Mirakkul Glassware Blog

10 Glass Oil Lamp Safety Measures

Oil Lamp with Stem from Mirakkul Glassware Oil lamps are perfectly safe ways to light up and

The Use Of Lavender As An Additive In Wine Making

Many people assume that wine can only be made from grapes under Mediterranean-like sun. Most people

Priceless? Or Worthless? How to Spot a Forged Painting

Whilst it might not quite be the oldest profession in the world (we won’t go into that), the forge

10 Glass Oil Lamp Safety Measures

May 18, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Oil Lamp with Stem from Mirakkul Glassware

Oil lamps are perfectly safe ways to light up and decorate your rooms.

Here are some simple tips that will help ensure your safety.

1. Each time before you use an oil lamp, check that it is free from damage.

There should be no broken parts that could cause flames.

2. Check that the wick is the right length.

The upper end of the wick should be long enough so that you can light it, and the lower end should be completely submerged in lamp oil.

Keep it at a reasonable length, neither too short nor too long. If the wick is too short, it cannot support the flame; if it is too long, the flame will be too large and may cause overheating.

3. When using the lamp for the first time or using it after a long period of non-use, let the wick soak up the lamp oil.

This will ensure that it will be lit properly without burning off.

4. Place the oil lamp on a level, non-flammable surface.

By doing so, even when the lamp is knocked over, the damage will be limited.

5. After use, allow it to cool before touching it.

Quick cleaning is recommended after each use, but don’t touch the lamp right after using it.

6. Do not overfill.
1/2 to 3/4 of the full capacity is usually safe. (Within about 0.5in of the top)

7. Use quality lamp oil.

Lamp oil that has been properly processed and refined produces less harmful smoke and soot than its counterparts. It’s healthy for you and keeps the walls, windows, and fabric unaffected. It is also easy to find – “ultrapure” or “ultraclean” lamp oil are sold at most supermarkets and camping stores.

8. Keep the wick clean.

Clip and clean the wick before each lighting to prevent smoke and fire hazard.

9. Keep lamp oil at room temperature.

Detailed instructions are provided on lamp oil packaging, but every lamp oil has one thing in common-do not let it freeze. It may defrost too quickly and explode.

10. Do not leave the lamp unattended.

Especially when children or pets are in the house.

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The Use Of Lavender As An Additive In Wine Making

May 1, 2012 in Wine and Stemware

Many people assume that wine can only be made from grapes under Mediterranean-like sun. Most people are wrong!

Making beer at home has been a popular hobby for many years and now more and more people are experimenting and making their own various alcoholic beverages.

Lavender with Wine

Lavender Flowers

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clownfish/504045944/

Wine making is a fascinating hobby as no two batches taste exactly the same due to the use of natural ingredients. Experimenting with different herb plants to product new flavour combinations is half the fun for wine makers, particularly when they grow their own herb plants for use in the recipe.

This delicate but popular elderflower and lavender wine recipe is just one example of how herb plants and lavender products can be introduced in the winemaking process to produce a clear and crisp wine. Lavender in particular is used in many varieties of wine, such as the well-known Fetzer California Riesling (2009) due to its very specific but delicate flavour which complements the majority of other ingredients commonly found in wine recipes.

elder flower

Elderflower

Image Courtesy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/markpeate/3337952491/

Elderflower and Lavender Wine

Ingredients:

• 600g of elderflower petals (a pint is basically the amount of pressed down elderflowers to fill a pint jug)

• 250g of culinary lavender products such as dried flowers or fresh ones from the garden

• 1.4 kg of white granulated sugar

• 2 Lemons or two teaspoons of citric acid if preferred

• 250g tin of white grape concentrate

• 4.5 litres of water

• 1 tablespoon of wine tannin

• 2 campden Tablets

• White wine yeast

• Yeast Nutrient

*Wine making ingredients can be sourced online or locally, just look up wine making.

Basic method:

• When gathering the elderflowers for this recipe, separate the flowers from the stalls with fingers or even a fork. Be careful not to include stalk as this will make the wine bitter-tasting.

• Collect 1 pint (600ml) of elder flower petals by pressing them down lightly.

• As with the elderflowers, collect the required amount of fresh lavender flowers by pressing them down lightly into a jug or by measuring out the same amount of dried lavender products.

