Another Fallacy Dispelled By Mikey and FIG

Contrary to popular opinion, it is not true that if you melt dry ice, you can clean the flux or patina off your copper foil project without it getting wet.

But it is true that we've lowered our Taurus 3 Ringsaw price down to $499.99!

A Blatent Plug For a Nice Guy

I know that this is supposed to be a blog on the rantings of demented stained glass store owner but ownership has its priviledges and yes, that includes veering off into the ditch once in awhile. Another of Mikey's passions besides stained glass is watches (read his story of his long-time Accutron 214 Spaceview watch recently fixed and see if it doesn't bring a tear to your eye- read it here!). Another passion is good honest service. Put the two together and you get Trebor Vintage Watches in Kirkland, Quebec. Looking for a nice, clean reasonably priced vintage watch, then give Robert a look at his website. Tell him we sent you.

Same Shipment, Same New Lower Price

Our truck shipment today also included the popular and perpetually sold out Easy Cut Lens (small circle) Cutter. Old regular price- $67.99, new adjusted because of the dollar price- $59.99, on sale until the end of the month for $48.88! That is all.

Dollar Continues to Go Up- Prices Continue to Come Down!

Just in this morning- a couple of skids of Diamond Laser Speedster bandsaws and some other tools, from the States, paid with a strong Canadian dollar which means more price reductions at Fantasy In Glass, Canada's first and still only officially sanctioned stained glass supplier.
So now we're kind of embarassed- we have these on sale this month for $208.88, but now we can put them on sale for even less than that. What to do? Oh, the horror! Make new friends with a lower price, and annoy those who already bought a saw on sale? Or keep the price as it is? Not likely...
Here's the deal-
New sale price on a Diamond Laser bandsaw (with two blades, automatic water feed, three year warranty and self-adjusting) is $188.88! And... if you already bought a saw at the old sale price bring your bill in and we'll give you a Beattie Ultimate Strip Guide (list-$23.00/fig price- $19.99) for free to make up the difference.

Another Spectrum Spirit Dichroic

Bullseye Mardi Gras with Rainbow Pattern Dichroic

Zenia Thinking About 'The Big Picture' While Holding a Sheet of Rippled Dichroic

Spectrum's New Spirits Dichroicized!

And Some Spectrum Reptilian on Smooth Black!

Pixie Stix Also in 90 and 96 coe

Corkscrew Dichroic- in 90 and 96 coe

Dichroic Glass At Hard-to-Beat Pricing, Finally!

Wow, we’ve finally got our dichroic glass order unloaded, catalogued, bagged and labeled (we hope Mikey means the glass, not the staff), and now our leader sits in the Ivory Tower, sweating over his abacus (and fingers and toes), trying to figure out pricing on this stuff. Do not belittle this man and the monumental task he now faces in these difficult times. The stained glass market is very complex these days- something we’ve been documenting (boring you with (?)) on this blog for many months now. On one hand we need to be mindful of American suppliers who look ever increasingly attractive to cross-border shopping from Canadians, so we have to be ever smarter (not an easy thing for Mikey sometimes) with our purchasing and pricing, and on the other hand we have to be able to price product to still make a living. This means more frequent and larger purchases from American suppliers, sadly bypassing our Canadian supplier. Not something we are happy doing, but necessary as we are still paying for goods in Canada as if the dollar was still $.87 U.S. and not $1.06 U.S.

