And the winners are Jay and Jennifer Bridgland of Bridgland Studios!

They are the winners of Halstead Bead’s 3rd annual business grant competition. Here are the details from a company press release:

Oakland, CA – August 6, 2008 – Halstead Bead, Inc is proud to announce the winner of its 3rd annual business grant competition, Bridgland Studios of Oakland, CA. Owners Jay & Jennifer Bridgland will receive a $6,000 grant of start up capital and supplies in recognition of their entrepreneurial skills and design talents.

The Bridgland Studios line primarily consists of necklaces and pendants as wearable works of modern art. The Bridglands create blown and sculpted glass forms using a type of glass blowing known as flameworking. Their latest collection of glass couture uses borosilicate glass crafted into focal pieces which are available in a wide array of colors, patterns and textures. The finished designs incorporate sterling silver, stainless steel and neoprene accents that give the couture jewelry a contemporary appeal. “Our vision,” says Jennifer, “is to elevate and redefine the concept of glass couture artwear.”

Jay Bridgland has been a flameworking glass artisan for many years but only recently focused his career on jewelry. He honed his unique style under Italian glass masters in Venice, Italy. He continues to work in Venice for part of each year and also instructs glass flameworking classes at The Crucible School of Fire Arts in Oakland, CA. “It is wonderful to receive this honor and know that others believe in our vision,” says Jay.

Together, entrepreneurs Jay and Jennifer have developed the business side of Bridgland Studios by focusing on the details of management. “We were very impressed by the Bridgland Studio business plan. This company has created a complete strategy to support their wholesale accounts and provide stunning jewelry to the end consumer,” says Halstead Bead Marketing Director, Hilary Scott, a competition judge.

That hard work is already paying off for Bridgland Studios in the competitive world of fashion and design. The company’s jewelry has a broad wholesale and retail base and is sold in museums, galleries and fine retail stores across the country. The jewelry collections are also available online at www.bridglandstudios.com.

The Halstead Bead Business Development Grant is an annual competition for new companies in the mid-level segment of the jewelry industry known as bridge jewelry. Details on the award and all of this year’s top finalists can be found at www.halsteadbead.com/grant. Past winners include Ananda Khalsa Jewelry and Belle Brooke Designs.

Halstead Bead, Inc. is one of North America’s leading jewelry supply wholesalers. The firm was established in 1973 and supplies professional jewelry designers and manufacturers around the globe. Halstead Bead, Inc. is wholesale only and sells jewelry components such as findings, chain, wire and beads in sterling silver, gold filled, and more.

Her is a model wearing one of their amazing necklaces!