Glass Decorations | Mirakkul Glassware Blog

Glassware – Make it Part of Your Christmas

November 9, 2012 in Glass Decorations

With Christmas only a matter of weeks away, now is the time to start preparing for the festivities if you have not already done so. One of the most difficult tasks can be selecting presents for friends and family, with many hours spent thinking about and searching for the perfect gifts, sometimes with only days to spare. Aside from this, if you are having guests for Christmas yourself, you will be keen to pay particular attention to how your home is decorated, not forgetting your table when you put on a big spread on the twenty-fifth. It may not initially spring to mind, but glassware can provide a solution to both problems; a thoughtfully selected gift and a beautiful table decoration.

Something to suit everyone

People increasingly seem to have everything they want and need these days, which can make present selection all the harder; not to mention the increasing range of products from which to select, with new gadgets available each year. However, if you are after a more traditional gift, which can be something personal to whoever you are buying for and will be cherished for many years, glassware can offer just this. We all have everyday glasses, vases and bowls that are used day in day out; it doesn’t matter if these get dropped or chipped, as they tend to be inexpensive for this purpose. However, it’s nice to have something a little more special that you can bring out on an occasion such as a birthday, party or simply for entertaining friends. This is exactly what the glassware that you give as a present will be. Far from the plain everyday glassware, that given as a gift is pleasing to the eye with intricate patterns and well thought out color schemes are a prominent feature. Once you have chosen the type of item to buy you can tailor the design to what you know the recipient will most like; with many items of glassware handmade it will be a truly unique gift. It’s also nice to give the items as a gift that we would not usually buy for ourselves, such as decanters, cocktail glasses and glass ornaments. Glassware as a gift will please both those who like to receive practical presents and those who enjoy the finer things in life.

The easy choice

If you still can’t decide on the item that you feel your recipient would most appreciate, the answer is simple; many vendors of glass provide gift cards, so it doesn’t matter where they live, with online shopping it’s easy for your friend or family member to select the glassware of their choice. Selecting the right present for someone isn’t the only problem; getting the gift to them can be another issue. While this is easy for people you’ll see over the Christmas period, for those who live elsewhere it might be a worry. However, with careful packaging by experienced staff you can be sure that the glassware will reach your loved one in one piece. The thought of handmade products can sometimes be a deterrent, as although you know that the quality and detail will be second to none, it comes with a price tag to reflect that. However, handmade glassware represents good value for money and with some good glassware deals around, it is an affordable option even when shopping for presents within a budget.

Finishing touches

Having researched glassware to send as gifts for others, you will be well aware on the selection on offer, which should make purchasing the items for your Christmas table easy. Whether you want to choose a set of wine glasses complete with a matching wine cooler or decanter, a glass bowl to display festive fruits or a glass cake stand to show off your Christmas cake, the choice is yours. Particularly if additional money to spend is limited, you may decide to treat yourself to a new item of glassware each Christmas, adding to your collection year on year. Although you are not overhauling all of your glassware for Christmas, the new items that you purchase can refresh your existing items, bring your dinner service up to date and make an impression on your guests. It’s certainly true that the little things can make all of the difference and your table will be testament to this.

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What’s the Difference Between Painted and Etched Glass?

March 5, 2012 in Glass Decorations

Painting and etching are both common methods of decorating glass, but create entirely different effects.

Let’s start with the definition of the two:

Painting: Using paint and applying it on the surface of glass to decorate it.
Etching: Using abrasive materials, such as acid, to dissolve glass.

Pretty straight-forward.

In the early years of glass making, glass paintings tended have shorter lifespans than etchings. However, artists could get much more detail with painting, because they could simply use thinner brushes. Painting also provided room for various colors.

On the other hand, early glass etching was rougher and less detailed. However, it had the benefit of lasting for a long time. Etchings are permanent, as they are applied deep into the surface. Without physical force and/or extremely long time, the designs will stay there.

For this reason, paintings on ancient glassware are in a worse state than etchings.

