Store Owner Claims He Invented Sliced Bread

TORONTO, ON- In a published interview in 'The FigLeafLet', president of Fantasy In Glass, Mikey See claims that he invented the concept of sliced bread. "It's a little known fact that several months ago when I was toiling in the back room of FIG's stained glass studio working on the quintessential teddy bear night light, I succumbed to a compelling urge to do something different with my lunchtime break. Tired of having to open my mouth to the extreme to accomodate a full double rye loaf, I developed a mechanical device that slices an entire loaf of bread without polluting the atmosphere nor contributing to global warming. Though I'm a modest person I take full credit for this invention," said Mikey. A spokesperson for the National Bread Association scoffed at Mr. Figgy's assertion. "Frankly there were many people who made major contributions toward the development of sliced bread and Mr. Figgy is not one of them."
"This is just another one of his half-baked ideas that he's gotten into his head," said Gary Broon of the Glass Store Owners Association.

A True Story Told Badly

Some really bad theatre as a commentary on the Canadian retailer's plight in trying to procur an appropriate level and selection of supplies...

A Taste of Something Pending

February Sales Now Posted

... but we really didn't have to tell you, did we, once you've seen this month's totally unflattering picture of Zenia...

Another Deep Thought From Mikey

If you want to make a stained glass window from scratch, you must first create the universe...

An Interesting Thing is Knowledge

Bullseye Glass Co. has been making Aventurine glass in several colours for a long time now, and ever since Spectrum entered the market with theirs (Green, Blue and just recently Black) the popularity and profile of this glass has risen substantially. So what is Aventurine glass? It's a type of coloured glass produced by the deliberate addition of an excess amount of a metal oxide during founding. The quantity of the metal oxide is such that it cannot remain in solution and forms crystals large enough to reflect light. These glasses, while challenging to make, are so fresh and new looking that they seem to have fostered some misinformation. Below is a clipped posting from a few months ago by Lani of Bullseye, trying to rectify the misinformation:

Yikes - Toxic teaching…
The other day one of our salespeople took a call from a user concerned about the toxicity of Bullseye’s Aventurine glass. HUH?

Aventurine takes its name from the Italian “avventura” which translates as “adventure” - a good description for a glass that, due to its supersaturation of metal, has historically been challenging to melt and - at least in its copper form - was often a different color from batch to batch. Bullseye has made Aventurine glasses for over 20 years. Currently we offer them in three styles (a green 1112, a lighter green 1412 and a blue 1140)….none of them poisonous.

But back to the story:
The caller had been told that after firing, an Aventurine glass should only be handled with gloves until it was first washed.
Whaaaaa?
Yes, supposedly, according to the caller’s teacher – who claimed to have this information direct from the glass manufacturer – “chromium comes out of the Aventurine and should not be handled directly until washed with soap and water.”
Kilnforming is fascinating territory and there are lots of knowledgeable teachers out there who can guide you through it with accurate and useful information.
There are also a number of nutcases who ought to be ticketed for teaching without a clue.
If you need accurate information on the behavior of our glass, a good place to find it is here.
If, instead, you’re looking for the latest urban legend, you might like to answer the phones in our sales office.

Just In Case You Forgot, We Are Canadian

The internet has a tendency to erase borders, doesn't it?
Tired of visiting a site and being unable to figure out where they're from. Probably Americans masquerading as Canadians because we have Neil Young (and not David Crosby), better beer, verandas and chesterfields, Smarties, hockey and we invented basketball, zippers and velcro (wouldn't want all you Americans 'hanging out, eh?!), and Superman (stop me if I'm getting carried away here- oh, you can't 'cuzz I'm Ed the Editor, eh?!) and beer cases with handles big enough to pick up with snow mitts. I know, it's not easy not being Canadian. But that's what we are. Here's a picture of the view out the back of Mikey's house tonight.

Just Off Tina's Table

Just finished rebuilding and modifying...

There really are more worthwhile things than seeing babies make fools of themselves on You Tube.

Here's one showing a fused piece being assembled in the kiln and fired.

Much more interesting...

Classes start the week of Jan. 15- Beginner classes on Tues. nights and and Wed. days if you're afraid of the dark, Intermediate on Wed. and Thurs. nights and Friday days. To use our free studio space, please check ahead as it is only available when not in use (but then it'd be in use so it wouldn't be available? Right? Never mind).
Our complete schedule is here...

