Have a Heart

Lustered Rose bouquet

Another small bouquet with purple highlights

Valentines Month is also "Healthy Heart" month. From some personal experience, I can say I understand the importance of this focus. Normally February is a very busy time for us, teaching lessons for "Hot Date Night" and shipping out rose bouquets, both of which were accomplished. But this year I'd be lying if I said everything was smooth sailing for us. Production in the Studio kind of came to a screeching halt as we dealt with major health issues on both sides of our families.

If anything has been learned, we can say we have a fresh perspective on just how precious our health and hearts can be. Family is what captures our hearts the most, and we are thankful for having such strong family ties. Life has it's ups and downs, and in reality it's never the bed of roses we wish it could be. But how we deal with the lows is just as important as how we deal with the highs. Have to remember that one.

Teddy Bears with heart shape balloons are new this year.

As far as Valentine gifts, there was still time to get a little creative with some new blown glass creations like the ones pictured above and below (we're dealing with the personal stuff as best as we can.) Bottom line is when life gets tough, it's important to "have a heart" and give of yourself to those around you that might need the comfort of a helping hand. We're appreciative of the fact that our family is good at rallying when the going gets tough. 

"Heart of the Ocean" Blown glass Valentine gift

We shipped out a number of these bouquets this month

Upcycled bottles pictured with some of our heart pendants

February is coming to a close and the dark clouds of winter are lessening. A little sun is good for our overall outlook, and helps improve the mood. So as we adjust our attitude, we look forward to a little more sunshine and happiness as we welcome Spring next month. Until next time, remember how important it is to "have a heart", literally and figuratively. 

Love, Not Some 1/2 Baked Idea

February is just about ready to exit stage right, so I thought I'd write a quick entry about the month of affection. We didn't allow any "down time" after the Holidays, as we prepared our many unique and delicate heart felt gifts, rosebuds, and bouquets of glass flowers. We worked on these projects throughout the months of January and February. Below are samples of the variety of Valentine gifts we offered our customers. We are always happy when a customer likes to think outside the traditional route of fresh flowers. Every now and then it's good to go with a non traditional gift for your Valentine, keeps things fresh and new in any relationship. And unlike the fresh flowers, glass gifts also last longer than a week.

Cupid's arrow through a glass heart

A simple, yet elegant heart shape

Red hearts swirling

Sculpted Glass Yellow Rosebud

Sand Blasted and Pink Luster  Glass Rosebud

Etched White Rosebud

Amber Glass Rosebud

Pink Luster Glass Rosebud

Deep Red Glass Rosebud

 Not only did we have a variety of rosebuds and floral bouquets, but we also brought back "Hot Date Night", where couples could sign up to learn to make a rosebud together with instructions from our head glassblower, while they were at the torch. It was a lot of fun to see couples young and old alike, create their own rosebud from "scratch". We enjoyed packaging up their finished project which they were able to take home at the end of the session.

A Snowfire Rose a midst red roses

A lovely vase of sandblasted and pink luster roses

The highlight of February came from an unusual source, as we were commissioned to create a realistic heart shaped pizza for Papa Murphy's Corporate Offices. They are very sentimental as a company, when it comes to the season of love, as every Valentine's holiday they offer their customers delicious heart shaped pizzas. We were honored they commissioned the piece below to symbolize their expertise in this field. Yes, I'd say love is not some 1/2 baked idea. But you have to constantly strive to create news ways to show that emotion to those dear to your heart. Find the right ingredients, slowly bake up your idea, and cook up  your love to a golden perfection. Show love in ways that are unique to those closest to you, and the love will be reciprocated.

Corporate Gift Art Work