The Glass Lifestyle | Mirakkul Glassware Blog

Must-Have Items for Holiday Decorating

December 8, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Decorating for Christmas is a favorite activity for most people. However, it occasionally becomes overwhelming due to so many choices when decorating. Thankfully, you can narrow holiday decorating to a few must-have items. Below are the items that you need when decorating for Christmas.

Wreath:

A beautiful holiday wreath hanging on the front door welcomes holiday visitors, and it sets the stage for the decorations that are waiting inside the house. Choose a wreath that matches your other decor, so it all flows together. Consider investing in a few wreaths, and alternate the doors in which you display them. Wreaths are also great for hanging above the mantle or on various walls throughout the house.

Christmas tree:

What other item exhibits Christmas more than a Christmas tree? For this reason, an exquisitely adorned tree is necessary for holiday decorating. Coordinate your Christmas tree with your other holiday decor. Use trees of various sizes throughout the house to incorporate festive decorations into your home even more.

Stockings:

Stockings are must-have items when turning your home into a winter wonderland. If you have a fireplace, consider hanging the stockings on the mantle. Personalize stockings by having family members names embroidered on them. Another suggestion is to match stockings with your other decor in color and style.

Lights:

Lights inside, outside or both are necessary for holiday decorating. Use white lights in moderation for a very classy look. Consider combining wreaths and white lights outdoors on your windows. Drape a string of lights across a mantle or down a stairwell for indoor adornment. The important point to remember when decorating with lights is to not over use them and thus overemphasize their effect.

Items to highlight your beliefs:

Christmas has different meanings for different people. If you are Jewish, a menorah is necessary for your holiday decorating. Christians should have a nativity displayed as part of their holiday decorations. If you are not religious, you can decorate using snowmen or Santa items. Since Christmas has different meanings depending on personal beliefs, incorporating what is important to your family is essential when decorating. Of course, even religious people can decorate using snowmen or Santa items.

Decorating for Christmas is sometimes overwhelming. However, if you focus on the must-have items for holiday decorating, it will make the job easier. The above list gives you an idea of what is necessary when decorating for Christmas.

Attached Images:

License: Creative Commons image source

Eric Blair writes about interior decor and specifically how to incorporate OARM oval wall mirrors in the decor of a room.

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First Aid – Broken Glass on Your Feet/Hands

July 16, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Photo Courtesy of raisincane.weebly.com.

Accidents can always happen, especially with a fragile material like glass – knowing what to do before it happens will help you deal with the accident quickly.

First things first – Know what you can do to NOT get hurt in the first place.

Read this post: What to Do When You Accidentally Broke Glass

If Someone’s Already Hurt, Don’t panic!

First, figure out the following:

1. Can you control the bleeding? (If no, go to the ER!)

2. Has the glass not penetraded so deep that it could possibly interfere with processes below the skin? (If it did penetrate deeply, go to the ER!)

3. Is the glass located where you could remove it yourself – where it’s not too deep or too powdery? (If no, go to the ER)

If you answered YES to all of the above, continue. Otherwise, GO TO THE ER.

Getting rid of the glass pieces

1. Have tweezers, rubbing alcohol, a small bowl, cotton balls, and bad aids ready.

2. Rinse the penetrated area with warm water without touching it to help slow bleeding and remove any dirt/little pieces that can be washed away. Even better if you can clean the area with sterile water or sterile saline. Use a lot.

3. Disinfect the tweezer using alcohol. Nothing non-sterile should ever touch the affected area.

4. Gently pull the broken glass away from the affected area, using the tweezers.

5. If you are successful at getting the glass out, clean the affected area again with alcohol or antibiotic cream and cover the area with band aid.

6. Keep cleaning the affected area twice a day to avoid infection.

7. If the glass has cut very deep, it may be a good idea to go to the emergency room rather than try to get it yourself.

What If Someone SWALLOWED broken glass?

This can happen especially often with kids, or even with adults when they don’t realize that a part of their dishware has broken glass.

- If the glass pieces swallowed are small, try eating high fber foods. This will bulk up your stool and help it to pass painlessly.

- If it was a larger glass piece, it’s more serious. It could make cuts in your digestive system. Go to the ER!

Summary

If in doubt, go to the ER. No going around that.

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There place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: broken glassware
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How Hard Is Glass Blowing to Learn?

July 11, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

Photo Courtesy of life123.com.

