GLAMOROUS GLASS AT THE INTERNATIONAL HOME SHOW

Between October 8th and 11th Glamorous Glass participated at the International Home Show which took place at the International Centre in Mississauga, ON. The show was highly anticipated by us. Starting in June when we booked a booth, we were planning and arranging a display for the show. And here we are. The Show is finally here.

We must say that the International Home Show impressed us with a number of vendors. The variety of offered products was really remarkable. You could have found great deals on furniture, home renovations, cleaning products etc. There were only few vendors offering home decoration products, which was the advantage for us, of course. Besides having our glass vases, table centerpieces, candle holders, etc. sold, we also got a great opinion on what we carry. We were happy to hear from the public that we “have a great taste in choosing the inventory” or that we will do “well when opening a store front”.

Although the Show was an experience worth of going through, we found it not popular enough. Certainly, great weather during this long Thanksgiving weekend was not helpful as whoever could, rather than staying in the city, was heading up north to catch the last rays of sun before a long winter. As a result, all vendors were disappointed with such a low attendance at the Show.

END OF SUMMER AT GLAMOROUS GLASS

Our autumn leaf collection of bowls, glass vases and table centerpieces are perfect as part of your fall home decor. Check them out at http://www.glamorous-glass.com/Deco-Glass-Poland/ . Although we can't believe the summer is over, this year's fall is expected to be even more fun and exciting for us, at Glamorous Glass.

We kicked off a new season with some great people at the Milton Tweet-up which took place on a first Friday of the fall. We have finally met some of the Glamorous Glass twitter followers and those who are followed by us. This event was an excellent opportunity to put a face into our twitter profiles, and to finally meet each other outside of the virtual world. We were able to present Glamorous Glass as a real thing, with real us :) as the owners. We met some wonderful people, got a lot of advice and hopefully, established meaningful business relations.

Glamorous Glass became a member of the Women Who Excel networking group in Burlington. The group has been operating for over 20 years, and is led by a charismatic business person, Christine. Being a member let us participate in monthly dinners which are often combined with mini trade shows. This month dinner took place on September 28th. Not only did we have great meal at the Mandarin Buffet, but also had an opportunity to present our products during the trade show organized for the members of the group. We got some great feedback on our products, as well as on the idea standing behind Glamorous Glass. We had a chance to speak with retailers, real estate agents and beauty consultants. Overall, it was a fun evening.

The highly anticipated by us (and not only us) International Home Show begins on October 1st (Convention Centre in Mississauga, ON). Remember to visit our booth (#364). We hope you'll like our glass vases, table centerpieces, candle holders etc. which are wonderful as... Christmas presents. Yes, this time of year will soon be here, so go ahead and start shopping for special gifts at the International Home Show and of course, at Glamorous Glass :) Hope to see you there.

SIMPLICITY WITH ELABORATE FUNCTIONALITY OF GLASS VASES

Vases, first made of ceramics, later of glass, could have been found even in the ancient cultures. Nowadays, they vary in material they are made of, design, colours, shapes and sizes. Functionality represented by their capability to hold flowers, and decorative purpose are combined in order to create an exceptional item which can easily transform your room.

An artist’s touch can add exceptionality to a glass vase. A vase can provide an artist with a surface for his craft. In this manner these decorative items can become pieces of art no matter if they are with or without flowers. Beautiful shapes, curves and colours make vases wonderful enhancers of whatever you put in there.

Why would you need a glass vase?

No matter what your age, social status or interests is each of us wants to be unique and stand out from the crowd. We want our personality and our individual style to be highlighted. It is often achieved through a smart home decor. One of the simplest, inexpensive and quick ways to dress up your room or office is through a stylish display of high-quality glass vases or other centerpieces.

A vase is definitely not a simple container where you hold your flowers. When exhibited properly, it will become a point of focus of your guests. It will emphasize beauty of your new coffee table, or take away attention from a little bit scratched walls. Vases can do the trick to make a statement about your uniqueness and individual style. They don’t always need to carry flowers; use your imagination to utilize your vase in the most original way. It will definitely draw attention to and awareness of the vase as a key element in the room.

Glass objects can be a huge focal point for your home or office. However, as decorative items, they need to be properly matched with the design of your room and, if the purpose of your vase is to hold flowers, with the kind of flowers that will be placed in there. Recently, interior designers started relying on utilizing two identical double glass vases when creating the mirror effect.

High quality, hand-made glass vases are a decoration by itself. They are often placed on a pedestal in order to enlighten a room and become a centerpiece. Placing a glass vase near a window will beautifully reflect the light and illuminate the room. A pair of large vases can be placed near the entrance to your house. If they are made of high-quality glass, do not put anything there. They are the attraction and decoration by themselves.

When we think about a vase we almost always think about flowers which complement the vase. Although the real ones will bring wonderful colours and scent into your room, more and more often we lean toward artificial flowers. Indeed, you can easily find artificial flowers which are hard to distinguish from the real ones.

