 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa ON K1A 0W9.

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services

Amethyst - Historical and Modern

Amethyst is a popular gemstone. It has a number of characteristics and colors which have endeared people to its worth and enables it to be a popular choice for all types of jewelry. The pinkish lavender shade is called ?Rose de France.? It is less sought after than the intense violet shade called ?Siberian? which is the most-sought after shade of all. The latter shade is found in Siberia, Zambia and Uruguay. Ametrine comes from Bolivia which shows alternating bands of citrine orange and purple. Oriental amethyst is also the name of the purple corundum as well as fine samples of amethystine quartz which does not necessarily come from the Eastern regions of the globe.

During the 20th century, its purple color was attributed to manganese. However, the color or shades does not remain consistent and this led some to believe that the change is due to an organic content. Some studies showed that sulfur could be found in amethyst while some suggests the presence of ferric thiocyanate. When the amethyst is exposed to heat, the color changes to yellow which is why they are then referred to as burnt amethyst.

On its chemical composition, amethyst is produced by irregular superimposition of quartz. This characteristic is generally attributed to mechanical stresses which in turn, creates a very fragile make-up. All quartz that has this composition or structure is now generally labeled as amethyst.

Historically amethyst has been of great use in attempting to guard against drunken behavior and for fighting addiction. Additionally it has been used for diverse reasons such as in hearing disorders, sleep disorders, pain and even mental disorders. It folklore is to be believed it can also help in dreams, peacefulness, love, spiritual wellbeing, strength and happiness.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions at the worlds best homepage and visit his associated site for unique jewelry.

Madagascar Amethyst

(Variety of Quartz)
Crystallographic properties:
Trigonal System (Subdivision of the hexagonal system)
Quartz forms hexagonal prisms at the blunted ends and the head
finishing in hexagonal pyramids.

Physical properties
Hardness 7
Density 2.65 - 2.66
Refractive Index: 1.54 -1.55 + 0.009 positive uniaxial
Glare: vitreous

Chemical Composition: Faceted Amethyst
Silicium Dioxide ( SiO2 )
The colouring of amethysts is due to the presence of colour centers which come from substitution of ions of
silicon by iron ions in the crystal lattice of quartz.
The amethyst crystallizes at temperatures lower than smoky quartz for example. In Madagascar, we find it either in
the crypts of pegmatites, or in the quartzite veins in connection with those.
The geodes of the siliceous nodules of basalts contain some too.

The first have an hexagonal network, although their pattern of crystallization is only of ternary order. The seconds
have a ternary network. The elementary mesh is a rhomboedron, i.e. a parallelepiped consisted six equal
rhombuses.

A ternary axis A3 joint the tops of the regular trihedrons, three normal binary axes A2 with the ternary axis joining
the meddle of opposite horizontal corners.


Here elements of symmetry of the Trigonal system with
the oblique shape, the tetragonal scalenoedron.

It is interesting to see what becomes this tetragonal scalenoedron in others classes where the disappearance of
the symmetry planes makes decrease of half the number of the faces. We obtain a trapezohedron (One notices that
these two trapezohedrons are not superposable. It is said that they are two enantiomorphism shapes. They are
symmetrical compared to a symmetry plane.)

One speaks about right trapezohedron and left trapezohedron (just as we have a right hand and a left hand,

nonsuperposable thus enantiomorphism).


Certain minerals present sometimes left forms sometimes right forms. The most known example is that of quartz.
The distinction between left quartz and right quartz has a certain importance in the electronics industry where one
uses the piezo-electric properties of this mineral.

The negative crystals of hexagonal shape can contain liquids like water, gas, as well as rutile needles, tiny hematite
discs, goetite, fushsite or mica.


Inclusions of H2O and CO2 in an amethyst from Madagascar. Habitus type of flattened Dauphin.


This marvellous Bi-terminated amethyst of 128 grams also contains water drops in its center. Habitus type of rhomboedron.
Enlarge

The amethyst scepters are also typical in Madagascar.