• Grate the rind from 2 lemons (being careful to not include any white pith).

• Add the lemon rind (or citric acid) to the elderflower and lavender petals in a clean / sterilised plastic bucket and pour in 8 pints of boiling water.

• Allow this to cool and then add 1 Campden tablet.

• The bucket can now be covered with a clean cloth and allowed to stand undisturbed for three days apart from occasional stirring.

• After three days add the granulated white sugar, white grape concentrate, the juice from the two lemons, and 1 teaspoon of wine tannin and stir well. After the sugar has completely dissolved it is time to add in the sachet of yeast and the yeast nutrient.

• Recover the bucket loosely again and leave it undisturbed in a warm place for a minimum of four days.

• After the four days have passed, strain the mixture through a very fine bag or muslin into a demijohn that will take a minimum of a gallon, of 5 litres.

• Fit an air lock onto the demijohn and leave it in a safe place which has a temperature of 20-22 degrees for a further five days.

• After leaving it for five days siphon the liquid into another demijohn and leave until the bubble no longer manage to pass through the air lock, at which point fermentation is finished.

• The wine will gradually clear and after approximately eight weeks another Campden tablet can be added.

• Twenty four hours after adding the second Campden tablet siphon the wine into sterilised bottles.

• It is recommended that this elderflower and lavender wine is left for a minimum of six months from this point before drinking.

This is a guest post by Alan Horton on behalf of Lavender World. This is a website and tourist attraction which sells a range of lavender products, herb plants, craft and gift ideas for the whole family.

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Priceless? Or Worthless? How to Spot a Forged Painting

April 27, 2012 in Videos, Museums, and more Resources

forged art painting

Whilst it might not quite be the oldest profession in the world (we won’t go into that), the forgery and reproduction of artworks has been going on for more than two thousand years. The Romans, for example, assiduously copied classical Greek sculptures and sold them on as originals. Even the luminaries of the art world such as Michelangelo, Reubens and Pieter Breughel the Younger are reputed to have been involved in a little ‘creative copying’ at some point in their careers.

These days art counterfeiting techniques have become extremely sophisticated, and sometimes even reputable art museums and galleries are caught out. Arguably the best way to avoid falling fouls of a forger of paintings is to become intimately acquainted with the techniques of your preferred artist; not just their materials, technique and signature but also their range of subject matter, typical framing and any distinguishing features that might be found on the reverse of the canvas or frame.

Amateur art enthusiasts may find an illuminated microscope a good investment or at least a powerful magnifying glass of some description, but even if you’re a relatively uninitiated art purchaser there are often tell-tale signs that may help you to spot a forged painting.

art-forgery

Clues that help you spot a forged painting

Whist this is by no means an exhaustive list, here are a few of the mistakes that an art forger might make and suggest that a painting is not an artist’s original work:

Inconsistencies in the artist’s signature – does the signature look somehow ‘fresher’ or more recent than the rest of the painting? And how does it compare with the signature that appears on works that you know to be genuine? A lack of confidence in applying the signature (i.e. when it’s done by someone other than the original artist) can make the signature appear shaky or forced rather than spontaneous and fluid as you would expect.
Look for signs of artificial ageing – a painting can be made to look older than it is by applying a fine coat of yellow varnish and even adding dust to the layer to enhance ‘authenticity’. The painting’s frame may be artificially distressed or stained and aged-looking labels may be applied to the reverse of the painting.
Check the appearance of the frame – if it’s claimed that the frame is original, check the joints. A frame of the correct age may have been cut to size and applied to a counterfeit painting. Often it can be difficult to fully disguise where the older frame has been cut; do the joints look original or is there a suggestion that they might have been cut more recently?
Look for indentations or rust marks – visible marks left behind on a painting from nails or other mounting methods may indicate that the painting has, at the very least, been removed from its original frame.
Examine the edges and borders – if an unframed canvas has suspiciously straight and neatly cut edges it may mean that a larger painting has been trimmed to size, or that the painting is a mechanically-finished reproduction.

The Enid Hutt Gallery sells artwork from contemporary living artists including Alexander Millar prints

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Minimalist Living – Get Rid of All the Clutter

April 18, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

wallpaper-minimalist4

Photo Courtesy of 2expertsdesign.

Working hard, working well, reaping the rewards, and spending it on things you like is great.

