Monthly Sale Time

... or as we affectionately prefer to call this 'Let's Post another Embarassing Pic of Zenia' time. This month's sales can be found here...

Free Stuff- Stained Glass News #80

Now in and free with any purchase, in SGN #80, you'll find:
• new items, including: pattern books & CDs, an instructional DVD, adhesives, stencils, bevels, a lamp pattern, fusing forms, kilns and glass
• reader hints, a reader's workshop and more on "The Readers' Page"
• Mosaics and Stepping Stones- Julie Bishop Day shares an inspirational article about mosaics
• Working Large- Bill Klopsch suggests "if it doesn't fit in the opening… hit it with a hammer." Now, you just have to read this!
• You Can Make It New- columnist Linda "Scottie" Scott shares her technique for rubber stamping on glass
• Fire it Up!- Susan Molnar concludes her article on the creation and installation of a fused tile mirror
• Stained Glass 101- Brian McMillan guides us through preparing and using painter's stain
• Drinking Oban Scotch with Lani and lamenting the whole 'warm glass' thingy
• reader hints, a reader's workshop and more on "The Readers' Page"
• this issue's Free Pattern: Happy Dog
• a page of photos from readers in The Readers' Gallery
• and more…

Just Thought You Might Like To Know

Desag's line of drawn antique (GNA or Artista 75- great name made even more so when Mikey takes the trouble to look it up in a dictionary and find out that Artista is 'the bristle like protuberance near the tip of the antenna of certain flies'. Oh, well, I guess the art of marketing and copywriting is a little lost in Germany). Desag says the entire line is fully fusible (except #8010 Red) within their selection of about 20 transparent colours but is incompatible with both Bullseye and System 96.  

Our Latest Local Delivery Report- Again Without Editorializing

Uneditorializing status report on our delivery today from our one and only Canadian stained glass supplier;
Out of 89 unique items, we received 70 or about 79% of what we needed. Value of goods not received since Feb. 14- $22,300.00.
...and just for reading this, come on in and get a full sheet (six square feet) of Gluchip for 5 bucks!

New System 96 Stuff

Copywriter alert!!! Quoting directly from Spectrum- "Delicate veins of color ebb and flow across luminescent Crystal Opal, resulting in a stunning, watercolor-like, fusible sheet. While this is the first time Spectrum has created a System 96 version of our traditional mixes, Crystal Opals were specifically developed to work equally well in cold and warm glass applications. The translucent, almost ghostly quality of Crystal Opals make them ideal for stained glass projects, where light transmission is often an important element. They also provide fusers with a uniquely designed glass that is attractive enough to be a primary focal point, or simply an elegant accent."
Crystal Opal / Pink #397-2SF, Crystal Opal / Red #357-2SF, Crystal Opal / Aqua / Cobalt Blue #633-76SF, Crystal Opal / Pink / Aqua #693-74SF

Can you believe they actually pay people to write like that?! Why can't they just say-"Hey, we've come out with another four colours of glass, looking to expand our line, first opal streaky mixes, look at the pretty pictures, etc"
Anyhow, we've confirmed that they will be on our racks on Thursday!

We also brought in samples of their FuseBox 'T' glass specials. While more expensive by the square foot, they do offer a means to get a decent colour selection all at once-if you bought them elsewhere- because at FIG, you can make up your own FigFuseBox here just by helping yourself to the glass on our Sale Square Raks.

Jim Matthews, you're welcome. No need to call me...

Some Updates

1. This weekend is a Torchwork hands-on course in our new upstairs studio with Caryl. She just called to say she has some sort of debilitating disease that she looks forward to sharing with all her students this Saturday. She even plans to bring x-rays to proudly show everyone. Mikey, understanding the whole doctor/patient thingy (who said that? No, Mikey did not play doctor with Caryl!) has decided, given the medication Caryl is currently on, that it might be prudent to keep her away from all open flames (and all sentient beings). She is expected to provide a doctor's note which we will post here. Our deepest apologies to those who are registered for Saturday. We will get back to you with a makeup date.

2. We do have a Decorative Soldering Seminar in our Basement Classroom Studio this Saturday (apparently Theresa takes better care of herself than some of our other teachers). Some limited space still available.

3. We're selling Bullseye Earth Tote Bags at cost (Bullseye graciously sold them to us at a discount) with a small markup that we will match and donate to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). We'll also try to figure out some other clever promotions to tie in with these bags. Any ideas? Bags are yours for only $3.88.

4. Our monthly sale For April includes Spectrum Fusible Sale Squares at up to 40% off making them the cheapest glass of any kind, in the store (of course, they're also great for your stained glass projects). Inventory is rapidly dropping so don't wait too long if this interests you.

Correction

On November 31, 2007, the Diary of a Demented Store Owner Blog erroneously reported that the Canadian Stained Glass Wholesalers Advisory Board (membership- 1) had advocated the kidnapping and tar and feathering of Mikey F. Glassman (our beloved leader). In actuality, Mikey's middle initial is 'G'. The Diary regrets the error.