One of the most known types of glass vases are bud vases. A bud vase is fairly small and is usually created to hold only one flower. They are an expression of simple elegance. No matter if you decide to use your bud vases to hold flowers, a few bud vases placed together in the same room will bring sophistication and grace into your house decor.

You may have a vase in your house which has not been displayed or utilized for a long time, besides when holding fresh flowers. If it is a large, cylinder-shaped vase, why won’t you use it as an ice bucket, a fruit bowl or a gold fish bowl (if it is a clear-glass vase)? A medium-sized clear-glass vase can hold colourful marbles, stones, or sand and star fish brought from your vacation. An original idea would be to fill the vase with water and place there a floating candle. It will be a wonderful decoration of your table. Small vases can become decorative jars to hold your bathroom items, such as cotton balls, or office supplies, such as clips, pens, etc. They can be filled with shells, glass beads, or flower heads. All depends on the theme of your home.

A high-quality, hand-made vase can be a relatively inexpensive way to decorate your house and increase the overall appearance of the rooms. It is necessary to remember to choose vases which style and colours is a good match for the overall design of the room it will be placed in.

GLAMOROUS GLASS AT THE SOUTHSIDE SHUFFLE

It was a crazy, but fun weekend! After a long anticipation for the Southside Shuffle to begin, it is now the history. This three-day long event in Port Credit was full of great music, festivity and wonderful people.

Our adventure with this year's Shuffle started on Friday when we arrived at the Memorial Park in Port Credit to set up our booth (we were one of the vendors). The first person we met was Beatrice, vendors coordinator. Very dynamic woman who contributes her time to be a volunteer during various events in Port Credit. She did a great job during the whole Southside Shuffle. Way to go Beatrice!

We didn't even finish setting up our booth and displaying products when the first attendees to the festival stopped by to have a peak at our glass items-glass vases, bowls, centerpieces, candle holders, etc. And the ball started rolling. We really got an amazing feedback on what we carry. The people were emphasizing that the products are unique, great ideas for gifts and excellent pieces if somebody wants to change a bit in their home decor. Some of them even admitted that the prices were reasonable. All comments were a confirmation for us that Glamorous Glass is a viable venture, and that it will fulfill needs of those, who know what good art is, and who want to have their individual taste and personality highlighted.

The Saturday afternoon brought crowds to the Southside. Everyone enjoyed blues and jazz played on several stages set up in the Memorial Park and on Lakeshore, even though the weather in the evening did not spoil us (rainy, windy Saturday night). Sunday was an excellent, early-fall, sunny day so we had a lot of visitors and clients in our booth. Great day with great music! We especially enjoyed the performance of the Australian singer and guitarist, Kim Churchill. Check out his website. Very talented young man.

Time flies when you're having fun, and the Southside Shuffle is over. Now it's time to get ready for the International Home Show (October 8-11). Remember to visit our booth (#364).

Traditions of Murano Glass

The world capital of decorative glass is located in beautiful Venice, on the island called Murano. For ages, Murano has been a place of origin for most famous and most beautiful glass vases, bowls, figurines, etc. When you possess an original piece from Murnao, you are a real connoisseur.

The beginnings

In 1960 the oldest furnace for glass, dated for the 8th century, was discovered on a Venetian island. The 8th century established Venice as a prominent center for glass-manufacturing. The origins of glass making in this region are traced back even to the times of the Roman Empire, when glass was used to illuminate bathhouses.

In the 13th century, producing highest-quality glass items became the main industry of Venice. It led to creation of the Glassmakers Guild which was responsible for shaping and voicing rules and regulations which the Venice craftsmen were supposed to follow. The Guild was serving two purposes. Firstly, it was supposed to stand on guard of the secrets of glass making trade. Secondly, the aim was to make sure that the industry brings profit. In order to meet the above mentioned objectives, in 1271 a law was introduced that prohibited importation of foreign glass as well as employment of foreign glass workers.

One of the most significant events in Murano glass making history is the 1291 move of all furnaces used in this trade from Venice to Murano. The law triggering this event laid the ground for establishing Murano as a center of glass manufacturing. Several theories exist which try to explain why Venice wanted to move its craftsmen. One of them states that Venice was afraid of fire from the furnaces spreading over the city. It could lead to a complete destruction of Venice as the city`s building were primarily made of wood. What is more, such a fire would greatly endanger enormous in size population of Venice. However, other sources claim that the real reason behind the 1291 law was related to making the craftsmen isolated so they would not be able to share their trade secrets with foreigners. Locating them on the island in close proximity to Venice would serve the purpose: it would reduce the craftsmen contacts with outsiders, but on the other hand would let them sell their products on markets in Venice. What is interesting, in 1295 the law which forbade the glassmakers to leave the city was passed.