But when it gets to the point that you feel overwhelmed by all the stuff that has accumulated around you, it’s time to cut back.

1. Sell clothes that you won’t wear and furniture that you don’t use.

You can re-sell things that are of good quality but don’t get used very often, or donate them. Clothes and furniture are often easy to sell because there is a big buy/trade/sell market. Crossroads Trading and Your Treasure Hunt are some examples.

2. Use only a few credit cards – and remember to keep the oldest one.

Credit cards have a few advantages over cash. If you lose it, you can report it to the credit card company and reclaim it. Also, as long as you pay back on time, you practically prolong the ‘lifespan’ of cash that would have been spent immediately without a credit card. It also covers for unexpected emergencies.

They are also safer than check cards because fraudulent charges made through credit cards can often be reversed (whereas for check cards, most of the time the money cannot be reclaimed).

BUT having too many credit cards can make it hard for you to keep track of the bills, and most of the time it’s not even necessary to have 20 credit cards (unless, of course, they are there for specific reasons).

So just close some accounts and just keep the oldest ones (for keeping high credit scores and long credit history) and those with points and other perks.

Highball Glasses from Mirakkul Glassware.

3. No need for keeping multiple glasses – just get a versatile highball.

Having a nice wine glass set is great. It completes the table decoration and can actually help make wine taste better. But thinking of how many types of glasses there are (for wine, water, tea, martini, whiskey, shots, and more) can get you a headache.

To keep things simple, you can get a nice set of highball glasses that are great as a glass for water/milk/juice by day and whiskey by night.

4. Cut cable – or get rid of TV altogether.

Cable has become largely oblivious in this day and age. You can download/stream most TV shows online, without the ads.

Having a high definition TV can be great if you love watching movies and value great screen quality. But if you are not a big movie fan and don’t care for TVs anyway, read what Miss Minimalist has to say about life without TV. In sum, she says no TV means no commercials, less furniture, more time.

5. Eat less, enjoy more.

No, you don’t have to starve yourself.

But taking more food than you will ever eat and throwing it away? Not good. Eating so much that you want to throw up later? Not good. Repeatedly eating more than you need to so that eventually you don’t even realize that you are eating so much? Also not good.

Eat as much as you have to, and enjoy every bite of it. Trust me, you will feel better!

Further Resources

Read more about minimalist lifestyles at:

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Photographing Stained Glass

April 16, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Cathedral stock photography courtesy of Shutterstock

Stained glass is both timeless and representative of some of the most beautiful, and lasting, displays of art man has accomplished. Yet photographing it can often times yield results that are less-than-impressive. The good news for any would-be stained glass photographers is that with recent advances in photo equipment, the task has become easier. With a little practice, and some patience, you can take photographs that are almost as artistic as their subject matter.

rainbow glass

Lighting

When shooting stained glass, the best shots are from inside during the day with the building lights off, if possible. If you have to shoot at night, you’ll want to set up from the outside of the building with the lights on inside. Essentially, you are trying to capture the beauty of light streaming through the stained glass, so you’ll want as little glare as possible. Which means no flash, because the panes of glass and leading around the glass will reflect your cameras flash and can very easily overwhelm your shot. Unless you need to even out light during a bright summer day, keep it turned off. Cloudy days are the best for obtaining even lighting.

Exposure/Aperture

Most stained glass is inside of dark, older buildings, so you’ll need to rely on longer exposures. You’ll want to set your exposure manually, so consult your owner’s manual for directions. Take your light readings nearer the glass you are photographing and at a mid-tone color, like yellow or flesh-toned panes. -.5 or -.1 is generally good settings. If the stained glass you are photographing is large, set your aperture at a low setting like F-16.

Equipment/Film

Since you’ll be utilizing longer exposure times, a tripod is a good idea. If you don’t have one handy, find something else, like a table or a pile of your own equipment, to hold your camera steady. If your camera is film instead of digital, make sure you’re armed with a slow slide film like Agfa RSX to obtain better saturation in your photographs.

glass on wall

Position

In some cathedrals and churches, your options of where to shoot from may be narrowed; the same with museums or stained glass that is installed in an exhibit. If you can’t get right on top of the glass, where you’ll find some of the best detail, you can also set up away from the glass and utilize a long zoom lens instead. With a small aperture and longer exposure time, the results will be almost as good.