We’ve received 700 ¼ sheets of dichroic glass with all the latest styles (i.e. Corkscrew, Splatter, Pixie Stix and even Spectrum Smooths and Spirits as a base glass). All dichroics are now available in both coefficients so we now have an unrivalled 96 coe selection for all the Spectrum fusers (‘crayon artists’), so we’re confident our selection is the best available anywhere. And with the pricing we’ve come up with, I think we can hold our own with the Americans on this stuff. This batch was bought with a much stronger Canadian dollar and we have passed the savings on to you. Mikey actually took some time away from his ‘recreational’ web surfing time to see what dichro sells for in the States, and thinks we’ve got the selection as well as the pricing to be competitive. We’ve got ¼ sheets starting at $48.99, 4” x 4's” at under $16.00 an 2" x 4's" at less than $10.00! If you were to buy dichroic glass from the U.S., ¼ sheets range from $44.99 - $69.99 and then you'll have to add in shipping and brokerage (or time and gas if you go pick it up yourself hoping not to get caught at the border).

Look at Fantasy In Glass as your friend and stress reliever- no more harrowing trips (oh, the horror) hurling down the Q.E.W. wearing and tearing at your car, burning hydrocarbons (oh, the shame) hiding your stash from ever-vigilant border guards, all for what? Not for goods less expensive, anymore.


We also have special pricing for our business customers, so if you’re considering a purchase cross-border, give Mikey a call.

So what the heck is dichroic glass? Only the hottest thing in fusible glass today! The colours are unbelievable and change with every movement of the finished piece. The metallic oxide coatings that are vacuum deposited on the glass substrate (the base glass can be either clear or black, smooth or textured) create an optical filter that reflects and transmits wavelengths of light. The composition of this thin coating reflects and transmits light differently to produce the range of colors available to the glass artist. If a piece of transparent coated glass is held up to the light, one colour will be visible; when viewed at an angle, another (opposite) colour will appear. That’s why this two-colored effect is known as dichroic.

Yippee! Canadian Dollar Hits $1.07

... and Fantasy In Glass passes the savings on to you! Just got in an order of 32 kilns- and have dropped the price an average of 22%.
Our JK15/6 is our most popular kiln and comes complete with a shelf, posts, kilnwash, Bartlet computer controller, fashionable stand and two year warranty. It's inside dimensions are 15" wide x 6" deep, runs on regular household current and has side as well as top firing coils. This one competes and beats all comparable kilns on the market including The Hot Shot from Evenheat in price, performance and accessories! Comes in your choice of 13amp or 17amp versions (don’t worry- I didn’t know what that meant either until someone spent 32 seconds explaining it to me). The 17amp version can reach full fusing temperature in one hour- unheard of for a 120 volt kiln! Our old price was $959.00, but now it's yours for only $789.99!
Our next best seller is the JK11/6- all the same features as the 15/6 but with an 11" diameter. Old price- $859.99- new price $689.99- a 20% price drop!
Don't wait too long- half our order is already sold out. Go here for more info.