Venetian government was also undertaking less direct steps in order to keep glass making secluded and make Venice a leader in this industry. It was providing glass makers and their families with special treatment and high location in the Venetian social ladder. Privileged status and related to this perks were a great incentive for glass makers who encouraged their offspring to stay in the trade and carry the tradition on. Internal politics as well as convenient location of Venice as a city on a path of trade between East and West allowed it to flourish as a European monopolist in making and selling high quality glass products, such as glass vases, bowls or figurines.

Time of booming

The 15th century brought another innovation into the world of Murano glass when Master Angelo Barovier discovered the process for producing clear glass, called cristallo. Furthermore, another innovation was a discovery of lattimo which was the white glass reminding popular that time Chinese porcelain. The greatest times in Murano history also made glassmakers experiment with new techniques in production more sophisticated pieces of art. By using glass rods with inner threads of white, golden or coloured glass which twisted or intersected, they were creating filigrana glass. They also started enamelling and gilding glass as well as creating ice glass which appears as it is finely crackled.

Twilight

The 17th was not too lucrative for Murano glass and its makers. Decline of Venetia’s influence as a centre of commerce as well as emergence of other glass centres in Europe, specifically located in Bohemia, England and France, led to a decrease of influence of Murano in the industry. However, it did not stop the glass makers from inventing new techniques in glass making such as avventurina which is embedding metal flecks in glass so it looks very sparkly or calcedonio which bring illusion of an item made of semiprecious stone. Murano glass was popular for its bright colours and complex floral and animal motives as decorations.

Turmoil of the 18th and 19th century

The 18th century was definitely not the best time for glass makers in Murano. Competition located in Bohemia and France and later Napoleon’s conquest of Venice, which led to abolishment of the Glassmakers’ Guild, put the industry in jeopardy. Even worse for the condition of Murano glass making was overtaking of Venice by the Habsburg Empire. The rulers, preferring their own glassmaking centre in Bohemia passed the law which led to virtual impossibility of bringing necessary raw material into Murano as well as exporting ready products due to the cost introduced by the law. Only 5 furnaces stayed alive and kept blowing glass.

However, the tradition still lived. The breakthrough came with arrival to the city of Antonio Salviati who opened a factory producing traditional Murano glass. Soon he was granted a fifteen-year contract for restoration of the mosaics in St. Mark’s basilica. At the same time interest in old traditions of glass making in Murano came from Venice government which embodied in establishment of school for glassmakers who were taught the forgotten techniques of the craft. For the next few years, recent glass works were displayed in various exhibitions on the Italian, as well as international level. Following multiple successes, Murano regained its reputation as a centre of glass making and again became a booming economy.

Modern history

The end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th can be characterized as years of reproduction of classical styles and rediscovering ancient techniques of glassmaking. These pieces were greatly appreciated by international collectors and admirers of beauty of glass. However, modern times brought new European works of art in avant-garde and art nouveau style, which showed a gap that existed between pieces offered by modern artists and Murano artisans still deeply attached to the past.

The first Murano artisan who started adopting new trends was Vittorio Toso Borella. Although his first products did not completely satisfy glass connoisseurs, his later pieces became appreciated masterpieces. Borella was later accompanied in new style by Gino Rossi, Arturo Martini and Guido Marussig.

Later, art deco came. In Murano glass craft, it was represented by less decorated pieces of Vittorio Zecchin. In the 1920s-1940s, Murano glassmakers became famous of producing glass animals, glass statues of female nudes, engraving on glass, modern lighting fixtures, glass tableware and glass vases. An innovative glass making technique was introduced called vetro sommerso which let the makers produce thick glassware, which showcase one colour on the inside and another on the outside.

Minimalism, functionality and simplicity were the trends present in Murano glass making after the World War II. Such techniques as filigree, murrino and lattimo saw their come back and produced pieces which harmonized outline with colour and decoration of the pieces.

Today, Murano is again considered a capital of glass art of the world. It creates trends in glass blowing and becomes a destination for those who appreciate beauty of glass.

This and other articles written by Glamorous Glass you can find on http://ezinearticles.com/, http://www.articlesnatch.com/, and http://www.articlesengine.com/

OUR TRIP TO EUROPE

It was a blast! Too short though. Well, that's how it is when you're having fun-time flies, and our three-week trip to Poland and Lithuania ended few days ago.

The trip was a combination of pleasure and business. Pleasure, as it was my little sister's wedding (well, I guess not that little anymore). And you must know that Polish weddings are quite pompous :-). Although the wedding ceremony is important, this is always a party that all guests are waiting for. And this one brought enjoyment to all of the 100 guests. The banquet hall was located in a beautiful part of eastern Poland, facing a picturesque river and being surrounded by wild forests. It was a country-style party, with traditional Polish food, drinks, roasted over the fire ham, fireworks, and dancing until 7.00 am!

We traveled a bit in Poland looking for new suppliers who offer unique hand-made glass products. Indeed, we established several contacts and are hoping to start fruitful cooperation.