But with modern technology, glass paintings became much more durable. Today, glass paints are made of unique chemical formulas and careful firing, so that artists can effectively glue the paint onto the surface. Most modern painted glassware is more than likely to last for generations, unless abnormal physical shock is applied.

Meanwhile, glass etching became more sophisticated as well. These days you can get stencils so that you can easily etch only certain areas of your choice. Depending on your tools and skills, you can create almost any design that you can imagine.

Often the two methods are combined to produce unique effects. After etching glass, artists apply paint to make lasting beauties.

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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: glass etching, glass painting
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What to Put in a Glass Vase or Glass Bowl

March 2, 2012 in Glass Decorations

Flower Vase

Photo Courtesy of internethomealliance.

Did you get glass vases or glass bowls for home décor and don’t know what to do with it? While sometimes glassware and high-end glass art can be beautiful all by itself, it is always nice to have several different decoration options.

Here are some things that you can put in them to brighten a corner of your house.

1. Flowers

The most obvious thing to put in a flower vase! You can vary the length of the stem or color of the flowers to give variations. (Before you decide on a color, check out the color psychology of various colors and how you can use them in everyday life.)

With glass bowls, try cutting the stems short and arranging the flowers in a bouquet form, or fill the bowl with water and let the flowers float around.

2. Stones, Pebbles, and Sand

Stones and pebbles of various shapes, sizes, and colors can be placed in a glass vase or bowl to make it look like an indoor pond.

They are also easily combined with other objects for more sophisticated decorations. i.e. You can put pebbles at the bottom of the vase, then fill it with water, and put flowers in it.

Another advantage of this type of decoration material is that it is reusable. Stones don’t easily wear away or wilt!

Floating Candles

Photo Courtesy of Moontree.

3. Candles (with Water)

Ideal for a romantic evening.

Always keep in mind that safety comes first! Never let children run around lit candles.

4. Clips, Nails, Coins, and Buttons

Glass bowls are ideal as an organizer – especially if its design and the general style of your home is fun and modern, you can put these small colored objects in the bowl to keep your house clean and to decorate the room.

Paper Clips

Photo Courtesy of Howaboutorange.

5. Candies

Have candies readily available for guests and family members by putting them in a glass bowl. Bright-colored candy wraps can be decorations in themselves.

6. Pen & Pencils

Shorter glass vases and glass bowls can be used as pen & pencil organizers. Play with different colored vases and colored pencils for a rainbow palette.

Glass Vase Pencil Holder

Photo Courtesy of Good Housekeeping.

7. Leaves and Seashells

Bring the forest and sea shore to your house by putting these natural objects in the glass vase or glass bowl. Either fill the glassware with water or add some sand so the decoration looks complete as a whole.

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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: glass bowl, glass vase
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Candy Dish as a Centerpiece

December 4, 2011 in Glass Decorations

Everyone loves candies. Placing candies on candy dishes is always a delight not just to candy lovers but to everyone who enjoys that clinking sound of candy on glass, the sound of sweet expectation.
But what are candy dishes and why is there a separate glassware for candies? Candy dishes are colorful containers for your candy. Candy dishes are seen as a table centerpiece for holidays, weddings, parties and at home.

Candy dishes at weddings

Have you seen candy dishes at wedding nowadays? Candy dishes are now used as a centerpiece on wedding tables. Why? It’s because not all couples can afford cakes that would accommodate all guests. And even for couples who can afford a cake, candy dishes are good alternatives because sometimes a huge cake is just wasted since not all guests eat cake. So candies on candy dishes are an affordable solution.
Other couples still use candy dishes as colorful centerpiece decors,because they convey the romantic and sweet feeling of a special event like a wedding.