Jen-Ken Kilns Arrive! And Mike Goes Off on Another Rant

It's been a particularly good week for Ben Gay and Robaxacet for muscle sores and back pain as we've been busy receiving several truckloads of goods from the States- on Wednesday, a huge delivery of kilns, followed two days later by our dichroic glass shipment.
As for the kiln delivery, aside from the best sellers, we brought in a couple of large models such as a new 24” x 24” square kiln (no stupid space inefficient round corners like most large kilns) that you’ve just got to see…oops, never mind, they all sold out in two days! Don’t worry, we’ll get more. In the meantime, we’ve got a slew of 11” and 15” models, all with computer controllers, complete with shelving included, etc.
Now, to the rant-
Yes, we are continuing on a program of sourcing out goods from outside Canada as it seems our Canadian stained glass distributor has taken advantage of the rising Canadian dollar and done little to lower pricing (as a matter of fact, stuff like Glastar product has just recently risen in price- I know, Glastar raised their prices to their distributors, but the price increase would have to have been in the order of 25% or more to see these new prices). At least someone is making a profit in this tough market today. But is this short sighted thinking good for our industry’s long-term health? I think not.
Why do we go through the hassle of bypassing the Canadian distributor and go to the States? Well, it’s the only way to stay competitive with the American market and stem the tide of cross-border shoppers. We're seeing pricing here unchanged from a year ago when goods should be at least 20% cheaper. Heck, I can buy glass cutters, grinders and other sundries at retail from a store in Buffalo cheaper than I can pay for it wholesale in Canada!
And that is the point of this rant- we fear for the long term health of the Canadian market if this is to continue much longer. Our customers are finding ever cheaper alternatives to the Canadian shopkeeper in the States and may never return, and Canadian retailers will either fail to survive or find alternative sources to our Canadian supplier, never to return to the Canadian supplier.
As a retailer on the front line, we are now seeing a serious erosion of our customer base; for example, Saturdays which is a typically busy day, is also a day when we attract people from farther distances. Now we see fewer customers coming to us from say, 50-150 miles away and assume they now prefer to make the trek to the States.
How do we know we're losing market share? Anyone can check out pricing on the web and see we're at a disadvantage, or listen in on the phone calls we get from people telling us they want a Taurus band saw for $379.95 U.S. (that's $361.00 CDN) from a retailer in the States who is making a profit at that price, when they cost us more than that (with no profit yet, and on sale at the distributor too!). Heck, we can buy them from Delphi at retail and do better than buying them here from our local distributor.
So, that’s why we do what we must do to survive. The proof is in the pudding- recent American purchases have resulted in the following savings:
Chemicals such as Fry Flux- down 20%!
Sale Squares- from an old average of $3.99-4.99, now $2.99!
Speedster Bandsaws- down 30% in the last six months!
Bullseye Fusible Glass- down an average of 12% (and the next shipment due with even greater saving)
Dichroic glass and kilns- savings anticipated in the range of 15-25%
And we will continue…

Huge Dichroic Glass Order Arrives at FIG

"Guitar groups are on the way out, Mr Epstein"- Dick Rowe, Decca Records, 1962

But dichroic glass definately not! As Canada's only official CBS dichroic distributor, we went all the way with this order- 170 full sheets- or over 700 quarter sheets! All the new patterns such as Corkscrew. Heck, we even brought in some System 96- check out the dichroic Spirits- simply amazing! Almost as cool as the Bullseye dichroic Mardis Gras also new and on this order. Pricing is yet to be established but with a Canadian dollar at $1.05 American when we paid for this order, you can bet we're gonna kick some butt on pricing to stop you from shopping across the border.
We've posted a copy of our packing slip here so you can see exactly what came in on this order- go here.

Stained Glass News #78

If you think reading this blog is a time consuming (but no doubt worthwhile) experience then pass on SGN as it also requires a commitment of time (they pay less for their jokes tho').
This issue in particular offers a very attractive snowflake pattern (free at Fantasy In Glass for the asking).

New! FigSip Silver Patina

You've surely noticed that the need for a top-quality Silver Patina has increased dramatically in recent years.
It seems that people are no longer merely satisfied with Black, Copper and Antique Brass Patinas.
As our expectations rise so do our demands for better choice and quality.
That's why Fantasy In Glass has developed a Silver Patina for the discriminating connoisseur.
The Fantasy In Glass Silver Patina (or FigSip) is of the highest quality assuring the user of an even, rich shiny silver finish with just one application.
So, when you want that unique, rich look of silver, try FigSip Patina, the choice of professionals.
Available exclusively at your Fantasy In Glass supplier.

(paid advertisement)

Monthly Sale for November

The end of the month is the time when we get to put something on sale but more importantly it's also another opportunity to post an embarrassing picture of Zenia. Ah, but it's Halloween and Anja dressed up so appropriately that Mikey is compelled to post her picture here instead, and to wish everyone a great Happy Halloween! Stay tuned for more Zenia next month.
Oh, yeah, go here for the Monthly Sale.

