Proof We're Just Not All Just A Pretty Face

Some work that's just come off Tina's bench recently (yes, that's Kenny from Kenny and Spenny)

System 96 Aventurine Black!

Add an air of sophistication to your fusing and/or stained glass projects with new Aventurine Black. Delicate metallic flecks shimmer like a field of tiny diamonds on a rich, Black background. Aventurine Black…understated-elegance for the System 96 fuser.
Stock Number: 1009AVSF
And yes, we already have it...

New Product Exclusive to FIG

Triolyse Glue

We've been bragging about this amazing glue for years now. It really is the only way to glue findings permanently to glass without them coming off.

And it is so good that we decided to show it off this way.

Yes, that is a 5.5 lb spool of solder being held up by four pieces of window glass glued together with this glue. And it'll hold alot more than that, it's just the wimp weakling Zenia who was unable to hold up that much weight that we had to take one off (click on the pic for a closeup view).

And yes, the price has dropped (Canadian dollar up, fuel costs down, no U.S. surcharge...)- we're actually finding stuff today is cheaper than it was two years ago.

Makes you wonder...

Barb B Showing Off

Hi Mike:
I’m sending you this picture of my favourite piece I created so far – it uses slices of glass bar I created in a F.I.G. class taught by Pam two years back – I call it “Shushi, anyone?”. Also, I’m a vendor in the CBC Craft Show – so attached is the poster promoting that show – one of my pieces made it on to the poster – again, the piece was created thanks to Pam – she told me about the technique of cutting ¼” strips and lining them up. I missed seeing you Tues. night but your lovely wife gave me exceptional service.

Figimodo

Better known as the FIG Sales mascot, Figimodo offers to get the staff coffee at Timmy's but lamely claims he can't close the car door...

Figimodo and Hulk Give a Tour of our Beefed Up Sys 96 Racks

Uroboros Crate label Says It All- Mikey Really Exists

Some Stock Notes

A couple of notes on some stuff that people have been waiting on:

The World's Greatest Glue for findings- Triolyse Glue- has been shipped and should be here in a couple of days.

To go along with that glue, coming next week is The World's Greatest Jewelry Bails in Medium which was briefly and presently out of stock.

Thanks Bob!

Solder Card

Here's proof that our solder card is a wonderous thing to behold.

And proof that Pat will do just about anything to get her picture with a Solder Card holder...

On another note, if you're interested in partaking in our Friday Intermediate 'Club' and want to scope out who else is taking the class (could be some single people involved) check it out here...

All Done

The Uroboros (fusible 96) glass delivery is unpacked and put away. We've got some nice crates left over, measuring 14" x 30.5" x 36", which might be handy in someone's glass studio.

Four together make a perfect table to work on with storage underneath.

First come, first serve at $15 donation (each) to Sick Kids Hospital gets them.

Patty Having Way Too Much Fun

Some Pics as We Unload Our Uroboros Shipment

It's in!
Fifty (50) colours and 1000 square feet of glass.
All in Sys96 fusible. And as we carry everything our OOCGS carries, when you add in this shipment, we still have the largest selection of (ever-increasing) fusible 96 glass available in Canada (to go along with us already having the largest selection of COE90 glass in Canada)! And as you can use this glass for your regular stained glass projects, we continue to have the largest variety of glass anywhere.
And with no U.S. dollar surcharge too (currently 8.8% as our dollar is at 98 cents). After all, when goods arrive from the States, it's at that point that we calculate our costs when we've bought our American money- we didn't buy today's goods with last year's 85 cent dollar and then add a surcharge.
Check out our packing slip here...

Another Great Kokomo Sale Square

What can I say- two beauties in one picture- the FIG chemicals shelf and the Kokomo 123 Copper Blue Sale Square!

New Website

If you're looking for our website today you won't find it.

Being one of the first in our business with a web presence going back almost a decade means that while our site is rich in content, it was starting to look a little dated.

Today we relaunch a revised site.

