Dec 282006
 

We have just posted a page of links to articles on the history of glass in general and the history of stained glass in particular.  There is also a listing of links to various museums with stained glass exhibits. Some of the museums have good photos of their stained glass  exhibits that can be viewed online.

The articles make interesting reading and add to the stained glass artist’s appreciation of this fascinating medium. Viewing the historic examples of stained glass art by masters of the genre also provides inspiration. So visit our page and get inspired, then come and review our free stained glass patterns and select one and begin making your own personal stained glass museum.

Nov 092006
 

Remember my post a few days ago about a book on decorative soldering? It was called Solder Magic Book: Instructions and Patterns.

I just received my class catalog for the Glass Craft & Bead Expo and I found that the author of that book, Kay Bain-Weiner, will be one of the instructors there and has been an instructor at this event since it began 12 years ago.

At the 2007 Glass Expo she will be teaching three classes: Contemporary Glass Enameling, Solder Sculpturing Fantasy Art, and Creative Designing. Visit the class listings at the Glass Expo website to read details about these and other great classes.

 Posted by at 7:33 pm
Nov 042006
 

The [tag]Bead & Art Glass Fest[/tag] will take place in Orlando, Florida on November 10-11-12, 2006.

According to their website “this is THE SHOW for art glass, beads, flameworking, glass fusing and
painting, jewelry-making, polymer and metal clay, stained glass, classes, shopping and FUN.”

For more information visit the Bead & Art Glass Fest website.

 Posted by at 10:28 pm
Oct 262006
 

Mark your calendars now for the 2007 [tag]Annual Glass Craft & Bead Expo[/tag]. 

This event will be held March 28-April 1, 2007 at the new South Point Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.
Check the official Glass Craft & Bead Expo website for details. 

I had a blast when I went in 2005 and I learned so much from the great hands-on classes.  I was unable to attend in 2006 due to an impending 1,000 mile move, but I sure don’t want to miss it in 2007!

 Posted by at 8:23 pm
Apr 282006
 

Dear Stained Glass Enthusiast,

I recently attended the 11 th Annual Glass Craft & Bead Expo in Las Vegas. It was a case of the sublime (a dazzling array of glass art) meeting the extremely tawdry (the City of Las Vegas.)

I had never been to Las Vegas before and I was quite unimpressed by it. With the exception of an enjoyable time at the Star Trek Experience at the Hilton, I found the “tourist areas” of Las Vegas filled with the tacky, the tawdry, and the addictive. The Strip even has worse traffic than the Bay Area’s Highway 80 (dubbed “the Parking Lot.”)

What a contrast to visit the Glass Craft & Bead Expo!

There were well over 200 classes available lasting anywhere from three hours to all day with almost 30 hot glass classes lasting two and three days. The classes included instruction for beginning hobbyists through experienced artists.

The classes were given by well known and leading experts in their fields, such as Tommy “G” Giambusso, Joe Porcelli, Vicki Payne, Norm and Ruth Dobbins and a host of others. While Las Vegas Management could have done a better job backing up this superb group of instructors (providing adequate class registration assistance on site and necessary power to the classrooms, just to name a couple of problems,) the content of the classes and the instructors’ abilities were exceptional.

Even if you did not participate in the classes (and I would highly recommend that you do,) there were fascinating displays and demonstrations in the booth area with more exhibitors and suppliers than I could count. It was a marvelous opportunity to ask questions and learn from the leading glass and bead craft industry suppliers, as well as experienced artists in many fields.

I met artists and suppliers from as far away as Hawaii and Japan. The booth of the Japanese company, in particular, (TK Stained Glass Design ) had some incredibly beautiful and unique lamp making supplies that I had seen previously on their website. I was very interested, but somewhat reluctant to buy from a foreign company without first seeing the products in person. Their products were beautiful and impeccably crafted! I highly recommend that you visit their website for items with an Asian flare that you won’t find anywhere else. tk-stainedglass.co.jp

I bought a lot of supplies and I also won a great deal of glass in one of my classes. Not to worry, the Expo has DHL shipping services available, so you don’t have to carry everything home with you on the plane. Some of the suppliers will also take your order and ship it to you later.

There was a Gallery of Excellence with magnificent glass art works both beautiful to admire and inspiring to those of us who aspire to improve our hobbyist abilities.

All in all, I found the Glass Craft & Bead Expo to be a highly enjoyable and worthwhile experience. I recommend it highly to professionals, amateurs, fans of glass art, or those considering a hobby in stained glass, hot glass, bead making, etc.

About the Author

Copyright 2005 by Maria Mee.
GlassSorcery.com

Permission is granted to reprint this article on your site as long as this resource box and the links above remain intact and live. Thank you.

 Posted by at 5:55 pm
Apr 282006
 

Esthetic Accents Takes Its Show on the Road – Mass-Customized Architectural Stained Glass Makes Big Impact at National Events


By ANONYMOUS

Portland, OR May 25, 2005 — Esthetic Accents, a Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer and seller of architectural stained glass, shattered the industry the industry’s status quo last week at the Hospitality Design 2005 Expo and the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show, both held this year in Las Vegas, Nevada.Making a strong impression on the attendees at the trade shows as well as the industry media present there, the new company was one of four singled out for special coverage by Las Vegas television station Fox 5 for an in-studio visit.

The segment featured new products that add color to home improvement projects without requiring extensive renovations.

The products were selected from more than 1000 vendors with booths at KB2005.Visitors to the Esthetic Accents booth were impressed by the versatility and durability the company’s custom stained glass products and were surprised by the line’s affordability.

The Portland-based firm has created and designed an extremely durable form of stained glass that can safely be used in windows, doors, sidelights, shower and hot tub enclosures, cabinetry, gates, balcony and stair railings; it be incorporated into walls, partitions and casework.

Because each piece is a custom design, themes can be continued throughout entire rooms and structures, matching doors and cabinets, sidelights and windows, or garage doors with front gates.

EA offerings allow much more design freedom than is possible with either artisan stained glass or mass produced design elements.

Most often, artisan stained glass creates designs using stock bevels and bevel clusters that require that the design be developed around the bevels.

However, Esthetic Accents is able to create custom bevels, both clear and colored, eliminating any limits on the design process.

Visitors to the EA booths represented some of the leaders in the commercial, design, hospitality, and home building industries.

Among those particularly impressed by the products on display at the EA booths were representatives for Applebees, The Marriot Group, and Architectural Digest.

“Wow! We’ve been looking for something like this for more than two years,” said one of the specifiers for a leading national restaurant chain.

“We want to match motif for over 100 restaurants and this product makes it possible.” According to Mary Spear, co-founder and CEO of Esthetic Accents, “We have traveled the world seeking and developing the manufacturing process that allows our unique approach to the marketplace.

The technology is now available to take custom architectural stained glass solutions to a new level – and at extremely affordable prices.

No one else is doing what we’re doing”

About Esthetic Accents Esthetic Accents design professionals combine personalized service and the convenience of the Internet to provide excellent customer service nation-wide.

Their online showroom and design center, toll free number and knowledgeable design staff make navigating through the design process straightforward and enjoyable. The company can be reached at www.estheticaccents.com and by phone at 503-227-7687.

 Posted by at 4:55 pm