Detail

Since the scale of a lot of stained glass artworks can be quite large, the best photographs are often those that focus on smaller details. Instead of capturing larger pieces in their entirety, break them down into smaller sections and really focus on getting vivid, detailed shots. If the areas you are shooting are particularly detailed, you might even consider stepping down the exposure time in order to get the best shot.

Window stock photos courtesy of Bigstock

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Tags: photographing glass
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The Function of a Wine Decanter – Does It Really ‘Work’?

April 10, 2012 in Wine and Stemware

Photo Courtesy of Epicurean.

There is a lot of debate on whether using a wine decanter is really important when it comes to ‘better tasting wine.’ Let’s see what a decanter does (and doesn’t) to decide if it’s a good idea to get one.

Reasons for using a wine decanter

A wine decanter is used for two main reasons that are widely acknowledged:

1. Remove sediments by decanting older wines.
2. Wine mixes with oxygen while pouring, so that you can experience its full potential. In other words, it “breathes” or opens up.

This is supposed to improve the taste of wine.

Decanters and Carafes from Mirakkul Glassware.

A third reason, for which I mainly use decanters is that

3. It completes my wine experience.

This can totally depend on your personal taste. Some people like simplicity and/or are quite content with a good wine and a good wine glass.

For me, when I am drinking with my friends or family, having a decanter on the table completes the experience. It’s a symbol of preparedness as a hostess for me. Sometimes I use a wine decanter with paintings and ornaments on it. This way, I can taste as well as see wine – its beautiful colors, the delicate decorations, and how glass and decorations interact with light. It’s a more sensory experience. And then we all talk about it – instead of drinking in silence, we drink, talk, laugh – and surprisingly, that actually makes the wine taste better.

Hard-core wine critics and professional tasters may yell at me for not paying attention to the taste of wine itself. But I think in many cases a food or beverage tastes better with company and lots of laughter.

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia.

How to Decant Wine

It sounds simple enough: Pour wine from the wine bottle into the decanter.

However, even within the sommelier community, there are different opinions on how exactly it should be poured.

The general guideline is that younger wines can be poured straight into the decanter, while older wines require more
precise decanting in which they are poured extra slowly.

Does Decanting Work for White Wine?

Yes. Drew Langely, wine director for an upscale restaurant, said in a Los Angels Times article “Wine Decanting: Give Wines Some Air” that wine becomes “much more aromatic and expressive” when they are decanted.

time watch

Photo Courtesy of Sidsavara.

When to Decant It?

Aerating wine ‘too much’ can make it fade faster, and some people argue that swirling the wine glass is enough for aeration.

This can be particularly true if the wine you are drinking is very fragile or old. In these cases, the wine should be decanted no more than 30 minutes before drinking.

Younger, vigorous, full-bodied red and white wine can be decanted an hour before drinking.

What’s the Difference Between a Carafe and Decanter?

A carafe is usually used to store and serve various liquids, such as water, coffee, tea, and wine. It is often insulated and can be served for both hot and cold beverages.

A decanter is usually not used for storage – it is used for pouring off the liquid from one container to another. It is typically used for alcoholic beverages.

Both may or may not have a stopper.

For practical purposes, there is really no hard and fast rule to say that prohibits you from using one or another vessel for decanting wine. Many products nowadays are shaped in such a way that they could be easily called a decanter or a carafe.

The point is that it doesn’t really matter as long as you get what you want out of it.

Good wine

Photo Courtesy of Babelwine.com.

Most importantly – What is “Good Wine”?

All the debate about decanting wine and making it taste ‘better’ assumes that there is some kind of ideal wine that everyone is supposed to like. But in reality, such a wine probably does not exist.

Even professional wine critics have different opinions. They argue when to decant a wine, how to decant it, or whether to decant it at all. In addition to that, people have different preferences and tastes.

Also, sometimes perception is as important as reality. Knowing that a particular wine is rated A+, 90, or whatever high value assures them that it’s a good wine and makes it taste better for some people. Can we say that it’s bad practice? Of course not. If they drink that wine and enjoy it, there is nothing bad about it.