NASA Denies Stained Glass Store On Moon Claim

NASA administrators have strongly denied that there is a stained glass store on the moon. Recent pictures have been circulating on the internet and purport to show the reflection of a long chocolate brown coloured awning with the words 'Stained Glass' inscribed on, it in the helmet visor of astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lending weight to conspiracy theories which suggest that the U.S. space agency faked the 1969 moon landings in order to divert attention from the Vietnam War.
Sceptics have long claimed that photos of the landing show shadows which face in the wrong direction, suggesting that the event was faked by NASA and was staged in and around Toronto, Canada. Conspiracist Gary Brownie has unearthed proof that Fantasy In Glass Glassworks a stained glass emporium of some note, has been based in Toronto for several decades and while out-of-this world, has never been anywhere but Toronto, on The Queensway in Toronto's west end. He claims that two employees who worked there disappeared shortly after in mysterious circumstances and that they have yet to be found.

Said Brownie, "The problem is that stained glass craftspeople are scared to talk about this - too many of their colleagues have been silenced over the years."

Canadian Space Agency sources scoffed and pointed to the timing of the story. "This is malice put about by opponents of the United States' plan for a Lunar Moonbase and a colony on Mars and the revival of lead came in stained glass"

More Spectrum Fusible but Don't Panic Lani

Lani is one of the owners of Bullseye, and seeing as she is still grieving over Ed her cat (see her comments elsewhere) and might be in a sensitive mood, Mikey needs to reassure her that we are still firmly and undeniably in the Bullseye camp- we actually just use Spectrum in the old bait-and-switch move to hook people to fusing and then get them to move over to Bullseye.
If you've been in this month to take advantage of our great Spectrum Fusible Sale we've reloaded the racks with another 400' from our delivery yesterday. And yes, the new stuff is even cheaper given we bought this stuff in the States and not here.

Wooden Crates for Sick Kids

We've got a dozen or so wooden crates that measure 15" wide by 40" long and 28" deep from our last shipment taking up some valuable shop space. They are great for storage and can even work as the base for a worktable.
First come, first serve with a $15.00 donation to Sick Kids Hospital gets you one.
We also have alot of Spectrum Rack Pack crates that are smaller, at $5.00 to Sick Kids.
That is all...

New Store Hours to Year End

effective November 19, 2007


Monday...........10:00am to 6:00pm
Tuesday......... 10:00am to 6:00pm
Wednesday....... 10:00am to 6:00pm
Thursday........ 10:00am to 6:00pm
Friday.......... 9:30am to 6:00pm
Saturday..........9:30am to 5:30pm
Sundays......Always Closed (Sorry)

Truck Delivery Arrives from The U.S.

Just arrived on this fine, damp and rainy day, our second delivery from the States in as many weeks.
This one contains over 3000 sale pieces of glass, as well as the same chemicals we can get here (or can't as they are always out of stock), but now cheaper due to the strength of the Canadian dollar and the unwillingness of Canadian suppliers to reflect that in lower prices to us. We are pricing all these sale squares at 25% less than if we were to buy them here locally.
For the fuser, we've brought in over a hundred new molds, again at an average cost to you of about 20-25% less, die cut fusing blanks, powder sifters, money clips, tie bars, button backs, etc...

They Wish!

You know, every time a rumour starts and the victim tries to refute the rumour, it tends to flame the fires even more so we address this one with some trepidation;
We are not going to stop selling supplies and just go into custom work. Heck, we've been there already having run a professional church window studio in our past. Especially now- we love the challenge of dealing with out-of-stocks from our current Canadian supplier and trying to find supplies elsewhere (and now cheaper too).
I suspect these rumours might have been started by a wishful thinking competitor or perhaps even a wholesaler, but we are here to continue to kick some butt in this industry that we've invested over 25 years in! They wish!

Today's Economic Lesson, or Don't Shoot the Messenger

Canadian dollar this morning- $1.0348- up over 20% in less than a year.
Price of goods to Fantasy In Glass from our Canadian supplier- the same (or even higher in some cases).
Apparently the only one making any money in the Canadian stained glass market is the wholesaler...