Wow!

Just went on Google and tried out their 'Street View' function as they just did Toronto a couple of months ago. Very, very impressive, if not a little creepy. Come on fella standing at the front of our store- put on some long pants will ya?!

I'm now off to check and see if my neighbour is parking in my driveway while I'm at work...

Human Genome Project Finds Mutated Gene That May Explain Baffling Fondness For Stained Glass

ETOBICOKE, ON- As the first phase of the mapping of human DNA comes to a completion, a preliminary draft reveals the discovery of a mutated gene that may explain the baffling popularity of stained glass.
“The loud, repetitive pattern of sound that a Toyo Tap cutter imparts as it glides across a sheet of Spectrum opal seems to trigger a favourable response in the brain that goes counter to our understanding of what we normally consider pleasurable stimulus. We believe it’s caused by a gene mutation we sequenced,” said Zenja Chaboosky, a lowly research assistant at McMuster University involved with the project. The gene theory was met with relief by noted stained glass store owner Mikey in Toronto. “I’ve been puzzled for years. This may finally be the answer,” he said

... and a Happy New Year to you all!

The Free Stained Glass News #88 Now In

HERE'S A PREVIEW

In SGN #88, you'll find:

• new items, including: pattern books, new components for Creator's tools, fusing molds, a fusing kiln, lantern bases, some new glass and fusible frit.
• reader hints, a reader's workshop and more on "The Readers' Page"
• Randy's Help Desk Randy Wardell—Randy talks about "flexible rebar" and answers a reader's question about working with bevels.
• Mosaics & Stepping Stones Julie Bishop-Day—Julie talks about the "nuts and bolts" of mosaics.
• Fire it Up! Susan Molnar—Susan addresses kiln maintenance, talks a little about fusing and slumping molds, and offers advice on drilling holes in glass.
• SGN Classic Column Carolyn Kyle—Design it Your Way, Part 4—What makes a "Good" pattern?
• this issue's Free Pattern: Winter Blues
• a page of photos from readers in The Readers' Gallery
• and more…

Unflattering Picture of Zenia Means...

... it's time for our next set of sales. Now posted here, see our Boxing Week Sales, and remember our December Monthly Sales are still on (see them here), including some amazing prices such as Taurus 3 Ringsaws at only $411.11.

Happy Christmas!

All the best to you all from Mikey, and the staff at Fantasy In Glass!

Friday Dec. 25.................CLOSED! YIPPY!

Saturday Dec. 26............. CLOSED! YIPPY!

Sunday Dec. 27............... CLOSED! YIPPY!

Monday Dec. 28.............. CLOSED! YIPPY!

Tuesday Dec. 29.............10:00am- 4:00pm

Wednesday Dec. 30........ 10:00am- 4:00pm

Thursday Dec. 31........... 10:00am- 2:00pm

Friday Jan. 1...................CLOSED! YIPPY!

Saturday Jan. 2............. 10:00am- 4:00pm

Peace and Lead, Peace and Lead

The investigative staff of Fantasy In Glass' acclaimed journal The FigLeafLet has concrete proof of the demise of Paul McCartney, affirming rumours heard throughout the Sixties. We have documentation proving that he was replaced by an associate- someone with even less talent than the real Paul McCartney (send letters care of Ed, 703 The Queensway, T.O.).Apparently, it was John Lennon's wish to announce the change in the Beatle's lineup with the release of what was to become their last studio recording originally entitled Gary's Pound of Brown after Gary Brown, stained glass instructor to the music industry's rock stars. It seems John, along with George, Paul and Ringo had become disillusioned with the Maharishi and his teachings on transcendental meditation, and looked to stained glass in their quest to find inner peace, harmony and inspiration. It was during the recording sessions for this album that Paul met his unfortunate death when a truck's delivery of lead shifted and came crashing through the bathroom window onto Paul while he was indisposed.
John wrote 'She Came In Through the Bathroom Window and Carry That Weight in memory of this tragic event.
With the imminent release of the now renamed Abbey Road, the need to replace Paul became apparent. Searching no further than their fellow stained glass students a young lad of small frame and poor complexion was chosen, it seems not for his resemblance to Paul, but for his skill at cutting compound angles in flat 1/4" lead. Going by the name of Mikey, his lack of songwriting skills (as Paul) (send letters care of Ed, 703 The Queensway…) were immaterial to the remaining group members.
It was at this exact moment that Ringo first coined his famous phrase- “Peace and Lead, Peace and Lead” (see photos above).

