glassybaby tales

Chirp...Claire...March Mags...and Carol from Wyoming

   There is a distinct chirp in the air and moments of solar brilliance. Last week was utterly gorgeous in Seattle, pinch yourself beautiful. And the cherry blossoms, ubiquitous to our bit of the map, have debuted their pinkness...think thousands of little tutu glassybaby.

   We received thank you notes from Claire this week, one of our favorite 8 year olds, and a treasured glassybaby customer. Claire visited us recently. She  (mom) had arranged to interview our CEO, Steve Heuring. Her interview questions would inform her school project, a longitudinal study of anything...Claire chose glassybaby. We are eternally  flattered. Claire arrived promptly to Madrona for her high level CEO meeting. I had the pleasure of greeting her and her entourage (Mom, Dad and brother.) After an introduction to Steve in the store...they stole away to our office headquarters where Steve fielded Claire's astute business questions. The wind up? Project glassybaby has been launched by Claire and her sweetest thank you note to us must be described. "Thank you" was written in a highly stylized Claire font, surrounded by stars, smiley faces, hearts, peace signs and the tell tale loop of a cancer ribbon. I love the thoughtful ribbon detail. Claire's note proclaimed: "Thanks for helping me learn stuff about glassybaby...P.S. You're really nice, cool and funny!" So sweet...the cool stuff of a Claire thank you.

   glassybaby grace the pages of 2 wonderful March magazines. Martha Stewart's Living Magazine features 2 Bedford Brown glassybaby on page 72, under a subject heading: "The Naturals." The page where glassybaby reside is so calm and beautiful...the ever present Martha taste factor...such a nice mention of glassybaby. The March edition of Food Network Magazine features a colorful trio of glassybaby on page 62...in among many marvelous event planning ideas. The blurb shares knowledge of the brilliant and popular glassybaby rental program. If you find us on page 62...scroll your eyes down the page to find another page feature, pink, scented, biodegradable trash bags with big gold polka dots. Trash with class...love it.

   End note, who can resist the words of a glassybaby fan? Carol Pederson took the time to share this:

"Just a note to let you know that I use your "gallery" as a screen saver of sorts. The changing display of glassybaby makes me happy. Of course then I see combinations that I am sure I NEED!...Regards, Carol in Wyoming"

I love emails with words in all caps followed by exclamation points...passion for the product. Thank you Carol...we hope to see you soon.

   More Soon. More Spring Soon, Nicola 

Light Show...Job Well Done...Hands On

   One of my favorite moments of the week, among many...Bob entered our Madrona store with his refreshing presence and the look of happy color anticipation. He is a glassybaby connoisseur, as documented by his I Phone. I got to see lovely photographs of his living room collection of glassybaby on his phone. We exchanged various pleasantries. I learned that Bob and his wife Jill enjoy making wine, as Bob noted: "For personal consumption." They invest in the finest French oak barrels and import local grapes with huge potential. Bob and Jill are connoisseurs of glassybaby, wine, and, in addition, the sublime aural beauty of symphony music. Which leads me to the most favorite part of my favorite encounter...Bob debuted a glassybaby I Phone video for me. As I watched he narrated the footage. With lights low and glassbaby lit, he directs his Bose speaker woofer toward the line up of glassybaby. (I presume a full bodied glass of red wine is off camera.) The woofer woofs air toward the glassybaby and a veritable light show dances on the living room wall...to the din of symphonic sound. Bob has taken glassybaby to new heights. He stole away with a creme brulee glassybaby, destined for symphonic stardom.  

  More notes from the week. I had the pleasure of fielding a phone order...hailing from Santa Monica, California. The gentleman calling was express ordering...4 glassybaby for 4 colleagues, with a note to say: "Thanks for a job well done." He was also gifting himself a SAFE glassybaby, certain it would look good next to his pool, always a nice challenge. We kibitzed about color and at random, he guffawed with all out laughter. Then came this explanation:

"I was just texting someone I work with, asking what his favorite color is? He texted me back that he had no idea that the kindle comes in multiple colors. I texted him back...that it doesn't, but the I Pad does."

Great humor. I love that he was texting for color choice as he ordered...modern. And I love that his gift choice was glassybaby...smart.

   End note. We had the great pleasure of hosting a 'hands on' glassybaby event...a team building endeavor for a Microsoft group. Scads of highly trained 'techies' entered our doors...all part of the same team. They were able to drop their key boards for the afternoon and pick up a pipe at glassybaby to work with molten glass. Each individual worked, one on one, with a glassblower and each made a beautiful paper weight. It was a marvelous event and such a supreme pleasure to work with Heather, the team leader/manager...she had the vision that this would be a great team event. After, they went for a libation and bar bite at the Madrona Ale House, our neighbor. Once there...they could relive through banter the moments and making of their glass masterpieces. 

