Layne Designs Wins The Halstead Grant
Prescott, AZ – August 1, 2011 –
Philadelphia-area designer Layne Freedline of Layne Designs is the winner of the 2011 Halstead Grant
for jewelry entrepreneurs. The prestigious award includes a $5,000 small business grant as well as
$1,000 of jewelry supplies from the grant sponsor Halstead Bead Inc.
Layne Designs jewelry features unusual gems set in handcrafted sterling silver settings. Her line
showcases stones such as jasper, druzy and labradorite with paisley inspired silver accents. Freedline
plans to use the grant funds to expand her website and exhibit at a national industry trade show.
In response to winning the award Freedline said, "I am very grateful for Halstead Bead Inc. for the
encouragement that this grant offers. The handmade marketplace is blossoming from this kind of motivation
toward strong business practices."
The grant is awarded to a new jeweler each year in recognition of design aptitude and business strategy.
Qualified candidates must submit lengthy applications including their portfolios of original jewelry and
business plan details.
"Layne submitted one of the best business plans we have seen in our six years of judging this competition.
We were blown away." said one judge, Hilary Scott. "She is a talented metalsmith with an infectious passion
for her craft."
Freedline is a Pennsylvania native who received her jewelry arts training at the Tyler School of Art at
Temple University. She is continuing her education by pursuing a Graduate Gemologist degree from the
Gemological Institute of America. In addition to running her own studio, she also teaches jewelry classes
at the Main Line Art Center in Haverford, PA.
Layne Designs joins a distinguished roster of Halstead Grant recipients since the program began six years
ago. Readers can see past winners and finalists through the navigation links at left. A complete list of
this year’s distinguished finalists is below. Applications for the 2012 Halstead Grant will be available
later this year.