BEST HOUSEWARMING GIFT IDEAS

How many times we all were facing a problem of finding appropriate housewarming gifts for our friends and family. Buying an apartment or a house is an enormous step for them, and we want to contribute and make it an unforgettable event. We can do it with a unique housewarming gift.

There’s no doubt that there is a great variety of home décor products in the market which can serve as housewarming gifts. However, only some of them are unique enough so they can stand out among other gifts of this kind. Fine glass art is a great choice when deciding on housewarming gifts. The best thing is that glass art works come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and functions so you will find some excellent pieces for any home decor.

Glass Artworks as Centerpieces

When it comes to centerpieces, a unique, hand-made glass piece can become a focal point of any room. A new host will be grateful for getting a high-quality blown glass vase or other centerpiece which will dress up their room or office.

Home Décor Glass Pieces Ideas

A glass vase is one of the ideas for housewarming gifts. You will find a huge variety of glass vases that you can choose from. However, only some of them can be called a piece of art and constitute an original way of decorating a new home. A glass vase in its best will make a statement about uniqueness of your host, so while choosing a housewarming gift, pick the one which will match personality of a new home owner. Also, bear in mind that a glass vase will not be necessarily utilized by the owner to hold flowers. Therefore, select the piece which is a decoration in itself.

Glass bowls are excellent housewarming gift ideas. They can not only be a piece of home décor but also be utilized to serve food or hold small decorating items. Possibilities are endless. Hand-made glass bowls are underutilized as centerpieces. However, properly displayed, they can wonderfully complement home décor.

Glass art candle holders are truly exceptional in home décor. They are loved by new home owners as they are a wonderful way of warming, often still unorganized and under decorated rooms of a new house.

Colour and Type of Glass Housewarming Gifts

While picking a glass housewarming gift, the type of glass, its colour as well as size need to be taken into consideration. However, very often we do not have the knowledge of what the new house owner’s ultimate décor idea is, and what each room’s style will be. That is why it is recommended to either enquire about the colours and décor which will dominate in the rooms, or simply choose the pieces which are neutral in its colour and style, such as a beige vase or a greyish bowl.

If none of these are possible, take your glass housewarming ideas a little further and simply decide on getting a dinner set. There is no doubt that a couple of hand-blown glasses or/ and fused plates will make the host happy. Also, it is easier not to make a wrong choice when picking the plates or glasses as their colour and style can be easily accommodated by the host through matching the set with an appropriate style and colour of the table cloth.

When it comes to http://www.glamorous-glass.com/Galicjan-Poland/">housewarming gifts , glassware and glass homes décor pieces will surely be a winner at the housewarming party.

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/

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.

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.

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.

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.