In Today- The Bullseye Earth Tote/Shopping Bag

Feel great about conserving our natural resources as you carry home your latest booty from Fantasy In Glass in this durable, reusable, Bullseye-branded Earth friendly shopping bag

We could tell you that these bags are stylish and fashionable. We could tell you that these bags are environmentally responsible. We could say that they are strong and big enough to carry all the stuff you might pick up at FIG. We might even remind you that we are the first and currently only source for these great looking bags, all in black and fashionably emblazened with the Bullseye Glass Company logo. But we're not built like that-

Mikey's Top 9 List of Why You Must Get A Bullseye Earth Tote:

1. As our ever attentive staff meticulously run each and every sale square we receive through our own in-house electro-Figtrometer to eliminate excess radiation and bad karma, this bag will shield you from radiated glass should you buy some elsewhere (one of the many steps we take to assure your safety and protection).
2. Get a piece of history- these were the bags that were originally used to transport the holes found in SwissCheesed GlassWerks’ glass
3. Mikey uses several to store all the cash he couldn't spend at our one and only Canadian wholesaler because they have no inventory
4. This is the bag that brought back the Toyofigus bone Mikey found in the Neander Valley
5. It will fit eight bottles of single malt scotch perfectly (are you listening Lani?)
6. It's not gold gilded so you'll never have to worry about seeing Donald Trump carrying one
7. You can stick it over Gary Brown's head so maybe he won't comment on this blog entry
8. They're the exact length of Bullseye Rodz!
and lastly,
9. It's small enough to carry one foot of each of the colours available from Spectrum for fusing and still have room for a Bullseye catalogue and a case of beer.

We're selling these Earth Tote bags at cost (Bullseye graciously agreed to sell them to us at a substantial discount) with a small markup that we will match and donate to David Suzuki so he can buy more gas for his diesel bus (kidding, boy- some of you environmentalists really need to lighten up). Actually, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is one of the best environmental organizations in handling their fundraising and supporting their causes and that's where we're sending a cheque. Thanks Bullseye and thank you!

Our Latest Local Delivery Report- This Time With a Little Editorializing

Charlton Heston passed onto the next world yesterday, so maybe we can attribute this better than normal fill rate to his last act? After all, it would seem that after such a long and dismal Canadian supply problem only Moses (seen here holding Mikey's shopping list...) would be capable of turning them around.

Status report on a pickup today from our one and only Canadian stained glass supplier;

out of 31 unique items, we received 27 or about 87% of what we needed. Value of goods not received on today's order- $900.00. Value of goods not received since Feb. 14- $19,900.00.

Good news is that all copper foil sizes and colours from Edco are now back in stock.

Just for reading this, come on in and get a full sheet (six square feet) of Gluchip for 5 bucks!

Browsing Infiggnito

Tired of having to hide the fact that you're checking out Mikey's blog again, or the Fantasy In Glass website, while at work with the chance of getting caught? Then try this out. Typing any web address into this site results in that page being transfered into a Word file. Now if your boss peeks over your shoulder he'll think you're maybe working...

A better way to put your creative talents to work is to spend four hours with Tina! This Artist Extraordinaire will show you how to design and build your own art piece. You will learn to design in cut/escape lines, how to lay up a pattern allowing for perimeter leads/hard cames, choosing glass, structural strength, use of lead and glass overlays, working from a photo, cartooning… the list goes on and on (as Ed often does… Mikey). Still some room this Saturday April 12, from 11am-3pm. Only $29.00!

Our Latest Local Delivery Report- Again Without Editorializing

Uneditorializing status report on our delivery today from our one and only Canadian stained glass supplier;

out of 108 unique items, we received 83 or about 76% of what we needed. Value of goods not received on today's order- over $4200.00. Value of goods not received since Feb. 14- $19,000.00.

Just for reading this, come on in and get a full sheet (six square feet) of Gluchip for 5 bucks!

I Love Red Blog

I tripped across this site the other day and thought it interesting and colourful enough to give it a mention. I Love Red is a blog of (among other things) a fuser. Lots of pics, and some interesting content. See it here.

Important! RECALL NOTICE!

Due to a technical error by our staff, (honest, we thought he was taking his medication) we regret to announce a recall of all Swiss Cheesed GlassWerks amber cathedral colors. Color #'s 1656, 1658, and 1659 are affected. All other 327 colors are unaffected. It seems that the size of the holes and their spacing is not to spec, and will have to be remanufactured. If you have used any of this glass in any projects, either remove the faulty glass as soon as possible, or contact us for a free retrofit kit. This kit, comprised of silica, soda and ash along with a zircon encrusted applicator is available free of charge with any proof of purchase. Swiss Cheesed Glass Werks apologizes for any inconvenience this might have caused and assures the public that it will take whatever measures it deems necessary to get to the hole truth on this matter.

Inland Super Wiz Specials

We've brought in another 24 of this most popular grinder to put on sale. It Includes TWO ¾” grinder heads, a ¼” grinder head, a second story worksurface, an eyeshield and a FIVE YEAR warranty! This Inland model is a special package that is not available as a regular item and when they're sold out that's it.
Special Sale Price…………….…. $168.88!
And just for seeing it here, we'll ship it free anywhere in Canada!

FIG Exclusive- Swiss Cheesed GlassWerks

New Product! Exclusive to Fantasy In Glass!
Check Your Glass For Holes!
If you're looking for great cutting glass, we suggest you look on the back side of your glass.
For holes the size of a dime. Or a 15mm jewel. Lots of them. Because glass that has these holes is a full three decibels louder when being cut. Which may not sound like much. But an increase of three decibels will double the cutability of your glass cutter at its tuning frequency (30 hertz). And reduce what's known as 'cutter wheel excursion'. With resulting added sensitivity your glass cutter requires less pressure to generate force to the glass.
Of course, with this type of glass, there's one thing you'll miss- frustration.
Simply, Swiss Cheesed GlassWerks' cathedral glass is unmatched in ease of cutability when compared to glass without holes. It cuts with less pressure and therefore less stress on your cutter wheel.
Now remember, this is a science, so there's more here than just drilling holes. Swiss Cheesed GlassWerks' engineers fine tune each sheet of glass for optimum performance and efficient cutability.
All of which means that if your glass doesn't have holes you might want to talk to a Swiss Cheesed GlassWerks dealer.
And get the hole truth!
Available exclusively at Fantasy In Glass Glassworks, Canada's first and still only officially sanctioned stained glass emporium!