Have you ever wondered where glass comes from and noticed how much of it we have in our lives? It’s quite amazing when you start thinking about it – everything from the jar that holds the morning jam, the mirrors in which we brush our hair and teeth, windows, car windscreens, light bulbs and so many other practical items. Hard to imagine our life without this wonderful manmade substance.
I learned a lot by researching about glass. It’s fun to find out new facts about things we take for granted every day of our lives! Did you know that glass is a combination of sand (in the form of silica) and other minerals that are melted together at really high temperatures. Other materials can be added to produce different colours or properties. It can also be coated, engraved or decorated. Chemically, glass is more like a liquid, but at room temperature, it actually looks and feels like a solid. Weird eh? At high temperatures, it becomes soft and liquidy, and this makes it easier to pour, mould, blow or press into all kinds of shapes.
A natural form of glass occurs within the mouth of a volcano. This happens when the intense heat during an eruption melts sand to form Obsidian. This substance is a hard, black glassy type of stone. Man first used this material as tips for spears. Glass has been around for a long, long time!!!
Glass is used extensively in decorating with everything from glass tables, mirrors, candlesticks, vases, ornaments – you name it. I’m sure you could make a list as long as your arm of all the glass pieces you have in your home. What you do with these pieces is really whatever looks good to you and your imagination is the only thing that will limit you. Glass looks best when it is kept clean and sparkling. I use a bit of vinegar and water and it makes them sparkle and shine.
This is a picture of a beautiful, old pottery vase that was my Mum’s. She gave it to me when I was in Australia in February and I brought it home in my suitcase, filled with socks, underwear, t-shirts, and a prayer that it would arrive unscathed! I love this vase – it’s full of memories of my childhood home and my Mum using it to display her flowers in. The two glass floats were found on the beach near Sooke by my Mother-In-Law and my husband when he was a little boy. I like the way these pieces look together. It’s fresh and airy and the soft greeny blue glass complements the colour of the vase.
Wandering around the store, I found some lovely pieces of glass that I thought you would like to see pictures of and maybe inspire you to make your own glass vignettes at home.
Another piece I really love in my home, is this large hurricane. In the winter months, I fill it with wee pinecones, at Christmas time I fill it with baubles or fake snow and a candle. At this time of the year, I fill it with sea shells and my one pretty little red starfish. It’s amazing how something as simple as this can set the tone for your decorating style, and it’s fun to use your imagination!
I hope I’ve got you thinking about glass and it’s many uses – both practical and creative! Have fun… use your imagination and let me know what you have created! I’d love to get ideas from you too!
Have a great week!
Ingrid