Until it's up you can take a peek here

Russians Claim IMF Loans Lost Making Fantasy In Glass Purchases

Russian finance officials attempted to refute accusations of illegal money laundering by claiming that tens of dollars were lost making purchases during Fantasy In Glass's current September Monthly Sale". " Ve knew that Louie Tiffany vonce made a small fortune vif little inwestment so ve thought ve could increase the walue of monies ve vere reciewing from the International Monetary Fund," said Finance Minister Gary Brownoff. Unfortunately, the money was put into Armstrong orange and blue cathedral glass to mass produce teddy bear night lights to cheer up the proletariat at their dachas during the long, cold and dark winters when their staff colourist mentioned that teddy bears don't come in those colours." I guess ve goofed as you Canadians say." Brownoff admitted.
Federal investigators looking into the missing funds weren't satisfied with the explanation knowing that Armstrong Glass is available virtually nowhere in Canada, and intend to further pursue the money trail. "The Russians have been losing more money than an internet startup company so we believe there is more to this story," said Pat McNeil, spokesperson for the Customs Service, who requested her name remain anonymous.Russian finance officials attempted to refute accusations of illegal money laundering by claiming that tens of dollars were lost making purchases during Fantasy In Glass's current September Monthly Sale". " Ve knew that Louie Tiffany vonce made a small fortune vif little inwestment so ve thought ve could increase the walue of monies ve vere reciewing from the International Monetary Fund," said Finance Minister Gary Brownoff. Unfortunately, the money was put into Armstrong orange and blue cathedral glass to mass produce teddy bear night lights to cheer up the proletariat at their dachas during the long, cold and dark winters when their staff colourist mentioned that teddy bears don't come in those colours." I guess ve goofed as you Canadians say." Brownoff admitted.
Federal investigators looking into the missing funds weren't satisfied with the explanation knowing that Armstrong Glass is available virtually nowhere in Canada, and intend to further pursue the money trail. "The Russians have been losing more money than an internet startup company so we believe there is more to this story," said Pat McNeil, spokesperson for the Customs Service, who requested her name remain anonymous.

Sometimes You Just Have to Get Out of the House

Stop reading Mikey's Diary once in a while and get out of the house and consider taking this seminar with our friends at Tuckers Pottery...

Second Floor Officially Reopens

Many years ago we renovated part of the second floor and put in a cafe for our customers, ably run by Tania and Zenia.

Sadly, T and Z grew up, and no longer feel the need to be sensitive to their parents feelings, so the cafe, alas, is no more.

But the really cool space still exists. With fire engine red cast iron stove.Motion sensitive lighting. And it now has been reopened for more retail space, putting us up to almost 4000 sq. ft.

So, if you can manage the stairs, you'll find:

1) over 300 lampbases

2) sale priced books

3) oxygen generators (you might need one, after taking the stairs) for torchwork

4) patio furniture

5) Worden lamp molds and patterns

6) Odyssey lamp molds and patterns

7) Mikey's famous reference library

Check out the video tour below...

Fifty (50) colours and almost 1000 square feet of glass reads the packing slip that just came today.

All in Sys96 fusible.

And the most exciting thing about this shipment?

It's almost all glass colours that our One and Only Canadian Glass Supplier doesn't carry!

And as we carry everything our OOCGS carries, when you add in this shipment, we now have the largest selection of fusible 96 glass available in Canada (to go along with us already having the largest selection of COE90 glass in Canada)!

And as you can use this glass for your regular stained glass projects, we continue to have the largest variety of glass anywhere.

With no U.S. dollar surcharge too.

Sorry, we just felt we had to point these facts out...

Classes Start Safely

As is usual, every new Beginner Class start is inaugurated with a photo. This is done for our staff's protection as this is the best way to assure ourselves that there are no witness-protection type, and therefore, unsavoury characters taking our class. It is our duty to keep the hobby of stained glass free of such people.

After all, it was because of someone's lapse that allowed Gary Brown in...

Hey! This Ain't Just About Stuff. You're Going to Learn Stuff Too!

Did you know that...
... the atomic weight of lead is 82, its symbol is Pb, its density at 300k is 11.4. Tin’s symbol is Sn, and its electron configuration is ... oh, never mind, that’s way too much information.

Solder is an alloy of tin and lead, and the proportion of the two affects the melting point, but in a strange way. The most popular alloy for almost all stained glass work, and most definitely copper foil work is 60/40 (60% tin, 40% lead... Helpful Mikey)(a titanic intellect in a world full of icebergs...Ed). Looking at the two metals by themselves we see that tin melts at 450F and lead at 621F. But something really weird happens when you combine the two- the melting point drops down to as low as 361F depending on the mix of the two.
Check this out:

Ratio tin/Lead Melting point
0 / 100 621F
30 / 70 496F
50 / 50 421F
60 / 40 375F
63 / 37 361F

If we continue to raise the amount of tin to lead past 63% the melting point begins to rise again to where it is 450F at 100% tin, therefore 63/37 solder has the absolute lowest melting point. Pretty weird, eh? (what, you forgot about Marv Albert?...Mikey) And you thought that ratio was a gimmick? With respect to cost, the last time Stan (Mike’s metals commodities broker) checked, tin was about ten times more expensive than lead, telling you why solder prices can vary so extremely according to the amount of tin they have.

Of course, if it has our name on it, it’s got to be the best available- that’s why you can find Fantasy In Glass Solder only at Fantasy In Glass. Check out our own brand in 50/50 and 60/40 alloys, all virgin materials (like Mikey) making them flow and patina perfectly (like Mikey).

And we just got our latest solder shipment in this week.

So we have lots of 50/50, 60/40, and 63/37.

And if you print off this blog entry, put your name on it and bring it in (one/customer), we'll give you a buck a pound off on any solder purchase you make in October!