Employee of the Month Sad It's Already the 15th

Toronto, ON- Stan Damian, a housewears department shelf stocker and occassional cashier at Acme Glass, expressed sadness Wednesday over the rapidly approaching end to his reign as Employee of the Month. Fellow employees didn't have the heart to tell Mr. Davisdunn his reign had actually ended two years ago.

It Only Took Gwen Fifteen Years!

But she persevered and with Theresa's help during the Friday Intermediate Class, she finally got it done.

Mikey's still waiting for her Tuna Casserole recipe...

Christmas Hours

Thursday Dec. 24..........10:00am- 2:00pm

Friday Dec. 25.................CLOSED! YIPPY!

Saturday Dec. 26........... CLOSED! YIPPY!

Sunday Dec. 27.............. CLOSED! YIPPY!

Monday Dec. 28............. CLOSED! YIPPY!

Tuesday Dec. 29........... .10:00am- 4:00pm

Wednesday Dec. 30....... 10:00am- 4:00pm

Thursday Dec. 31........... 10:00am- 2:00pm

Friday Jan. 1......................CLOSED! YIPPY!

Saturday Jan. 2.............. 10:00am- 4:00pm

Another Student Who Almost Passed the Beginner Course

Al's latest piece.

If he keeps this up, Mikey may finally pass him.

Help Santa Do His Job!

Go here to get a copy of your own helpful Christmas Wish List. Stick it under someone's pillow, and if they don't take heed, print off a second copy to stick somewhere else!

... and look for us on Twitter...

Monthly Sale for December Now Up

Our sales of Bullseye have dropped so fast recently that an On-Star operator called us yesterday and asked if we’d been in a collision.

To kick start sales of this great, comprehensive line of glass and a bunch of other stuff as is the monthly tradition around here see this month's sale here. (refresh your screen if it doesn't come up)

Of course, another tradition is posting an embarrassing or unflattering pic of Zenia to announce our monthly sale.

Bullseye Rods Great for Fusing Too!

Yup, it's true!
Fantasy In Glass is still the only source in Canada if you want to buy every colour of torchworking rod made by Bullseye. These rods are all manufactured from Bullseye's fusible sheet glass so their compatibility is assured (90 c.o.e.), something that is not always the case with other manufacturers (can't we all just get along?). Used for torchworking and kilnforming, each rod is approximately 17" (43 cm) long and 4-6 mm in diameter and includes a selection in excess of 110 colours. And now, Bullseye's Rod line is now graded for kilnforming. Though Bullseye’s glass rods were originally developed for flameworking, they can also be used in the kiln, and doing so opens new technical and aesthetic territory—territory that is still very much under exploration. Used alone or incorporated with other forms of glass in kilnforming methods, rods can become more than simple dots and lines—creating lenses, interior textures, patterns, and temperature-sensitive optical phenomena.

Last year when Bullseye developed five new opaque rod styles that were not suitable for kilnwork, they began systematically testing all of their rods for fusibility now confirming that all but 17 of their rod styles can be used reliably in kilnwork. (All rod styles can be used reliably in torchwork.)
The 17 non-fusible "T" styles include:

• 4 Opals: Dense White (0313); Pink Opal (0301); Salmon Pink Opal (0305); Gold Purple (0334)
• 6 Opaques: All but White Opaque (0013), which is fusible.
• 4 (All) Lustres
• 3 (All) Streakies


Here's somef useful links related to using Bullseye's Rods:
Bullseye's Torchtips and Kilnforming with Rod, their full-line catalogue, and if you want to try a project using their rods, then go here.

and here's some helpful stuff for fusers of their sheet glass:

Glass Tips, Bubble Control, a simple plate project using their Tints glass line, why BU0146 turns silver and how to take advantage of that effect (see our samples), and as always, when firing your glass good detailed notes are imperative- go here for a form.

Reality Check

The current situation with cost of supplies in Canada;
Oct. 15, 2008- (dollar at .845 cents)- surcharge at OOCSGS is 7.9%
Nov. 23, 2009- (dollar at .946)- surcharge at OOCSGS is 6.8%...