Here, a scepter in the blackberry shape.
There, the stem of the scepter developed by crystallizing around it a quantity of small points in hedgehog. Length:40 mm.

Double scepter.
Enlarge

Head of scepter: 132 grams
Enlarge

Amethyst in castle on its quartz gangue. 986 grams.
Enlarge

The fact that sometimes only a thin surface layer of violet color be presents in the stone or that this color is not
homogeneous, makes often a difficult cutting. The art of lapidary is to place the color correctly in order to
make homogeneous the tone of the cut stone. The distribution of the color in a cut stone is observed simply by
immersing it in water contained in a transparent container and colourless. The color of amethyst varies from purple
reddish to purple bluish while passing by straightforwardly crimsons tone. Thus of very variable intensity, the color
is often laid out in stripes parallel to the final faces of the crystal.

Enlarge

Cutting Styles Characteristics Crystalline Systems


Amethyst Crystal 1 Amethyst Crystal 2 Amethyst Scepter Faceted Amethyst

gggems.com

1987 - 2004 gggems.com All rights reserved.

(Variety of Quartz)
Crystallographic properties:
Trigonal System (Subdivision of the hexagonal system)
Quartz forms hexagonal prisms at the blunted ends and the head
finishing in hexagonal pyramids.

Physical properties
Hardness 7
Density 2.65 - 2.66
Refractive Index: 1.54 -1.55 + 0.009 positive uniaxial
Glare: vitreous

Chemical Composition: Faceted Amethyst
Silicium Dioxide ( SiO2 )
The colouring of amethysts is due to the presence of colour centers which come from substitution of ions of
silicon by iron ions in the crystal lattice of quartz.
The amethyst crystallizes at temperatures lower than smoky quartz for example. In Madagascar, we find it either in
the crypts of pegmatites, or in the quartzite veins in connection with those.
The geodes of the siliceous nodules of basalts contain some too.

The first have an hexagonal network, although their pattern of crystallization is only of ternary order. The seconds
have a ternary network. The elementary mesh is a rhomboedron, i.e. a parallelepiped consisted six equal
rhombuses.

A ternary axis A3 joint the tops of the regular trihedrons, three normal binary axes A2 with the ternary axis joining
the meddle of opposite horizontal corners.


Here elements of symmetry of the Trigonal system with
the oblique shape, the tetragonal scalenoedron.

It is interesting to see what becomes this tetragonal scalenoedron in others classes where the disappearance of
the symmetry planes makes decrease of half the number of the faces. We obtain a trapezohedron (One notices that
these two trapezohedrons are not superposable. It is said that they are two enantiomorphism shapes. They are
symmetrical compared to a symmetry plane.)

One speaks about right trapezohedron and left trapezohedron (just as we have a right hand and a left hand,

nonsuperposable thus enantiomorphism).


Certain minerals present sometimes left forms sometimes right forms. The most known example is that of quartz.
The distinction between left quartz and right quartz has a certain importance in the electronics industry where one
uses the piezo-electric properties of this mineral.

The negative crystals of hexagonal shape can contain liquids like water, gas, as well as rutile needles, tiny hematite
discs, goetite, fushsite or mica.


Inclusions of H2O and CO2 in an amethyst from Madagascar. Habitus type of flattened Dauphin.


This marvellous Bi-terminated amethyst of 128 grams also contains water drops in its center. Habitus type of rhomboedron.
Enlarge

The amethyst scepters are also typical in Madagascar.

Here, a scepter in the blackberry shape.
There, the stem of the scepter developed by crystallizing around it a quantity of small points in hedgehog. Length:40 mm.

Double scepter.
Enlarge

Head of scepter: 132 grams
Enlarge

Amethyst in castle on its quartz gangue. 986 grams.
Enlarge

The fact that sometimes only a thin surface layer of violet color be presents in the stone or that this color is not
homogeneous, makes often a difficult cutting. The art of lapidary is to place the color correctly in order to
make homogeneous the tone of the cut stone. The distribution of the color in a cut stone is observed simply by
immersing it in water contained in a transparent container and colourless. The color of amethyst varies from purple
reddish to purple bluish while passing by straightforwardly crimsons tone. Thus of very variable intensity, the color
is often laid out in stripes parallel to the final faces of the crystal.