How Hard Is Glass Blowing to Learn?

Like for all forms of art, the basics of glass blowing are not hard to learn.

A lot of local glass studios have glass blowing classes available, so that nowadays it’s easy to get started with a beginner’s course for anything between $20-100 per class session.

Also, even for advanced glass blowing hobbyists, it is not necessary to have a furnace or workshop at home, because glass studios may rent out their workshops for an hourly fee. So without filling up your garage with every tool and material, you can enjoy glass blowing as a hobby.

Simply search for ‘glass blowing class + (insert your city/town)’ and you will find various opportunities to learn the basics of glass blowing and/or rent a furnace.

Sometimes the glass studios will have special-themed courses so that you can right away make the glass product that you want to make – some examples are paperweight/ holiday decoration/wine glass/vase glass blowing classes.

So there’s no hard part? No challenge?!

As I said, it’s easy to get started – but again, like for all forms of art, reaching a certain level of flawlessness is indeed difficult. (i.e. the ‘easiness’ of the whole affair depends on whether you want to just make something out of glass or want it to be smooth, wobble-less, and perfectly beautiful. Check out this post ‘Do All Hand Blown Glassware Have Wobbly, Uneven Rims?‘ to see how different the quality of hand blown glass can be depending on how much effort you put into it.)

And that’s part of the fun! If there’s no challenge, what’s the point of spending the time to learn something?

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The place where every glass is handmade.

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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 place where every glass is handmade.

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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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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: minimalist
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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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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: photographing glass
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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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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: Design
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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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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: Design
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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.

Image credit.

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.

Has this given you a taste for foreign currency? Head over to IronFX.com for FX trading.

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The place where every glass is handmade.

Tags: Design
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Tomorrow is Earth Hour! Let’s Turn off the Lights

March 30, 2012 in The Glass Lifestyle

earth hour earth hour2

Photos from Earth Hour.

Turn off the lights for just an hour every year to give the earth a break.

It’s easy. It’s doable. It’s simple.

It all started when WWF Australia sponsored the first ever Earth Hour in 2007. Since then, the movement spread to 135 countries and hundreds of millions of people.

Is It Really No Big Deal? Actually, It Is

Turning off the lights for just an hour (and burning candle lights in that time period) doesn’t seem to be a big deal, but it’s more about the mindset. Earth Hour makes people see that they take action, not someone else on the other side of the planet.

It’s about me doing it first before blaming others, if I really care instead of pretending to care.

i.e. I could keep arguing that the developing countries are reckless with their fast industrializations, so whatever I do here makes no difference to the earth.

Or I could look in my own community and see how much gas, plastic, and everything else people in the developed countries are wasting as well, often for the sheer sake of wasting and laziness.

And I could just realize for once that the US rejected the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, even though schools are still implying that other countries are ‘causing’ global warming. – Yeah the US has signed the protocol, but it has not ratified it. So much for making a good example for the people in this country.

In short – let’s just stop blaming ‘the others’ and do what can be done in our little circles.

So Does That Mean That I Have to Give Up All the Life’s Enjoyments If I Love the Planet?

No. Not everyone has to become vegetarian. There is actually more than enough food to go around the entire planet so that no one has to starve. The only problem is that resources are being wasted (eating big portions if you are hungry is one thing, but throwing away food is another) in one part of the world, but are scarce in another.

It’s usually like this with other aspects of environmental issues as well. It’s not about living a bleak, boring life without the pleasure and glory of technology. That would be like environmental communism.

It’s more about using what you want to use, knowing that you gain something from it, instead of just wasting it into oblivion.

So you don’t have to get rid of your car if you live in the countryside. You can drive it when you have to get somewhere, and then stop the engine when you make a stop. Ah, so logical yet some people just keep their engines running out of habit.

That’s Why That 1 Hour Can Be a Big Deal

The actual impact of Earth Hour on the environment is pretty amazing as well. For example, during Earth Hour 2011, energy savings across Chicago & northern Illinois were equal to removing 124,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or planting 15 acres of trees. And that’s the impact of turning off lights for just an hour.

This year, Earth Hour 2012 will be held on Saturday March 31 8:30pm-9:30pm, wherever you are in the world.

Show your love for the planet we live in. It gives us free water and free air. 1 Hour seems to be an ok price for all that it is giving us.

Go to http://www.earthhour.org/ to read more.

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The place where every glass is handmade.

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