Diary of a Demented Store Owner

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

If Sandy Can Do It


... then so can you. Here Sandy modestly shows off her second batch of fused pieces she made just after taking our one day Fusing Seminar With Louie (I'm not from Barcelona) Deeaz.

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Figimodo

... once again forgets his place and tries to take over teaching a Fusing Seminar (I think it's just because Sandy is sweet on him...Mikey)


Friday, 8 November 2013

Crazy

Here's a water tower in New York City (thanks Bernie)-


Wednesday, 6 November 2013

Project Stands

We do carry square, rectangular and round stands in several sizes to display your work, but I still wanted to show this very clever easily homemade alternative!


Saturday, 2 November 2013

The Beginnings of Mikey


When Mikey was a little boy his mom used to make him his lunch every day.
Then he grew up and started a stained glass business.
And now you know the rest of the story...

Yippee!

Stained Glass News #107 is now in. 
• Stained Glass 101 Matthew McMillan—Matthew shares his artistic relationship with refractory materials. Hmmm. Actually, he helps the reader understand which material is best for which purpose. He explains the inherent health risks and how to work safely with these materials. Lots of pretty pictures.
• Working Large Bill Klopsch—Bill has said from day one that he would quit writing when he reaches his 50th column. Guess what… this issue is number 49, so Bill is readdressing topics and questions and pointing the reader to past issues for more indepth information.
• Design It Your Way Carolyn Kyle—This is the second of a three-part series of articles that teach color and glass combinations. The reader learns a bit more about the color wheel, but samples are shown using glass, not just colors. Most hobbyists will learn (or be reminded of) somthing here.
• Guest Columnist Tanya Veit —Tanya shares a brief description of the decal-making process. She explains why her decals are unique and offers tip and hints about working with them as well as a firing schedule. There is even a testimonial from a customer of hers that shares how she uses the decals with her stained glass work.
• Fire It Up Susan Molnar—Susan offers suggestions about bubbles in fusing and how to prevent them.
• this issue's Free Pattern: Victorian Toys is from the out-of-print book Victorian Christmas by Kimberlee Lynch

Thursday, 31 October 2013

Another Somewhat Unflattering Pic of Zenia

Is our bizarre way of announcing the posting of a new Monthly Sales Page- this one in tribute to Prostate Cancer Awareness- Movember (yes, Zenia's is real)

Today is an Exciting Day

Happy Halloween to All!



We celebrate this memorable day by pulling out our best chinaware in tribute to Dr. Frank N Furter...


Wednesday, 30 October 2013

Delivery Due In Friday

As is our usual custom, here's a copy of the 
packing slip of our order.







Only in Paris?

In Paris, the Sainte-Chapelle, a 13th century gothic church which has been under scaffolding almost constantly since the 1970s is slowly coming to completion after forty years. Here's a link to the video covering this story (we would normally just post it here, but there is a commercial before the video starts and we prefer you make the decision whether to watch it or not). When the project first began, officials had no idea it would take four decades (sounds like Toronto). But a new technique that involves molding a new glass wall on to the ancient stained glass was developed while the project was under way. This technique should keep the windows safe for generations to come.
Thanks to our friend Anne...

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

FIG Is Looking For An Electrician

If you are a licensed electrician, or know one, we have a small job for you. Give us a call at 416-252-6868.

Sunday, 27 October 2013

Playing Around


Here's some Black Aventurine from Spectrum with a Thick Clear cap (makes the Aventurine look even more stunning as if that was possible!) with silver foil circles as inclusions.

Thursday, 24 October 2013

Actually, Easy...

There's a lot of stuff going on in this plate (on this plate?... Always Contradictory Vanna Opal), but nothing that is complex or impossible for anyone with some moderate experience in glass- whether a stained glass person, or a fuser.
Firstly, the cutting is fairly straightforward, and a cinch when cut on a jig or with a strip cutter (don't worry- Mikey can show you or take his great one day seminar happening Sat. November 30). 
Next we used powder to fill in the lines of the Cord textured glass- black on the white and red on the black (not easily evident in this picture, but believe me it's there). 
Next it went in for a full fuse (seminar on fusing this Saturday- still room), and then on a mold and back into the kiln for a slump, and voila!


Tuesday, 22 October 2013

Still No Canadian Distributor

... means we are putting in another large truck order in the U.S.
This time we're bringing in a lot of unique stuff that we could never get locally (like Sp1009Black Thick for fusers!). If there is anything you might need, let us know by friday noon and we'll make sure to add it to our delivery. 

Saturday, 19 October 2013

Staff Caught Sleeping On the Job



Mikey Figgy, President of Fantasy In Glass Glassworks Inc wants retail store mascot and all around layabout Figimodo fired for allegedly sleeping on the job.
Mikey made the statement mid-afternoon just before his nap time.