Enlarge

Cutting Styles Characteristics Crystalline Systems


Amethyst Crystal 1 Amethyst Crystal 2 Amethyst Scepter Faceted Amethyst

gggems.com

 

http://www.gggems.com/madagascar_amethyst.htm

Being a Happily Single and Independant Woman After Leaving a Bad Marriage

Life sure is full of twists and turns, sometimes taking us in directions we never expected to go in. In the 1960's, when I was born, little girls were groomed to depend on men for a fulfilling family life. Learning to cook, clean and be ladylike were the norm back then. Watching Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and other lovely Disney movies, we waited for our hadsome princes to come take us away. For me, that never happened. Looking fashionable and cooking gourmet meals for men just didn't do it for me, somehow. I kept my figure, wore high heels and pretty dresses, had my hair done every eight weeks and did the whole Stepford Wife thing (I can make a kiler batch of cookies), but felt totally unfulfilled and worn out. My husband always found things to complain about, no matter what I did. I felt unappreciated and bored in the lifestyle I thought I'd wanted all along.

Marriage in itself is a fine institution for those for whom it worked out in. In my case, my marriage was disappointing, and a lesson in self-preservation. That picture-perfect husband of mine looked like he walked off a model's runway somewhere, but behind that dazzling, pretty face was the heart of a cold, heartless, psychotic and dangerous monster. He morphed himself into an angry, dangerous drug and alcohol addict, after spending too much time with his womanizing, drunk friends. I divorced him after enduring a roller coaster of problems, threats and his infidelities. Enough was enough. After trying to get him help, with no success, I realized he wasn't going to get better, and concluded that if I valued my life, I had to go and not look back. His putting a knife to my throat was the last straw. That was ten years ago.

After my marriage ended, I was in my thirties, footloose and fancy free. Going out with my other single or divorced friends, we had a lot of fun going dancing, and out to restaurants together. We met up every week in downtown Cleveland high-class watering holes, then would go out to eat afterwards. Together, we visited places like Jamaica, Mexico and other exotic travel destinations, just for fun. I even lived in Mexico for two years, which was an adventure I'll never forget. As time went on, one by one, my friends and I all started dating new men and saw each other less often. My next boyfriend lived in another city, and I moved there to be with him later on. Big mistake.

My last relationship lasted for two years to a compulsively lying, travelling salesman who it turned out had more ex-wives then he'd told me about. During his travels, he hooked up with women, and was eventually busted later, when I found phone numbers and makeup on his shirts. He had excuses for everything, but I learned he couldn't be trusted and left. He freaked out and stabbed my hand with a fork as I moved out. He was put in jail and I got a restraining order out against him as I moved far away and never looked back. Good riddance.

A few years later, here I am, happily single and proud of it. My life is full and complete, and I'm happier now than I ever was as a girlfriend or wife. Why is it so wonderful to be alone, you may ask? For starters, if I want to date, I can, but I can go home to my own place afterwards. No worries about making dinner every night. I can and do, eat cereal for dinner, without ridicule. Captain Crunch is my favorite. My second childhood has arrived. I have the whole bed to myself (except for my cats, who sleep on my feet). If I want to take a trip, I just grab a friend and off we go. No long lectures about how that kind of thing is frivolous. I make enough money to live well, and do what I want.

Ok, so there are a few things about being single that aren't easy. I have to clean the cat box, take out the trash and there was nobody to help me cope with a slipped disk in my back, which left me sleeping on the floor for weeks, due to the severe pain. No situation is perfect, and it would've been easier to have a partner to get through these things. But, I made it through my pre-concieved list of undesirable situations, and was stronger for it, later. Before, I was more dependent on men. Now, I choose not to be. I have no idea how to fix my own car, or hang something really heavy on the wall. So, handymen and mechanics are hired to help out with those. With practise, a workable system forms, making it easier to do all sorts of activities and chores oneself.