Our trip to Lithuania was amazing! If you have a chance, do not hesitate to visit Vilnius, the capital. This beautiful city provided us with time to relax when strolling along the streets of the Old Town. Impressive history, wonderful food, enormous number of relics. We stayed at the monastery led by Polish nuns. They provided us with unbelievable hospitality, tasty home-made meals, and a lesson of history. Amazing people!

Vilnius is a home for Stiklo Paslaptis, a glass artists' studio where we found extremely beautiful glass art pieces. We're looking forward to bring some of them to Canada so our clients can enjoy warmth and cosiness provided by these pieces. Above is a sample of their work.

Meanwhile, don't forget about Glamorous Glass when you are looking for a special gift or an original piece of home decor. We have both :-)

DELIBERATIONS ON DECORATIVE GLASS

Glass does not only have industrial and practical value. Its characteristics are widely used by glassworks and artists who make original pieces of art-highly valued collectibles.

The artistic decorative glass products are shaped of liquid glass. This liquidity allows an artist to create various, rich in shape products-real pieces of art. Glass can be called a medium for artists.

It is impossible to talk about decorative art glass without mentioning the Murano glassmaking history. Their tradition of precision in glassworks is maintained since the 13th century. Due to its uniqueness Murano glass is often referred to as “cristallo”.

There are two opinions on how Murano, the island in the Venetian Lagoon became a centre of glassmaking. It is being said that in 1291 the Venetian Republic, fearing that fire used by glassmakers might burn down Venice’s wood buildings, ordered its glass artists to move their foundries to Murano. This way the glassmakers became the noblest citizens of this island. Another, more frequently suggested opinion, is that the move was made to isolate the glassblowing masters and prevent them from sharing their knowledge with foreigners. Glass making became a trade exclusively for those born on the island of Murano, and whoever glassmaker left the Venetian State was condemned to death as a traitor.

In the 1400s, the Italian island of Murano became the centre of glass luxury. Many new glass making techniques were developed there and Murano played a main role in the export trade of dinnerware, glass vases, mirrors and other luxurious items. A distinguishing feature of glass pieces made by Venetians was their content and a technique of making. Local quartz pebbles were almost pure silica ground into clear sand and combined with soda ash obtained from the Levant.

The contemporary Venetian glass art flourished in the 50ths and 60ths of the 20th century. Murano is still a Mecca for artists and glass lovers. The Murano School remains one of the most important in the world, and the art of glassmaking, just like centuries ago is still handed down from father to son.

However, not only the Italians became famous of their glass making skills. It is worth to mention that the Czech Republic Region of Bohemia and Moravia is a significant source of European glass making traditions. From the earliest days, the Czechs were setting tone in European and world art of glass making.

The United States are famous for making artistic glass items as well. The American glassworks tradition comes from the colonial times, when green glass house ware was produced. Currently, there are a lot of individual artists, and the art in glass is practiced and taught in the universities.

Beginning in the 19th century, a variety of extravagant glass items, such as glass vases started to become an important part of the decorative art. Particularly significant impact on development of decorative glass had the Art Nouveau movement. The members produced coloured pieces, often in cameo glass (a form of glass art involving etching and carving through fused layers of differently coloured glass; the main characteristic are white figures carved on black background), as well as using the lustre technique.

With the 20th century came an era of revolutionary technology. Machines were developed which replaced traditional mouth blowing with a semi-automatic process, and transformed the craft into an industry. A new mould-etch process was invented which allowed to reduce manufacturing costs. This led to cheap glassware in the 1930s, later called “Depression glass”.

Classical man-made glassblowing maintaining the tradition and knowledge of ancient glassblowers became an art. Today's glassblower still utilizes the basic blowpipe, but now they have a vast number of supplementary tools to aid in working the material.

Here are the most common techniques to produce glass art:

• blowing: a glassblower works at a furnace full of molten glass using metal rods and hand tools to blow and shape almost any form of glass;
• kiln-casting: can be done at the furnace at the torch or in a kiln; generally the artist makes a mould out of refractory, sand, or plaster and silica which can be filled with either clear glass or coloured or patterned glass;
• fusing, slumping: usually glass is only heated enough to impress a shape or a texture onto the piece, or to stick several pieces of glass together without glue;
• flame working: the artist generally works at a bench using rods and tubes of glass, shaping with hand tools to create their work;
• hot sculpting;
• cold-working;

The most common glass objects include vessels such as bowls, glass vases, bottles, etc. as well as paperweights, beads, sculptures and installation art.