That’s why I always tend to go back to Reason number 3 of using a wine decanter. I never did a controlled experiment on all the wine drinkers of the world to test whether decanting a wine works for every single wine in the world. But I know for sure that having one completes my table setting and that people like to talk about an eccentric or beautiful decanter that they have never seen before. It’s a good conversation starter and I enjoy drinking wine that way.

So just try drinking a few different types of wines, decant or don’t decant it, and experience it for yourself. Wine drinking does not follow a standard formula. No matter what score a wine got on a leading wine magazine and no matter how you decanted it, if you like it and enjoy it, then it is right for you.

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Be Green: Eco-Friendly Wedding Favors

April 7, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Many people are working towards living a “green” lifestyle. They are making choices that are eco-friendly. Products and/or services must have sustainability and renewability. So, why not start off your new life as a married person with eco-friendly wedding favors? With some thought and creativity, you can help the environment and still provide a meaningful momentum to your wedding guests.

As the green movement is gaining in popularity, so are eco-friendly wedding favors. In fact, you can now find numerous environmentally friendly wedding favors and at all price points. Some ideas are below.

Seeds

Probably the most obvious eco-friendly wedding favors are plant seeds. Seeds come in a wide variety. Chose ones with meaning, whether they are seeds of your wedding flowers or just simply your favorite kind of flower. Personalize them with their packaging and presentation. Plantable paper is also available.

Candles

While not such a unique idea, candles are good wedding favors. Candles can be enjoyed by everyone and are not simply another trinket to sit on a shelf. Choose beeswax candles which are more unusual, naturally non-toxic, soot free and environmentally friendly. Beeswax candles are available in a variety of styles and shapes including floating heart candles to represent love or even snowflakes, a good idea for a winter wedding.

Bamboo frames, coasters

Anything bamboo is a good idea for a green wedding favor. Bamboo is an extremely environmentally friendly, relatively inexpensive, and highly durable. Picture frames, coasters, boxes, bags, business card holders, are all gifts which can be personalized while not harming the environment.

Toiletries

Handmade soaps, lip balms, lotions, sunscreens can be green and personalized to fit your decor. Use all natural ingredients and scents and make them biodegradable. Also, by making your own favors, you do not have to use any animal products, making them vegan in nature. You cannot get much more eco-friendly.

Place card holders

Serving two purposes, place card holders can be an excellent wedding favor. Environmentally friendly, you can find many types of place card holders. Seashells, mini fans, polished rocks, or birdseed hangers for summer or beach weddings are excellent choices. For the more adventuresome or outdoors-type of person or wedding, place card holders made out of vines, pine cones, or bamboo are great ideas.

These are just some of the numerous eco-friendly wedding favors currently available. Do some research, be creative, use your imagination, and start your green lifestyle together.

Joanna can help you plan the perfect wedding - wedding favors included – and make sure you have the perfect day to talk about forever.

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Mosaic Tiling for the Less Artistic

April 5, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Photo Courtesy of art.com.

Mosaic tiles make any surface look creative and artistic. Weathered tables or any other surface can have a quick fix with a variety of tiles. There are various types of tiles that can be used. Most common tiles used for mosaic tiling are glass tiles or ceramic tiles. You can use any kind of broken tiles if you want to, depending on how neat you want it to look. For example glass tiles will give your projects a cleaner and clearer look.

First decide on a pattern

The surface you are going to mosaic will probably have an influence on the pattern, so keep that in mind when deciding upon a unique design. If you want a wall-hanging you most likely want it to be a picture, but when you want to mosaic a pot, a pattern might be in order. There are millions of patterns available on the Internet if you need inspiration.

The choice of glue is also very important

Make sure it is waterproof; It must also be glue that dries clear. You can apply the glue on the tile or on the surface where you will mount the tile. Do not use too much glue and leave small spaces for the grout (the white cement like substance, you see). It is also important that the glue is weatherproof so that it doesn’t expand and contract during weather changes as that will cause the tiles to crack up and fall off.

The preferred method by most professionals is the direct method when mounting the tiles to the surface. If you drew the pattern on the surface and you’re using glass tiles make sure the pencil lines aren’t visible. The other method is the indirect method, mostly used when the surface is flat. That is packing the tiles upside down into the preferred pattern, put the glue on a table and flip the surface and mount the tiles. Personally I think the direct method is more therapeutic.