At this point in life, I date but only a little. My world is complete and I enjoy my solitude. If I want companionship, I call up friends or play with my pets. Animals are loving and make great companions. No, I'm not a crazy cat lady. Just one who likes to do things my way, and is much more sane and happy by being free to be myself. Men ask me out here and there, I enjoy their company but tell them that I am looking for just friends. Life taught me what works best for me. I like the unconditional acceptance of my pets, the ease of working from my home office, for my job. Nobody scolds me if I didn't do the laundry and nobody forgets our anniversary. Every year I buy myself a gift at Valentines' Day. I have no problem with this holiday. though some single people I know, dread it. Why dread it? It's a celebration of love. I call my parents and tell them I love them, pet my pets, and talk to friends. Maybe, I go and get a latte at Starbucks. Life is good, and who knew being single could feel so good? I now "see the light".

Ten years ago, I'd have said that anyone who felt like this had given up on life and love. I haven't, not at all, my priorities have changed, though. Now, I can live out sort of a combination of midlife crisis and a second childhood, by watching movies like Shrek, Harry Potter and Finding Nemo without boring and annoying my remote control-obsessed ex, who would rather watch the stock market on CNBC twenty four hours a day. I can buy a nicer car that before, seemed totally unpractical to my previous life as our budget wouldn't allow it. On holidays, I'm not stuck visiting his fighting relatives, and can sleep in or celebrate with those I want to be with. Selfish, maybe, but for the first time in my life, it feels good to think of myself instead of putting others first.

For anyone dreading being single, remember, it's all in your head how to react to the situation. You can be miserable and lonely, or you can get out there and enjoy your life, do what you want to do and later settle down if you choose to. Things aren't black and white, they're grey. Who knows what life brings us. I go with the flow, and if someone worthwhile does happen into my life at some point, after checking his criminal history, maybe I'd settle down again. But for now, I'm having too much fun being me, living life to the fullest and working hard. I'm no longer dependent on anyone and it feels great. Freedom feels good. Do whatever works best for you, but the bottom line is, live a happy life. Make whatever situation you're in work for you, too. Life is too short to be stuck in a relationship that makes you miserable.

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats. Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. She has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico, among other interesting professional assignments in other countries. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

The Beauty of a Pendant Necklace

I am truly fascinated by all kind of jewellery but on top of my list stand pendant necklaces. There is absolutely nothing which can be more beautiful. It isn't the glimmer I like. I often find myself enchanted by a plain and tarnish pendant necklace. I try not to pay too much attention to gems - sapphires, rubies, emeralds and diamonds, so I am not really taken away by shiny things. And I surely cannot afford to have a necklace like that. What I like best are unique pendant necklaces which have a story of their own and have a character. My favorite pendant necklace was not originally designed as pendant jewellery. It was made up of a piece of pewter and it was a figure I liked to put on my mantle piece. The figure depicts a wizard, not an ordinary one but such without a long beard, a straight cap and long robes, and there is not a red stone in the wizard's staff, either. On the contrary, it is a typical but an eccentric pendant necklace.

The only thing that helps you recognize this figure is actually a wizard is the staff inscribed with imaginary runes that he holds. My wizard figure has a big casual hat with a puff ball, chubby cheeks, and a large friendly smile. He looks quite similar to a regular guy, so people often ask me about him. This is what I call a good pendant necklace, such that draws attention to you not for its gems but for its uniqueness and charm.