WHAT'S NEW

Nothing you can do alone in the world of business. Especially if you are a starting company looking for advice and guidelines. That's why last week was the time when we decided to research various networking groups available in Halton. There's a plenty of them and you can choose the one which is the most appropriate for you and your kind of business. The meetings provided us with an opportunity to introduce Glamorous Glass and to become familiar with other small businesses operating in the Region. One-on-one discussions are great to get valuable advice from already established businesses. On the other hand, group discussions gave us an insight into importance of marketing, especially social media. It wont't be a surprise when I mention that the most talkative groups are the ones which gather women only :-) Should I say the most fun and dynamic too?! Anyway, it's great to be a part of a group gathering those who decided to leave corporate world and work for themselves.

Have you checked our contest yet? You can win this handmade Greek platter. Simply follow the rules at http://www.glamorous-glass.com/CONTESTS.html . Can't wait to find out who the winner will be. Go on, enter it now!

UNCOMPLICATED STORY OF GLASS

The art of glass making has been practiced for centuries. The history of man-made glass dates back even to 3500 BC, and the origins are traced to Syria, Mesopotamia or Egypt.

Naturally occurring glass in a form of obsidian was used even by Stone Age societies whose members utilized it to produce sharp cutting tools. However, the archaeological evidence suggests that the first true glass was made somewhere in north coastal Syria, Mesopotamia or Old Kingdom Egypt. Egypt, with its preserving climate, is a place where we can find a lot of early glass items. Glass beads are thought to be the earliest man-made glass products and date back to 3500 BC. They have been found in Egypt and Eastern Mesopotamia. The oldest fragments of glass vases are said to originate in Mesopotamia 1600 BC.

A rapid growth in glass making techniques is assigned to the area of Late Bronze. By the 15th century BC, Western Asia, Crate and Egypt became extensive glass producers. They knew and safely guarded a technological secret of initial fusing of glass from raw material. Glass workers in other areas of the world had access only to imported pre-formed glass forms.

There is lack of evidence how glass advanced between 15th and 9th century BC. Over these years glass production was centred in Alexandria. From this place it spread to Italy.

The Hellenistic period brought many new techniques of glass production, and glass became to be used in making larger pieces, such as table ware. During this period, colorless and decoloured glass became valued, and methods to have it created studied in a more comprehensive way. However, it was only the first century BC that brought a real revolution: glass blowing technique was discovered on the Syro-Palestinian coast. This technique involved blowing glass inside moulds by using a long thin tube which since then has changed very little. This way they produced a variety of hallow glass items, such as glass vases. Until then the process of creating a small glass item was very prolonged in time; it could take several days to make the product by casting, core forming or cutting. The introduction of glass blowing led to significant changes in the glass making process and contributed to making glass vessels easy and inexpensive to produce. Then, ancient Romans began blowing glass inside moulds which increased shape possibilities for hollow glass items.

The Romans were responsible for spreading glassmaking technology and creating foundations for developing glasswork traditions across Western Europe. During the rule of Emperor Augustus, glass usage flourished across France, German and other European countries. Also the Romans as the first ones began using glass in architecture when clear glass was discovered in Alexandria around 100 AD.

However, the decline of the Roman Empire led to the slowing down of the progress in glass making. The archaeological discoveries from the 7th and 8th century show the transition from ancient to Middle Ages ways of producing glass, and in the 10th century a new technique of glassmaking, when soda glass is replaced with potash obtained from the burning trees, was initiated. The Middle Age introduced Venice as a main actor in glass making in the Western World. In 1271, the ban on imports of foreign glass and on foreign glass artists wanting to work in Venice was introduced. In 1291 the Venetian Republic ordered the glass makers to move their foundries to Murano. The second half of the 15th century brought quartz and potash made from sea plants to the Murano glass making tradition. Pure crystal started to be produced.

In 1688 French glass making introduced a new process for production of plate glass, which can be used in mirrors. The “plate pouring” process resulted in glass with good transmission qualities.

The 19th century was a beginning of a significant change: glass making started evolving towards industry more than the craft. Mass production of glass products was introduced along with an invention of the tank furnace by Friedrich Siemens. It allowed produce greater quantities of molten glass.

With the 20th century came an era of revolutionary technology. Machines were developed which replaced traditional mouth blowing with a semi-automatic process, and transformed the craft into an industry. Classical man-made glassblowing became an art, maintaining the tradition and knowledge of ancient glassblowers. Today's glassblower still utilizes the basic blowpipe, but now they have a vast number of supplementary tools to aid in working the material.

This and other articles written by Glamorous Glass you can find on http://ezinearticles.com/, http://www.articlesnatch.com/, and http://www.articlesengine.com/

SUMMER AT GLAMOROUS GLASS

We've learnt a lot about the world of business in the last few months. We've also had a chance to meet great people who provided us with their valuable advice and help. On the other hand, it was impossible to avoid those who were less than willing (or able) to provide us with the appropriate level of service or support. Each such an encounter is a lesson for us. For instance today we have learnt how we should not treat our clients. Well, one of the flower shops in Milton decided to hang up on us no matter what the reason of our call was! In this way they did not only loose a potential client (we will sooner or later need to purchase a bouquet for a special occasion-now we know where not to do this; what is more, we will definitely not recommend this place to our friends), but also a partner in business. Glamorous Glass, contrary to this flower shop, is aware that professional customer service is one of the most important aspects when running a shop.

