See Star

4.75 x 5 x 1
 
The story goes that two people, a boy and a man, met on the beach. The boy was placing starfish back into the sea after a storm. The man asked the boy what he was doing. The boy replied that he was putting starfish into the sea to save them. The man responded and reminded the boy that with all the miles and miles of beach with thousands of stranded starfish the boy wasn't really making a difference. The boy then picked a sea star up and walked to the surf where he gently delivered it to the sea, saying, "I made a difference for this one."
 
This story was told to me by a supervisor for the Rockford Park District during an employee meeting for the Summer Playground Program when I was in my twenties. During this time of challenges I believe it is important to remember that just helping one person can make a difference. Never underestimate the power we hold to change someone else's life for the better, even through the simplest of acts.
 
Materials:
- Antique glass doll eye
- Vintage Italian glass seed beads from the 1800's or earlier (size 22 and 24)
- Contemporary and vintage glass seed beads 
- Rhinestone cup chain 
- Antique brass beads
- Swarovski glass stones
 
This hand sculpted form is embellished using a mosaic process. Eyes have been considered symbols of protection and knowledge through history. There is a hole in the back of the See Star for wall hanging.