glassybaby tales

Witness Protection, Fresh From the Oven, and Tealight JuJu

   A wonderful freelance photographer named Koshtra Tolle (koshtraphoto.com) snatched a rare sunny Seattle opportunity to shoot our store and glassblowers for a piece that will be published in the ever swanky rag: Travel and Leisure. She breezed in two days ago with her kool larger format Mamiya camera, black box, awesomely hand cranked to advance the film. She was double booked in terms of her schedule, so there was an urgency to get our photos 'in the can.' She kept saying however: 'I don't want to leave here. I love this place.' After shooting the sun bathed store... she moved to capture images of our glassblowers. I casually surveyed our hard working blowers: "Does anyone mind photos being taken of them?" One of our glassblowers..."military Mike" doubles as a comic genius...of course, in jest, he refused to be photographed. Koshtra quipped to him without missing a beat: "Why? It might blow your witness protection program?" Funny. We can not wait to see Koshtra's glassybaby images in Travel and Leisure...keep an eye out.

   Speaking of traveling...glassybaby are poised to travel. We have just launched a same day delivery program (in the Seattle metropolitan area) called: "Fresh from the Oven." Here is the concept:

• you work hard, very hard
• you love well, very well
• and well...you sometimes do not properly forecast important purchases (think birthday, anniversary, Valentine's Day...you name it)
• but that is o.k. because your dialing fingers can now just call glassybaby and we'll have the most sought after gift...delivered to your honey or whomever...that same day

And throw in a box of our signature soy tea lights. I keep meaning to mention this addition to our sales. We now have glassybaby soy tea lights. They come in a charming box designed by local talent/artist Jeffrey Mitchell. Knowing that Jeff had a hand in this product's realization is simply good juju. And Emily Mitchell (no relation to Jeffrey) lovingly hand pours each soy tea light...her kool company is Odessa's Herbals. She is good juju too...and these little soy babes last a whopping 6 hours

More soon. Spring colors are in production. Gorgeous. Until Next Time, Nicola

Grey Goose, Seconds, Newlywed Candlelight Dinners

   This was posted to our comment box on a recent web order:

"...Greetings. I have purchased in excess of 24 glasses for myself and friends. The two in this order are going to be used as drinking glasses. So, can you please select pieces that are stable and even when placed on a table, as they will have cocktails (most likely Grey Goose, ice and an olive in them.)

This just made me smile. Our tacit warranty is stability and evenness. However, we are aware of the 'Grey Goose Effect' which does change the dimensionality of inanimate objects. Good luck. Enjoy your glassybaby glasses...so stylish.

   We might need a Grey Goose and olive after our Seconds Sale...which is nigh...it takes place on Saturday, January 26th, from 10 am to 5 pm. This will be the fifth sale that I have experienced...and it has taken on a life of its own. I love that our stash of wayward glassybaby are so sought after and loved. I just hung up from a customer inquiring about the sale date. She joked about spending the night at our doorstep (I think it was a joke.) I gave her a few tips on the sale 'rules of engagement.' In a nutshell:

• arrive early with a hot latte (at least a double, if not a triple)
• bring a friend to chat with
• pay with cash or a check (the shortest line)
• and as we joke..."sharpen your elbows"

We hope that you can make it. End note. A marvelous woman came in to fetch a wedding gift for a young couple. She was inspired from a wedding gift that she and her newlywed husband had just received. They happen to be in their 70's...a second marriage for each of them. She just beamed as she described the pact with her husband to eat dinner by glassybaby candlelight every night. Wonderful.

   Until Next Time, Nicola

Mia Farrow, Wayzata Minnesota and Find Your Inner Angel

   I had the delight of meeting with 3 women from the Jewish Federation of Seattle yesterday.  They have made the classy decision to rent glassybaby for a fund raising event in February. Mia Farrow, their keynote speaker, will give a compelling address and the event will be bathed in the glow of pink and brown glassybaby...maybe a few creams as well...gorgeous...I want to go.

   Tis the season now of auctions and fund raisers...the harbingers of Spring...and they give us hope. It has been so dreadfully dark and gray and rainy in Seattle...color therapy is the answer. We have gone from the deep reds and golden warm colors in the store to the pleading, lighter colors that beckon Spring...like Lavender, Verdant, Fearless and Dream. It is lovely and lighter.

   For fun I jotted web order destinations the other day. I love the trajectory of our glassybaby ecommerce. Here is where some glassybaby were flying to:

• Woodmere, NY
• Park City, UT
• Tiburon, CA
• Wayzata, MN

The list went on and on. Where is Wayzata? I'll consult my atlas or my geography oracle friend.

   Last note. Before the holidays were in full frenzy...I had a marvelous store encounter. Perfect blog material. A woman came in to purchase herself a glassybaby. She spent time with our 'shadow box,' lighting and considering...living in the quintessential glassybaby moment. I learned that before arriving to us, she had spent most of the day helping her special needs brother move out of an apartment where he had lived for several years...skip a beat... then she gave me a slightly wincing half smile and added: '...and he does not like to get rid of any of his things.' She bought herself an Angel.

   Until Next Time, Nicola

Happy New Year Butter, Casa Pedro and Korea

   Happy New Year. I am tickled because I happen to have a fetish for the number eight. I write the new year number every chance I get. For example a current grocery list might read:

Groceries 2008.....

• Eggs
• Diapers
• White Chocolate

   And then there is the issue of New Year's resolutions. Lee proposed a covenant to swear off biscuits from around the corner at our beloved, well traveled, caffeination station...a collective New Year's resolution was born. However, there was no notary involved, no promissory note... and...well...here is my failure timeline:

• 8:45am, Wednesday, January 2nd (first day back from the holidays) I arrive at our coffee shop.
• I walk from car to coffee counter...2 minutes.
• 8:47am I order my favorite double tall extra hot latte.
• 8:47am and 30 seconds...I cave..."A swiss, ham and bacon biscuit too...Please???"

The biscuit was amazing. Progress? I have not had one since.

   Back in the store saddle is sweet and wonderful as usual. My return presence has already ushered in great anecdotes. A wonderful customer deliberated over 3 glassybaby. I weighed in. The trio of greens chosen was a stunner: Mint, Hidden Moss and I think Sour Apple. Requisite banter ensued as I boxed. Our customer was starting her glassybaby collection. Her shopping time line hinged upon her departure for a small Mexican Village. One of her dearest friends has recently lost her husband Peter. The women are making the exodus to Mexico to build a house, under the auspices of Habitat For Humanity. They have named their mission "Casa Pedro" to honor a great man. It was a cause Peter championed...for years...he spent 2-3 days a week...working locally for 'Habitat,' and he adored Mexico. What a beautiful tribute.

   Another customer brisked through our door...'Happy New Year' was exchanged. He walked to our massive shelving, summarily plucked a Creamcicle glassybaby from the dozens of choices. I chuckled at the record speed. The glassybaby would travel to South Korea, to the mother of an exchange student who had stayed with this gentleman and his family. The Korean family always sends exquisite folk art, this man, was performing an act of 'touchez'...a reciprocal gift that he felt was just the right thing. What a compliment.

   Good luck with your resolutions. Happy, Happy New Year. We hope you got your favorite colors for Christmas. Until Next Time, Nicola