Friday, 18 October 2013

Thursday, 17 October 2013

A Wee Bit More On This Week's Wee Folk Club

Some words from the Wee Folk Club co-founder, Enoch Kent (who it's rumoured, will buy every Fantasy In Glass customer who shows up their first drink of the night), about this week's performers:
"There are many ways to judge the value of a folk singer.
Did they bring pure entertainment coupled with material in their songs that made you think?
 The two singers at the Wee Folk Club Thursday the 17th bring many aspects of folk music to the fore.
Owen McBride and Paddy Tutty were chosen because of this.
 Each member of the audience has a personal point of view.
I've shared a stage with both of them and always enjoyed listening.
I think you'll enjoy their difference. Come and find out."
The next Wee Folk Club is THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 at the Dominion on Queen (500 Queen St E, Toronto). Cover is $10. The music starts promptly at 7:30pm.
FEATURING: PADDY TUTTY and OWEN McBRIDE 
PADDY TUTTY:
Paddy Tutty is best known as a singer of traditional songs.  Her repertoire encompasses ancient ballads, songs from a woman’s perspective, magical and seasonal pageants, songs with a twist, and songs about the world around us. As well as singing traditional music from the British Isles and North America, she incorporates a few newer songs and tunes on guitar and concertina, but is best known for the driving rhythm of her fretted dulcimer and her renditions of traditional ballads.
Born and raised on the Canadian Prairies and based in Saskatoon, Paddy has performed for audiences across Canada. She has released six recordings on her label Prairie Druid Music, including her new CD, The Last Holdout.
OWEN McBRIDE:

A true, veteran folk music performer and storyteller. Owen has built a solid reputation over the years, as one of Toronto’s most accomplished storytellers and performers of Irish folk music.
Owen has performed at most of the major Folk Festivals, in clubs and concerts across Canada and throughout the United States. In fact, his first appearance at Mariposa Folk Festival was in 1964 and almost every year from then, until the mid 80s.
His stories and Tales were heard regularly on CBC Radio,  as well as at many Storytelling festivals in Canada and the U.S.

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

The Wee Folk Club Free (but worthy) Plug


This is usually a plug-free zone- there are just too many self-promoting sites out there pulling you away from the reason you went there in the first place. But occasionally there is something worthy of mention and this is one- The Wee Folk Club. Something started by one of our own- Enoch Kent.
This is a re-creation of what was best in British folk clubs.  A small room in a pub where singers sang songs with stories in them.
You know – FOLK Songs.
If you are looking for something worthwhile and different to do on a Thursday night then get down to the Dominion Pub on Queen, 500 Queen Street East, Toronto. The location is easily accessible by public transit (just take the Queen streetcar east to Sumach) or by car.
The room holds only 60 people making for a nice intimate setting, and if the performer sucks, they're close enough to hit with any handy flying object. 
Tell them Mikey sent ya and Enoch will have to buy you a drink! And way too cheap at $10 per person. The 1st and 3rd Thursdays of every month- each concert will start at 7:30pm.
 Upcoming shows-

OCTOBER 17, 2013
Featuring: Paddy Tutty and Owen McBride
Click here for more information about these performers.

NOVEMBER 7, 2013
Featuring: Crabtree & Mills
Click here for more information about these performers.

NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Featuring: Brad McEwen with Bill Nesbitt and Geoff Lewis
Click here for more information about these performers.

Tuesday, 15 October 2013

If You Can Identify the Original Lineup

... Mikey will be impressed...


Cut out of Opak Flashed Antique, by hand (no bandsaw cutting)...

Thursday, 10 October 2013

Too Much Fun

We've been having way too much fun fusing and slumping lately. Here's a few examples including the first two which are part of the System96 Projects Series that we now have prominently on display in the store with free copies just for the asking.







This last one above is actually a redo as our friend Amanda seems to have a much higher standard for accuracy than we do (the arm slipped on our first try- she was not amused). We made Elmo as an apology...

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

More Hours to Shop



Monday......................Closed (sorry)
Tuesday ....................10 am to 5 pm
Wednesday................ 10 am to 7 pm
Thursday................... 10 am to 7 pm
Friday....................... 10 am to 5 pm
Saturday....................10 am to 4 pm
Sunday.....................  Closed (sorry)

Sunday, 6 October 2013

Showing Some...

Much of the creative process involves doing a lot of experimentation- sometimes this might even turn out to be successful. With limited experience with silver inclusions (in and exposed) we thought we'd show you the results of some test strips showing the reactions between it and the glass...

Friday, 4 October 2013

Showing Off a Bit...

... and you can too!


Another example of what Mikey likes to call his Crumb Plate- a byproduct of a another project. Interested? Give us a call and sign up for the Puddles and Plates Seminar on Saturday October 12 and you too can make something just as awesome.