Mikey's Music Pick of the Month

If you've been in the store and have seen the battle that goes on between Mikey and Pat for the volume control on the stereo you now know that we have definitive proof that Pat is much much older than Mikey. Yes, music can be distracting at times, and no, that's not a bad thing. Music should affect you, and good music (which is only what we play) should deeply affect you. Mikey's latest discovery is the latest (I hate the term CD- truly good sounding music is analogue) from Ramblin' Jack Elliott, called A Stranger Here. Working with producer Joe Henry (Bettye LaVette, Solomon Burke, Elvis Costello/Allen Toussaint), the 77 year old Elliott sings and plays acoustic guitar, and is backed by a stellar collection of musicians handpicked by Henry, among them Van Dyke Parks and David Hidalgo (Los Lobos).
Revered for his interpretive take on traditional American music, on A Stranger Here, Elliott steps out of the country/folk arena that has shaped his legend, 50+ years in the making. Haunting and evocative landscapes crafted by Henry construct a mood that is enhanced by Elliott's world-scarred voice. Together, musician and producer examine a carefully selected number of pre-WWII blues songs in a wholly unique way.,
Procured from mymusic.com, now in heavy rotation at FIG...

Mikey Answers Another Question From Gary

“Hey Mikey, how come you can see through glass?” asks Gary Brun.

Wow, how about starting with something simpler like how come the Leafs suck? But, I understand that I do have a job to do, Gary...

The reason you can see through glass basically is that there is no reason that you can’t. Despite its appearance, glass is a highly viscous liquid rather than a solid, and you can see through it for the same reasons that you can see through water.

Coming up with such an admirably simple answer, Mr. Brun, allow me to expand a bit further. You are welcome to get your teacher, friends or family to write me further should this not make much sense to you. Most liquids, when cooled, have a freezing point at which they suddenly become solid. Glass, by contrast, simply gets gradually stiffer as it cools. At room temperature its rate of flow is so slow that it would take billions of years to ooze out of shape, and for most practical purposes it may be treated as a solid. See here for more...

Its internal structure, though, is not the regular crystalline latticework of your standard solid, but rather is basically random, like the typical liquid. As with many liquids, the rather loosely spaced molecules in glass are simply not big enough to obstruct the passage of light particles (see my paper on the properties of glass here).

Furthermore, (a) there are no footloose electrons in glass to reflect light, as with metals; (b) the energy levels of the individual atoms in glass are not such that they absorb light in the visible spectrum, although they will absorb infrared and ultraviolet; and (c) there are no internal boundaries or discontinuities in glass as there are in ordinary crystal solids to refract light, which would cause some light to be lost to internal reflection. (Glass reflects light only at its external boundaries-- that is, the boundary between the glass and the surrounding air, or whatever. This permits refraction to be precisely controlled, which is what makes eyeglasses, and optics in general, possible.) In short, the reason you can see through glass is that there is no reason for you not to be able to see through it.
That is all...

The Bad One

So, we grow up, marry, have kids, and they suck the life right out of you.

Zenia (the bad one) is conferring tomorrow.

That means that she has graduated from a university (allegedly of some repute) and gets to wear the hat and make her proud parents all gushy.

As such, we will be closed tomorrow to witness said occasion (her dad can hardly believe it).

Sorry, and thank you.

As we might expect, the picture is an affirmation of how seriously a higher education has affected her.

We'll be over it Friday night, ready to open on Saturday.

New Product Exclusive to FIG

Need a Plug?

Christmas Craft Show, Sat. November 21 and Sunday Nov. 22, 9am to 1 pm, at St. Gregory's Catholic Church, 122 Rathburn Rd (at Kipling) in Toronto. See Irene Geras and her work there.

Stained Glass News #87 In!

In SGN #87, you'll find:

• new items, including: pattern books, pattern CD's, new key finders, a new saw blade, black patina, fusing molds, fusing kilns, a new sander/grinder, some new glass and fusible pre-cut shapes.
• reader hints, a reader's workshop and more on "The Readers' Page"
• Kiln Crafting Gil Reynolds—Gil answers questions about Carmen's Wall Pocket Vase
• Health and Safety Fleming Fallon—Protecting Your Hands and Feet in Your Studio
• The Beadmakers' Corner Andie Kosak—Stp-By-Step Star (Stacked Dot) Bead
• SGN Classic Column Carolyn Kyle—Design it Your Way, Part 3
• this issue's Free Pattern: Victorian Candle by Kimberlee Lynch
• a page of photos from readers in The Readers' Gallery
• and more…