Your inner child

After waiting a day or two you can start with the messiest part and meet your inner child. Be sure to have clothes on that had its glory days. You can buy grout in power form or premixed. The great thing about the powder form is that you can control the texture. Best texture is the toothpaste like texture. When you’re a first timer premixed grout will be the best. You also get the option between sanded grout and non-sanded grout. Sanded grout is mostly used to fill up larger spaces, more for the rough look. If you’re a beginner that wants a smooth surface with small spaces between the tiles rather go for the non-sanded grout.

After deciding what type of grout you need and mixed it, take a handful and plot it in the middle of your surface. Very important tip is to wear gloves, even if you’re reconsidering it right now, wear gloves, please. Take a grout spreader and spread it into every single last open gap you see. When spreading with your hands, protected by gloves, you might get cuts from the rough edges of the tiles. So avoid spreading the grout with your hands. After you’re done filling the gaps with grout, remove the excess.

The tiles may still be covered in grout but don’t stress. Give it 15-30 minutes to dry and then take a wet sponge and remove the dry grout. Don’t wipe too hard or you might wipe all the grout away, so be careful. You can always buff off the hard grout after two days or so. To be safe keep your piece of art indoors for at least two weeks until the grout is cured.

This is rough guidelines to mosaic tiling, be creative and you don’t have to stick to every single rule. That is what makes you an artist.

Donne is an experienced writer and enjoys helping people with DIY projects. This month she’s focusing on writing articles about using ceramic tiles and porcelain tiles for creative designs at home.

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Using Glass Plates Safely with Food

April 3, 2012 in Taking Care of Your Glass

glass-plates

Photo Courtesy of aavaas.

Glass plates can be beautiful decorations for a special evening. They come in a variety of colors and sizes, with or without decorations.

Here are some guidelines on using them for serving food.

Cooking and Serving Food

1. Microwaving Glass Plates

Glassware that is made entirely of glass is safe to put in the microwave. However, unusually thin glass can break not because of the microwave, but because of any boiling liquid inside it.

Overstock has a good guide on “How to Tell If Something Is Microwave-Safe.”

To summarize that guide, you can test whether a dish is microwave safe or not by

- adding water to the glassware
- microwaving it for 1 minute
- checking if it is warm or hot after heating. If it is warm or hot, it isn’t microwave safe.

Usually, common sense that applies to other types of materials (metal, styrofoam, plastic) also applies to glass. Overheating anything in microwaves is dangerous!

2. Other Types of Heat

Extreme heat can break glass because it is a poor conductor of heat. (i.e. heat is not transferred easily through glass, so that one specific area will be heated and expand, while the rest will stay the same, causing it to break.)

Even if the glassware does not break, it can be weakened by heat.

By avoiding quick heating or cooling, you can use glass plates with food safely.

i.e. Don’t boil food in a glass pot – but glass plates will be fine with any food that is at an edible temperature.

3. Safety with Food

Glass in general is seen to be safer to use with food than plastic or metal. (Plastic can melt and metal has rust.)

For example, lead free crystal is safe to use with all types of food, because it does not react to slightly acidic substances, such as wine and vinegar. A lot of sauces are wine-based or contain vinegar, so it’s good to know that you are eating just your food – instead of food and whatever that reacted with it!

Photos from Mirakkul Glassware Glass Plates.

Cleaning

1. Using the Dishwasher

Glass itself is safe to wash with dishwasher, but be sure that it is securely placed in the dishwasher so that it does not break. Running the dishwasher in the most gentle cycle will help.

If the glass plates are painted or otherwise decorated, it’s not a good idea to use the dishwasher. Hand wash them with gentle dish soap.

2. Other Methods

Dust with soft, lint-free cloth dampened in a mild solution of ammonia and water. Do not use chemical cleaners like Windex.

Avoid contact with metal utensils so that the glassware doesn’t get scratched. Obviously, this can be hard to do when you are eating. But keeping it in mind can lengthen the beauty of your glassware. (It’s like not trying to scratch the bottom of your pot, even though inevitably, it will retain some scratches while cooking.)

Hand wash with non-abrasive cleaner (mild soap, dish washing liquid) in warm water. Stains can be rubbed off with lemon and vinegar solutions. Glassware can be air-dried or dried with soft lint-free cloth.

Storing

Store your glassware right side up. If space permits, do not stack vessels.
Use soft cloth or bubble wrap rather than newpaper packings, which are too moisture-absorbing.