We currently pour a lot of time into creating a good marketing campaign. You can find our ads in the Oakville Connected or the Burlington Post Here's My Card edition (page 20). Glamorous Glass has also established a partnership with Discover Milton, a company which promotes local businesses in Milton, ON. Check out the part about Glamorous Glass.

We are also looking for new alliances with other local firms so we can promote and support each other. If you own a business or you know someone who would be interested in establishing a partnership with Glamorous Glass, give us a shout.

And don't forget to purchase some glamorous glass vases, bowls, or plates in our web store.

GLASSBLOWING TECHNIQUES

Glassblowing Techniques

WHY WE LOVE GLASS AND ACTUALLY...WHAT IS GLASS?

Here is one of the articles which we recently wrote.

We use them every day. Glass vases, plates....They are usually made of glass, often painted in various colours or richly decorated. But...

What is "Glass"?

Don't be afraid-I will not provide you with a chemistry lesson. Nevertheless, I'm not a chemist but a person who is fascinated with the beauty and functionality of glass and who has already gathered a number of beautiful glass vases.

All of us are aware that glass as a final product is solid, typically brittle and often transparent. Before becoming a fragile vase or a piece on our dinner table, it is actually silicate sand melted with alcalic additives. In a little bit more complicated terms, glass is a silicon dioxide (70-75%) melted with sodium or potassium oxide in a temperature of 1300-1500 C. Another important compound which needs to be mentioned here is the calcium oxide which stabilizes the whole structure. The glass-forming liquid becomes actual glass when it is rapidly cooled.

Glass shows fascinating properties which change depending on its composition. Soda glass is soft and plastic. It slowly changes its structure when becoming solid so it can be shaped into various, often complicated forms. Potash glass is harder, and it was used for the greenish forest glass as well as for the crystal glass when the technology of cleaning and decolouring had been mastered.

As in this place we do not intend to analyze physics of glass, we want to refer you to the literature of glass making available in your local library.

Glass in Our Lives

The term "glass" originates from the Germanic word for transparent, lustrous substance. It was developed in the late Roman Empire, in the Roman glassmaking centre located in Trier (today Germany).

I find glass to be fascinating. This material has a few thousand year-long tradition of making. Today, glass products are taken for granted-we use them on an everyday basis when serving food, decorating our homes or as purchasing them to make them gifts for our special ones.

It is impossible to mention all areas in which glass is used nowadays. My interests focus on glass as a gentle material which can be extravagantly used in home decoration. I'm talking here about unique glass pieces used as accessories or gifts, such as glass vases or decorative bowls. Contemporary glass artists and glass works create artistic vases, bowls or candle holders which bring to our homes distinctiveness in their functionality and decoration. Elaborate centerpieces can be used in a variety of ways and in various settings. Place it in direct sun or light, and you will create a rainbow of colours which will enlighten any, even the darkest, room.

However, it is easy to become deceived by cheap copies of so called "artistic" glass pieces. You can easily find glass pieces advertised as "Murano glass vases" or "Murano bowls" which are in fact not original products-they do not originate from Murano Island (Italy), represent lower quality and can be purchased for lower prices. The same goes with the Bohemian pieces which are often manufactured on a massive scale in anywhere but not in the Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. Always check if your supplies can provide you with a certificate of authenticity of a product you are interested in. Only when buying original glass vases, centerpieces, bowls, etc.you will fully enjoy the beauty of this grateful material.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A NICE BOHEMIAN SET OF PLATES....

.... You will find them at Glamorous Glass. You can get them in a set of 2, 4 or 6. Combine different decors from the same collection and you will create an extraordinary, often contemporary dinner table. The plates are made of fused glass. Most of them are transparent but possess highly decorative and colorful edges which make them so exceptional. Here are some pictures but do not hesitate to visit our web store for a full collection of Bohemian plates straight from the Czech Republic.

By the way, the plates will be a great gift idea for newlyweds.

IDEA BEHIND GLAMOROUS GLASS

Glamorous Glass is getting its presence in both, real and virtual world. Our passion to make it work drives us towards creating a perfect store for those who care about style and want to be original while expressing their individualism. Glamorous Glass will be for such people. You won't find here quality-cheap products manufactured on a massive scale. The idea behind Glamorous Glass is to offer you a piece of distinctiveness and a breeze of freshness in home decor. Our aim is to make you think about Glamorous Glass FIRST when you face a challenge of finding a perfect gift. No matter what the occasion is-wedding, birthday, holiday-Glamorous Glass will provide you with original gift ideas.