Candy dishes for kids

Candies are never gone in parties with kids. Every kid loves candies, but giving out candies at a party can be time consuming and emotionally consuming (imagine “More candies! More candies!!!”). Simply having a candy dish and placing it on a table where kids can easily reach can save you a lot of time and hassle.
Candy dishes also come handy during Halloween. It’s a lot of work to prepare candy bags, and who knows how much or how little a kid wants? But you also don’t want the kids to play their trick. So, how would you give the right number of candies without getting all the complaints from kids? The candy dish is the solution. When a kid knocks, show them the candy dish and give them a treat by letting them have as much or as little candies as they want. You would be an unforgettable neighbor throughout the year.

Candy dish for decoration

You don’t love candies but have a candy dish? If you don’t know what to do with your plain candy dish, just decorate it. You can place water with floating candles in it. It will look more attractive and eye catching. It can be a great centerpiece on a table and a great décor for your home.

Tags: candy dish, glassware
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Glass Bowls as Christmas Ornaments

December 4, 2011 in Glass Decorations

Christmas is just around the corner. Everyone is busy decorating their homes, setting up their Christmas trees, and lighting their homes with Christmas lights.

Glass bowls can also be used as part of decorations during Christmas, as centerpieces. Not only that, it’s easy to use glass bowls for home décor.

You just have to make sure that your decorations match the event. It doesn’t have to be a hassle and you don’t even have to spend a lot of money for it. Here are some ideas for decorations with glass bowls that you can pick depending on the price of your glass bowl and the décor you are going for.

Glass bowl decorated with fruits

You can decorate the glass bowl with fruits. Make sure that you add the right amount of fruits, and consider the size of the fruits and the size of your glass bowl. It’s a delicate balance between conveying the abundance and happiness of the season, while not making the bowl look like it will burst.

The advantage of this method is that even if your glass bowl is super-expensive, it won’t get scratched. After Christmas, you can simply put the bowl back to its protected place on the shelf.

Adorn your glass bowl with flowers

You can also decorate the glass bowl with a variety of flowers. This type of decoration conveys a different vibe compared to the more standard vase-flower combination. Just shorten the stem of the flowers to easily create a beautiful flower arrangement. This helps the flowers to be safely ‘anchored’in the glass bowl so they won’t fall off.

Glass bowl with floating candles

Glass bowls can also be filled with water, and decorated with floating candles. Use floating candles that would match your décor in terms of size, scent, and color. For the Christmas season, you can use green or red floating candles, and place the bowl at the center of your dining table for a classic Christmas ambiance.

Christmas balls as an ornament to your glass bowl

You can also use Christmas balls as a decoration for your glass bowl. Simple one-colored Christmas balls or multiple-colored combinations with complementing colors are both cheerful. Also experiment with different sizes to create a more lively effect.

Use pine cones and wreaths

Arrange pine cones and wreaths in your glass bowl, trimming anything that can make it messy. Then place a candle at the center and add Christmas balls for some color.

Glue some ribbons and Christmas patterns around the glass bowl

If you got the glass bowl purely for the purpose of Christmas decorations, you can glue some ribbons with Christmas prints around the bowl, or glue Christmas patterns like stars, bells, and Christmas stockings around it. It will be hard to detach them later (hence the emphasis on “glass bowl purely for the purpose of Christmas decorations”), but kids love to play with glue, paper, and creating their own amazing decoration with Christmas spirit. You can either buy the decorative paper and ribbons, or go one step further and make your own Christmas ribbons and patterns out of cloth or colored paper.

Accentuate your glass bowl with Christmas lights

Surrounding the bowl with Christmas lights and adding some ornaments on the bowl that goes together with the color of the lightsmakes the bowl the perfect centerpiece for the after-dinner table. You can also add a decoration that depicts the birth of Christ at the center of your glass bowl. As your family gathers around the table, the lights and decorations will create a cozy atmosphere.

Place Christmas figurines on the glass bowl

These figurines can be angels, snowmen, and Santa. Place them at the center of the glass bowl. To make the bowl look elegant, surround it with beads or candles.

Decorating our homes during Christmas has always been a part of our tradition. This Christmas, make your home classic and stylish at the same time, in not-so-costly ways, using your imagination and a simple glass bowl.

Tags: christmas ornaments, glass bowl
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