Sometimes it can be hard to stick to all these rules, but these are the most detailed guidelines that you can stick to, so don’t feel overwhelmed. Maybe the particular glassware you have isn’t that expensive or valuable and you don’t want to put so much care. Maybe it is sturdier than most glassware so that you don’t have to be so careful. And that’s fine too.

At any rate, following the guidelines above will ensure that you can use the most delicately decorated, valuable glass plates for a long time.
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A Guide to the World’s Most Awesome Money

April 2, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

We’re quite accustomed to money being a mundane thing. We think of our coins and notes as being basic and functional, serious and po-faced, serving no purpose beyond the conveyance of material worth. We tend, in general, not to try and have fun with our money. But that’s not the case everywhere in the world. Many nations have produced currency designs intended to break the mold by being in some way aesthetically unique. So here’s a look at currency that dares to be different and brightens up an otherwise dull pocket full of change.

1. The Cook Islands

In 2011, the Cook Islands, in the South Pacific Ocean, issued a five dollar coin which could easily be the most beautiful coin on the list. The coin is part of a series which all contain pieces of famous meteorites and is set into a picture showing where the meteorite fell. This is definitely a coin to keep and not spend down at the supermarket.

Image credit.

2. Palau 2011

Palau, a small island in the pacific produces beautiful coins each year which feature a tiny pearl inset into their design. In 2011 they released a coin called ‘Princess of the Sea,’ presumably referring to the small but amazing pink pearl sat in the centre. Only 2500 coins of the five dollar coins were released and are sold at the mint for $145.

Image credit.

3. The Euro Coins

This currency has taken over from several European currencies in the last ten years and has opted for a simplistic modern design on their coins. On one side there is a map representing the European Union and on the other side is an individual design unique to each country which each country’s member of state has designed.

4. The Euro Notes

The Euro also has some pretty cool designs on their notes and unlike many other currencies their designs are completely fictional. They consist of illustrations of architecture reflecting the styles used in Europe through the centuries such as Baroque, Renaissance and Gothic.

5. Aruba

Aruba is a small island in the Southern Caribbean Sea and is obviously very proud of its tropical climate and wildlife judging by its currency. All its notes carry pictures of wildlife found on the island including turtles, shells and fish.

6. Comoros

This little island in the middle of the Indian Ocean could easily take the prize for having the most decorated bank notes today. The notes are more works of art than currency and with their detailed prints of natives picking fruit and carrying their produce on their head.

7. Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s notes are fun and futuristic featuring modern artwork, bright colours and abstract designs. They don’t show any specific political figures or landmarks which is unusual for currency.

8. Maldives

The Maldives banknotes are probably some of the most colourful you will ever come across. They feature a colour gradient which takes on an almost rainbow-like appearance and show scenes of ‘Fishing,’ ‘Island Life’ and ‘Inner Harbour Male.’

9. Yap

On the island of Yap, in the Caroline Islands in the Pacific Ocean, Rai stones used to be used as currency. There were made of Limestone and were very very valuable to the Yapese, however, they were so heavy they were rarely moved and simply passed ownership by word of mouth.

10. Russia

In medieval times, the main currency in Russia was squirrel body parts. The Russians believed this gruesome practice saved them from the Black Plague which was doing the rounds in Europe at the time and although pelts had the highest value, snouts, ears and claws were also used. Nowadays they use the far more humane currency of notes and coins.

11. Palau 2007

The prettiest coin design goes to the heart shaped, five dollar, 2007 devil and angel coin from Palau. They have a history of producing beautiful coins but this is by far their best.

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12. Somalia

In 2007, Somalia produced a one dollar coin which was designed in the shape of a motorcycle. They came in a range of colours and probably the most fun currency on the list!

13. Togo

As beautiful as the real thing, this 2010, 100 Franc, Rainforest Prism Green Sunbird coin produced by Togo, Africa highlights one of their prettiest creatures.

14. Japan

Way back in 1944 metal was so scarce that the Manchuko region in Japan used cardboard coins as currency.

15. South Georgia

This two pound coin was issued in 2007 and as South Georgia is home to many penguins, features them all around the outside of the coin. The centre shows a chick engraved in crystal and because it was so difficult to make, due to the crystal, there are only 5000 in existence.