FUNCTIONALITY GOES HAND IN HAND WITH ORIGINALITY OF DESIGN IN THESE CZECH PLATES AND PLATTERS

A new shipment from the Czech Republic has arrived today. This time Glamorous Glass has received various fused glass plates and platters from Axum Bohemia. We will offer a number of original dining sets. These are functional, colourful plates and platters which present themselves wonderfully on any table during casual parties as well elegant dinners. Check out the glass food pyramid-it is a great idea of how you can serve snacks, sushi, etc., and at the same time entertain your guests with your originality and creativity.

Check out our blog, Glamorous Glass store and facebook in a few days as the pictures are coming soon.

OUR DISPLAY

As we have mentioned, we got an opportunity to display a sample of our products at the Small Business Centre at the Regional Municipality of Halton (Ontario). It is a great chance for Glamorous Glass to present itself as a source of home/ office decor ideas and great gifts for every occasion. It was nice to hear a positive feedback from the Halton Region employees who really enjoy the products. Here are some pictures of our display.

SOME EXAMPLES FROM THE GREEK COLLECTION

As promised, here is a sample of Greek glass products that Glamorous Glass offers. You can view a full collection in our store. What distinguishes Greek glass items from other pieces available at Glamorous Glass are their lively colours, often elaborate shape, and abstract decor with small contemporary images as a main element. If you are looking for a quality gift or a functional or decorative home/ office piece in a reasonable price, you definitely should review the Greek collection at Glamorous Glass. You will find there a variety of glass vases, plates, candle holders, trays, bowls, clocks and platters.

BEAUTY OF COLOURS STRAIGHT FROM GREECE

Few days ago we started unpacking another shipment that arrived to Glamorous Glass, this time from Greece. We really enjoyed cooperation with our Greek supplier, Eratini. This is an artistic glass studio located in Northern Greece. They specialize in fused glass and are focused on design of very unique handmade decorative, as well as functional objects. Yes, you can say anything about their creations but not that they are simple. Full of colour, unimaginative patterns and shapes, they will bring to any home glamor and originality. Especially amazing are their plates and platters. If you do not want to use them to serve food, get a plate holder and display the item on your main shelve or in a cabinet. You will amaze your guests with your taste in home decor. Their reasonable prices, but at the same time high quality, make the Greek products ideal gifts for every occasion.

Check out our blog, Glamorous Glass website and facebook in a few days. The photos of Greek glass items are coming soon.

THE ITALIANS HAVE ARRIVED

Highly anticipated inventory from the island of Murano (Italy), often said to be the capital of glass, has arrived. The products come from Yalos Murano, a leading trademark in the traditional production of glass. Style and design of their products make them great for decor of contemporary as well as traditional homes. What is amazing are the colours as well as specific texture of glass their bowls and vases are made of. All who are interested in glass products are aware of an exceptional quality of silica items originating from Murano. Lovers of decorative, as well as functional glass vases, bowls, plates, figurines, centerpieces, etc. should definitely consider complementing their collections with the Murano glass. Indeed, they are not the least expensive, but the connoisseurs of glass know that they are worth their price. Here is a peak of what we will be offering in the Glamorous Glass web store, and later, in our boutique. Enjoy!

GLAMOROUS GLASS GOT A GREAT PROMOTIONAL OPPORTUNITY

Glamorous Glass has received an excellent opportunity to promote itself in a local community. The Small Business Centre at the Regional Municipality of Halton (Ontario) provided us with a chance to present the products we will be offering. Therefore, for months of May and June all visitors to and employees of the Municipality of Halton will see glass vases, centerpieces, bowls, etc. offered by Glamorous Glass. They will be exhibited in the glass display at the Centre. We could not have imagined a better way to start market ourselves in our community.

So we want to thank all of the employees of the Small Business Centre, especially Yolanda, who expressed their interest in having our products displayed in their offices.

MORE GLASS FROM GALICJAN AND JOZEFINA

Here are a few more examples of the Galicjan and Jozefina glass vases from Poland. You should know that their colours are not achieved through painting, but through heating together glass of various colours. These are great ideas for gifts, especially for the upcoming Mother`s Day! So if you notice here or on our Facebook page items that you especially like, just contact us through any of these sites, and we will provide you with details on products you are interested in.

COUNTING DAYS UNTIL THE GLAMOROUS GLASS WEB STORE IS OPEN

Things are speeding up, so although we still have some work to do, there is a chance we will welcome you in the web store at the end of April or beginning of May. Right now we consider different marketing options so we can reach our target audience. There is so many possibilities but we definitely need to choose the ones which will be the most effective and efficient. It's a tough one! And of course, we are still working on having the website up and running as soon as possible.

There are some details we need to arrange. For example, picking a courier which will deliver your glass in the cheapest way, but with a full quality of services, is not that easy. Or deciding on the packaging for the products as we will offer FREE gift wrapping!

Opening your own business, especially when you also have to juggle other responsibilities, is not the easiest thing to do, but definitely rewarding when you see your dream becoming a reality.