Massive Potential Recall Pending

TORONTO - More than a half-million tons of Chinese-made lead came may be recalled next week, including the popuar 1/2" round H profile and the little suncatcher u-channel, because they were found to contain levels of lead. Details to follow.

Anthropology of Stained Glass

The most significant discovery in Mikey's career was entirely serendipitous. Last April, the stained glass store owner was hiking in Germany's Neander Valley when he tripped over something on a trail. Some quick digging exposed the obstacle as the tip of a mastodon tusk. But it wasn't until a few weeks later when the entire tusk was unearthed and dated that Mikey realized the magnitude of his find. The tusk, he believes, is actually a Neanderthal glass cutter. Mikey calls it a Neanderthal "toyofigus." Like the grozing pliers discovered in Slovenia last year, the fact that the 50,000-year-old toyofigus predates the presence of glass makes it even more perplexing.

A carefully aligned hole starts at the top of the cutter and runs its entire length. "I think a Neanderthal master craftsman must have used a stone awl to hollow out the toyofigus," says Mikey. This cutter, he says, proves that while primitive man made and used tools, more importantly it suggests that Neanderthals used a cutter lubricant proving they were concerned with cutter wheel longevity.

While digging out the tool, Mikey uncovered the entrance to a cave and another major find: the first example of Neanderthal cave stained glass cutlines. Fittingly, the cutlines show lamp and suncatcher designs alongside proposed formulas for actually manufacturing glass once fire is discovered. "Maybe what we have here is the birth of a new hobby and artform."

Mikey theorizes that the Neanderthals' fondness for stained glass may explain why they vanished some 30,000 years ago. "Maybe their frustration at not actually having any glass to cut scared away all the game. They would have produced an awful racket all over the place complaining and arguing over whether Bullseye artglass would continue to be as popular as it is yet to be."

Thanks

For making us the most popular website in stained glass on the web. Over a half a million hits a month and Google ranking at # 1 for stained glass supplies, stained glass handsome guys, stained glass nice guys, good looking Mikey's, etc.

I'm Not Normally Quite That Rude

Lani McGregor (partner/owner of Bullseye Glass and also a blog author) is nice enough to read my blog, yet I neglected to give her blog a mention. Go here to read up on the trials and tribulations of this great glass manufacturer.
Oh, the picture attached? It has nothing whatsoever to do with Bullseye, but Lani posts so many pretty pictures to her blog, I felt it incumbent upon me to do likewise.

Mikey Feels a Good Rant Coming On!

Well, well, well. It's been what, about six hours since we last gave Bullseye some sort of mention, hasn't it?! In that case then it's about time to do a little rant on this manufacturer- and a nicer manufacturer we’ve never found.
While the Egyptians might have invented glass fusing (go here to read Mikey's Fusing Paper), it was Bullseye that turned it into an art form that is now accessible to almost anyone. Well at least to any of our customers, as we seem to be the only source of the full line of this great artglass being a dealer for almost ten years.
What about other manufacturers such as Spectrum which we also carry? A cheaper glass you say? True, but your colour selection is so limited you might as well be working with crayon. Of course you could fill out their limited palette with the accompanying glasses from Uroboros but, oops, there goes your savings. Why not just stick with Bullseye's palette of well over 200 colours, in various thicknesses, various textures, various iridescent coating styles and all the accessory glass like stringers, frits, fractures and powders to go along with it.
Heck, they are now also an up and coming supplier of rods for torchwork and were very generous in their support of our involvement in the recent Bead Oasis Show (as well as donations of glass to our Cooking with an Executive Chef seminars, etc).
The trend may be towards using a glass like Spectrum because of its cost (false), but we will continue to fight the fight and carry as much Bullseye as we can and will continue to price it aggressively to ensure it is available to as many people as possible. Besides, Lani McGregor (partner in Bullseye) (and Amy- retired sale rep for us) read our blog and as far as we know Spectrum doesn't.