More Soon, Nicola 

Love Abounds...Pink Perfect...Evolution...Cherubic Faced Thank you

   Happy Valentine's Day. In honor of the Saint and the day and the love that abounds, we have a limited edition color named St. Valentine, which induces lovely heart palpitations. It is a finite classic...a deep pink close to our smooch glassybaby. I hope that you get one.

   I like the dashing anonymous gentleman, who entered our Madrona store. I asked if I could help him in any way. He replied: 'I think I am in need of some pink.' Translation...Sunday February 14th, Valentine's Day, will be pink perfect with a glassybaby cadeau in hand. He stole away confidently, with a St. Valentine glassybaby in tow. Astute purchase.

   An archival email exchange has slept in my blog file only to be shared now. Lori and I volleyed glassybaby color emails. Some of our exchange included this by Lori:

"I have a hunch that my husband ordered me Oz. So I keep checking the mail every day like a mad woman. He thought I was nuts with how much I love GB's, but now he is starting to light them himself and he puts them all over the house. It's great."

I love this message. It is distinctly Darwinian in an 'evolution of man' way. Lori's collection is 25 glassybaby strong. Most of her glassybaby reside on the buffet in the living room. Apparently her hubby has a feng shui bent and he regularly plucks a single red glassybaby from the buffet and stealthily places it in the kitchen. Lori finds this to be "hilarious." Again...evolutionary. Sociologically speaking we are a subculture...with no gender lines.

   End note. Tracy Morgan, an adored by us, customer, has become an adored by us employee. I love that we get to have her in our fold...such a wonderful addition to our sales team. Tracy gave a special weekend birthday fete to a dear friend, which included birthday bequeathing of glassybaby. As a thank you Ally, birthday girl, sent a postcard to Tracy. On the front of the postcard, a cherubic faced, red headed, zen girl. On the back of the postcard a note that said:

" This is the look on my face each night as I work surrounded by my glassybaby and thinking about my awesome birthday weekend..."

So sweet. Tracy shared the post card with me...destined for the blog. Thanks Trace.

Love to you all on this Valentine's Day from glassybaby. More soon. Nicola

Soul Train Colors...Cupid's Gift Set...Glassybaby Joins Gary Wills...etc...

   I just got off of the phone. It is a good day when someone calls to inquire about the glassybaby rental program because they are having a Soul Train party to celebrate Black History Month. Stylish. I seriously considered asking to be invited...restraint prevailed. Our anonymous caller owns an even palette of glassybaby color at home. She needs to add some grooviness to her party mix. We will conspire on rental color when she comes in. And again, stylish, she may host her 40th birthday party at our Madrona studio next year. How better to enter her 4th decade than surrounded by friends and bathed in glassybaby candlelight?

   Various everything is happening right now. We are poised and ready for Cupid's arrow. We have put together the sweetest gift set...a trio, consisting of 1 first kiss glassybaby flanked by two true love drinkers in a custom crafted pedestal box. Included in the pricing?...door to door courier service. An e blast and photo from glassybaby will ensue shortly with all of the details. A printed copy of the Valentine eblast can easily be slipped onto hubby's chesterfield or into partner's sock drawer...your call.

   More minutes. I love this swankiness. We will candlelight the Sorrento Hotel next Monday evening, February 8th at 8pm. The event?..."Night School" Midnight Symposium Series at the Sorrento Hotel. The featured author is Gary Wills. Google Gary Wills to find his authorship 40 books strong with heady subjects ranging from American Politics, to Ideology, to the Roman Catholic Church. glassybaby will be in esteemed company. Tickets are still available at:<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102970202573&s=1&e=0012AYJw_j48nDh6y4D5G0nuXWGk50fqyWRb72ohVDEDehv5eZtjAAGtJ9_0y3L6fSp-YDcWrtCWGQl68FCNPFVOT4e2If9_0btx6K9hkFQKjXeHRHUP8UnWFWsomjWRq3LntDjyfTKuJY=> 

My notes include this content about the evening: "Get tickets now for $50 per person (includes a hearty stew, a big bottle of whiskey to be shared and some wine. If you like to drink heavily, we encourage you to bring additional bottles.) Upon reading this description three words come to my mind...unabashed...intellectual...fun. I hope that you get to go if you are local.

   As promised here is Ringo the newest member of our sales team and at the top of our Valentine list. His tail has heartbreakingly cute white rings.

   One of our many favorite orders this week was a smooch glassybaby going to Michelle Roark...an Olympic hopeful in the women's free style mogul competition. We send an additional, virtual, Olympic medal, good luck, smooch to Michelle.

   More Soon, Nicola

p.s. I think I detect a hint of Spring. Ahhhhh