ARTISTIC AND GLAMOROUS

After some difficulties, we finally managed to get a number of pieces from other Polish glass works which specialize in artistic decorative glass products (Galicjan, Jozefina, etc.). We have contemporary shapes (swirled tubes, handkerchief glass vases), as well as more traditional ones. We are positive that you will find shell centerpieces and bowls to be perfect gifts for every occasion. These glass pieces are some of the finest available at these price levels.

Meanwhile, we are patiently waiting for our Italian supplier to ship their products straight from Murano. We are also in advanced talks with other European artists, but where from, it is a surprise.

BOHEMIAN HAND BLOWN GLASS IS HERE!

We finally got it! Highly anticipated shipment from Glass Atelier Beranek located in the region of Bohemia, Czech Republic. And indeed, these glass vases are real pieces of art! The craftsmanship is evident. Deep blue and green colour of cobalt glass will enlighten every room.

They have been 100% hand-made and represent a distinctive example of hot-shaped

blown glass. Slim shapes, quality of glass, beautiful colours and pattern are the characteristics which allow calling these vases masterpieces. After spending days on taking pictures which would at least try to express beauty of these pieces, here are some examples.

STEP-BY-STEP TO GET GLAMOROUS GLASS READY TO OPERATE

The last few months have been quite busy for us as not only do we gather our knowledge and energy to get our online store launched in mid/ end April, but also to be able to open a bricks-and-mortar store in September 2010. No matter of how we will reach our clients, if it is online or in person, we want to provide them with exceptional glass and ceramic pieces from Europe. Hand-made, hand-painted glass vases, bowls, figurines, plates, etc. will be valued by those who look for something which can not be purchased in chain stores. The items we will be offering are all unique work of art made by hand, so each represents an individual piece of decor and at the same time can be used in our everyday lives.

We are currently working on the website so it is easy to navigate and user-friendly. Taking and editing pictures of inventory, planning marketing campaigns, preparing written part of the website, and at the same time organizing shipments, communicating with suppliers, taking care of formal arrangements such as insurance, financing, bookkeeping, etc. takes a lot of time! It's amazing how much work is needed to launch an online store! Especially that at the same time we need to keep in mind that time flies and soon we will have to start looking for lease opportunities (our aim is Oakville, Ontario)!

GLASS VASES AND BOWLS FROM POLAND

Decorative glass bowls which we shipped from Poland are available in a range of styles and prices to choose from. They are examples of decorative as well as practical art glass at their finest. Only your imagination is a limit when deciding how to display bowls or what purpose they will serve.

Glass vases which we received are definitely not only simple containers where you hold your flowers. When exhibited properly, they will become a point of focus when your guests arrive. A glass vase will emphasize beauty of your new coffee table, or take away attention from a little bit scratched walls when displayed on a shelf. Vases can do the trick to make a statement about your uniqueness and individual style. They don’t always need to carry flowers; use your imagination to utilize your vase in the most original way. So take a look at some of the items we got straight from Europe.

FIRST INVENTORY ARRIVED

Today first part of our inventory has arrived. We have received uniquely shaped and hand-painted glass vases and bowls from one of the biggest glass works in Poland, Deco-Glass. It is amazing how detailed decorations on these pieces are. Some of them can easily be labeled "artistic paintings". This glass works is known for a variety of forms of their products and quality of glass (we find it very thick and durable). What we are the most proud of is a collection of glass vases decorated with enormous in size Swarowski crystals. Apparently, some public figures in Europe are in possession of some of them.

Next few days will be spent on photographing our new products. We will do all we can to create the most realistic photo descriptions of these pieces so when you visit Glamorous Glass you can easily pick a product which suits your taste.

OUR NEW ADVENTURE!

If you decide to follow our blog, you will come along with us as we open our web store, and soon after, our first bricks-and-mortar location of Glamorous Glass.

For years, we have been amazed with grace and beauty of artistic glass and ceramic vases, bows, plates, centerpieces, etc. originating from such countries as Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic or Poland. At the same time we have had difficulties to find pieces of this quality in reasonable prices in our local and Canadian on-line stores. That’s how an idea of Glamorous Glass came to our mind. Our aim is to create an online and later, a physical store where style-conscious customers will purchase unique pieces of European glass and ceramic home decor without spending enormous amounts of money. Variety of products will go along with excellent customer service which includes individualization of services, free gift wrapping or special deals on delivery.

So we would like to welcome you to the Glamorous Glass blog where we will share our feelings and thoughts related to what we do. We will pass on our passion towards glass and ceramics into you. We will talk about the beauty of European home decorations made of glass, and share with you interesting facts and curiosities about our vases, bowls, centerpieces, etc. At the same time, you will witness how Glamorous Glass becomes a reality.

Hence, take your time and scroll down through our blog while taking a journey through a wonderful world of silica. And don’t forget-we are waiting for your thoughts on glass, gifts, and...us.