Making your own pendant necklace is not a very difficult task but the majority of people prefer purchasing them from stores. With a little creativeness you can make almost any miniature a lovely pendant necklace. Sometimes you might need to solder of bend the material, knowing something about shaping wire might also be helpful but most of the times you wouldn't need to do that in order to make a pendant necklace. All you need to have is patience and desire to learn. Having these two, you can easily make your own unique pendant necklace.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning jewelry. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Pendant Necklace

Residential Art Glass Lighting - Design Trends in Chandeliers, Sconces, & Pendants

Much in the way jazz altered our concept of music, glass art has changed our expectations of residential lighting. In fact, glass art lighting is being hailed as one of the hottest new trends to hit luxury home design. According to 25-year Southern California interior designer Greg Griffith, G. Griffith & Co. of Destin, FL, “It’s emerging as a transitional point for a more energetic look. From Asian to 18th Century, every style and design can incorporate glass art lighting. The fact that these are actual sculptured pieces means you’re adding art to the room without cluttering the wall.”

Aside from aesthetics, the benefit to glass art lighting is that it’s so flexible, it ends up resolving many design conflicts. Take, for example, the story of the Wisdom Window. This stained glass piece was created by a California glass artist to create a welcoming light at the end of a dark, New York apartment hallway. The artist created four matching sconces, but wanted the end of the hallway to feel like a window. He innovated a design where a diffuser sheet will be installed underneath the stained glass piece, and lit from behind.

One New York glass artist developed a unique way to illuminate her bathroom. She created her own mosaic glass sink and lit it from underneath to create a warm, amber glow. It also doubles as her nightlight. To underscore the look of an underlit sink, matching sconces are ideal. Some kitchen designers are commissioning glass art sconces and pendants to match underlit glass kitchen countertops. This creates interesting, ambient lighting in a more finished-looking lighting package.

Glass art lighting can be a subtle accent, or a prism through which the light bathes a room in a swatch of exotic colors. “I find many decorators driving décor based on the lighting fixtures,” says Seattle-based glass artist, Suzanne Guttman. “It’s easy to fall in love with a tentacled pendant light or chandelier and make it the centerpiece of a room.”

The Cost of Beautiful

Investing in gorgeous glass art lighting is less daunting than one may assume. A Bellagio budget isn’t necessary to incorporate museum-quality glass lighting into a residential design. Sconces range from $400 to $1,200; small pendant lighting (suspended by one point in the ceiling) ranges from $300 to $600; larger pendants and chandeliers can range from $1,500 to $10,000. Serious collectors consider glass art an investment as well as being an aesthetic piece, just as they would an original painting, or a piece of antique furniture.

Glass Art Lighting 101

Once a homeowner decides on glass art lighting, it’s helpful to know a little about the glass and where it should be used, based on its physical characteristics. Here are some tips:

Blown glass has some limitations to the size and diameter that an artist can create. Some blown glass lighting utilizes many pieces in its design to create a larger, more sculptural effect.

Cast glass is very beautiful, but quite unusual in lighting because it is very heavy to suspend. One glass artist has created a woven glass technique that takes on the look of woven fabric, and results in a glass art lighting fixture that feels like a glass blanket.

Fused & slumped glass is popular for glass art lighting. Through the use of molds, fusing allows the artist to create large diameter canopied type lighting, thus enabling a single shade to be up to 48” in diameter. This creates consistency in shape and wonderful, unusual textures.

Etched glass is another wonderful medium for flat panel lighting. Pieces such as The Three Graces, by glass artist Margaret Oldman, can be lit with plain or multi-colored fiber optics, depending on the look a designer is trying to achieve.

Mosaic and stained glass are similar, in that they’re both ideal for flat panel lighting. Artists will often incorporate Italian smalti glass, blown sheets of transparent glass broken into small pieces, or dichroic glass, which is coated on one side with a metallic-like mirror finish.

Buyer Beware

One thing homeowners should remember, especially with lighting, is to be sure that the glass artist they’ve chosen understands how the electrical specs will dovetail with the piece, and that they know U.L. standards. As founder of Glass Artists Gallery, I estimate that close to 30% of our first-time customers come to us because they had negative experiences commissioning residential glass art lighting on their own. We are very careful about screening the artists we represent to make sure they understand the technical specifications

In short, glass art lighting choices become a very personal way to reveal a homeowner’s fingerprint on the interior design. As George Bernard Shaw once said, “You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.”

For more information or to see thousands of images of art glass lighting, visit Art Lighting Gallery

Jack Healy is part owner of Functional Art Gallery, LLC - Functional Art Gallery - a growing family of online resources for the designer, architect, builder and discerning homeowner. The company focuses on handcrafted functional & architectural works of art for both residential and commercial projects. The Functional Art Gallery family includes Glass Artists Gallery, Sinks Gallery and Art Lighting Gallery. Together these resources provide the largest collection of artisan and designer products available in North America.

Selecting the Right Ceiling Pendant Lighting Fixture

Pendant lighting is a relative newcomer to the market of home lighting fixtures. Although it has been around since the 1940’s, this type of lighting is just coming into its own as homes are built with higher ceilings. Although there is no evidence of this, the development of the pendant light was probably a reaction to finding a form of lighting that was less elaborate than the chandelier but that served basically the same function and purpose.

The description of the typical pendant light is a single fixture that hangs from the ceiling from a chain or other kind of supporting device such as a metal rod. They are far less elaborate than the chandelier and rather than having its lights exposed (like a chandelier), the pendant employs a shade of sorts at the end which, in fact, is described as the pendant.

One of the appealing factors of the pendant is its versatility. Pendants can often be found in hallways, small foyers, kitchens, bathrooms and hallways. Narrow areas that need lighting are ideal candidates for a pendant light. The pendant itself is generally completely enclosed, hiding the light fixture itself to avoid glare. Because of its simplicity, the pendant is usually made of a neutral substance employing white or opaque glass.

A slight contradiction in design is worth noting here. One of the more appealing uses of the pendant during the past decade, is in the kitchen. These fixtures are often suspended over a kitchen island or other food preparation area and feature an open-ended bottom through which a soft light is emitted. This is a very attractive feature in the right kind of kitchen because of the even lighting it provides. This type of pendant fixture is also finding its way into other areas of the home.

During its earliest days, the pendant featured a blown glass shell, which eventually evolved into a wide variety of styles. Today, the variety of styles used in pendant lighting is as varied as the styles used in other forms of lighting fixtures. Take a look online or at a fine lighting store or even in a home and garden periodical to see the extent to which this type of lighting has evolved.

One of the mistakes some homeowners make is to try and use a Tiffany style lampshade on a pendant fixture. Don’t get me wrong; Tiffany definitely has its place. Floor lamps and table lamps often add a dramatic flair when used with a Tiffany lampshade. The pendant, on the other hand, is designed to be slim and sleek and putting a Tiffany fixture on the end of one defeats the purpose, in my opinion, because you are really mismatching functional styles. I suggest that you stay with the more traditional style of pendant lighting such as something called the Colonial. This impressive fixture features a shade that gives one the appearance of a lantern with a candle inside.

Unlike the chandelier, the pendant doesn’t need a long lampshade and an understated look is what to go for.

With all of its advantages and eye appeal, you may be ready to head out to buy one. They are stylish, have a simple elegance, are functional and provide illumination in hard to light areas. There are some things to think about, however, before you make that purchase.

First and foremost, it is essential that you consider what you are planning in terms of the overall decorating of the home’s lighting. Pendants can be used as stand alone lighting for a particular area or can be used in combination with other lighting fixtures, particularly in larger areas. Many stores and online dealers offer other lighting fixtures that coordinate with a pendant. These include wall sconces, ceiling fixtures and decorative table lamps.

Pendants are an eye catcher in it’s not something you want to cut corners on when considering a purchase. There are tons of styles and configurations available today and with a little persistence, you can find just the right fixture for both your décor and your budget. An inexpensive pendant gives you what you pay for and if it wears out, replacing it can be a chore that you won’t relish.

Because of their increased popularity, the pendant can be seen in many modern homes. Don’t hesitate to pay a visit to the neighbors or to the model homes, etc. in the area (trust me, many of these model units will use the pendant in a variety of attractive and ingenious ways).

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