Coastline Treasures

To this day, my grandmother hasn’t let me live it down. I’m referring to an incident from my childhood, when we drove over to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. I was about 5 and had just finished stuffing my face with turkey with all the trimmings, corn, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. The adults were understandably sluggish after this bountiful feast, and so they failed to notice when I slipped away from the table and went to look at the glass animal figurines on a high shelf in the living room.

Moments later, the clatter from a few rooms over was almost deafening, and my parents and relations came running with genuine concern. When they saw that I had managed to knock over every last knick-knack, my fate was sealed. I spent the rest of that evening helping with washing and drying the dishes. It doesn’t seem to matter how old my grandmother gets; she’ll always remember that holiday from long ago.

While visiting a friend, I was amazed at the glass animal figurines that she had collected.  She had a large curio cabinet where she displayed them.  Not only was this a great way to display them but smart as well.  They all stayed safe inside away from the daily chaos of kids and animals.

She told me that when she was young and on a trip with her family, she bought her first glass figurine.  That started a tradition.  Every time she goes on a vacation, she brings back a glass animal figurine to add to her collection.  She said that sometimes it is an animal that might live in the region and sometimes she gets it just because she likes it.  Either way, she does not see this tradition changing in the near future.

A glass figurine can be a great keepsake memory.  When I was really little, only about six years old, my great-grandmother gave me a glass chicken, and now when I look at that chicken I always think of her.  This chicken was the first figurine that made me start collecting figurines from different places I visited as memories of the trip.

Having a collection of these figurines became a great hobby for me.  I was always enthusiastic about finding the perfect figurine to add to my collection.  It never mattered what the style was, as long as it was something I could remember the place by.  Sometimes I would get a bell, others an animal.  But, no matter what the figurine was, it always gave me the perfect memory of that trip.

Glass animal figurines make great collectables.  They come in all sizes and species too, so they make the perfect addition to any mantel, cabinet, or table.  They are easy to take care of, and therefore are a great low maintenance addition to any décor.  Even if the animals you have don’t match your theme, they are still great to collect because you can find so many different types.

Often animal figurines come in different breeds of an animal as well.  For example, if you particularly love dogs, see how many different breeds you can find. 

Collecting figurines also creates a fun hobby.  When you are on vacation, or do something out of the ordinary, see if you can find an animal for your collection that is indigenous to the area.  The possibilities are endless.

Arts and crafts are fun for people of all ages.  But there comes a time when coloring just won’t work anymore.  So, it’s time to find a new craft.  How about glass blowing?  Do you want to learn to make your own glass figurines to decorate your home with?  While it takes time to learn and master, like any craft, the process itself isn’t that difficult.

Glass blowing is not something that you can do from home though, unless you have a furnace that can reach 2400 degrees to heat, cool, and reheat the glass.  The first time the glass is heated, it is done so to melt it and remove any bubbles.  It is in the cooling and reheating stages that the glass is blown and shaped into the elegant pieces.  It is a time consuming process, but like anything, very rewarding when the task is completed.  If you’re interested in learning to blow glass, find a center close to you that offers lessons.  Enjoy your new craft.

Glass animal figurines come in every size, shape, color, and species you could imagine.  In our dining room we have a display cabinet filled with all different animals.  We have everything from a Dalmatian puppy to a camel.  The possibilities are endless when deciding what animals you want to display. 

It is always fun to display your animals corresponding to the different habitats and ecosystems around the world.  Try collecting different animals from around the globe and arranging them with animals they would be found with.  See how many scenes you can create with your animals and if you can put together a glass habitat from every continent.  But, make sure you don’t put your penguins and polar bears together.  Not only would they probably not get along, they live in different hemispheres.  Have fun!

Now that you have spent time and money collecting your glass figurines, it is time to clean them.  What is the best way to keep their shine and sparkle without damaging them?  First, you want to be careful in how you handle them.  If at all possible, pick them up from the bottom or base of the figurine as it is usually sturdier.  Dust them off with a small soft bristled brush like an artist’s paint brush or make-up brush.  NEVER use paper towels, toothbrushes or the like as they can scratch the glass surface.  Do this as often as needed to keep the dust away.

Occasionally dusting isn’t enough and washing is needed.  Line a sink or small basin with a towel and fill it with warm soapy water.  Be sure not to use any abrasive detergents.  NEVER use bleach or ammonia as this can cause permanent damage to your figurine.   If the figurine is small enough, you can hold it in your hand as you lower it into the water and gently wash it.  If needed, you can use the small artist’s brush to get into any crevices that may still be dirty.  Once your figurine is clean, rinse it with clean warm water and let it air dry.  If wiping is necessary, use a soft cloth.  Once dry, you are ready to display it again and enjoy its brilliance.

Everyone enjoys a glass figurine.  These elegantly designed pieces make beautiful additions to a tabletop, mantle, or display case.  However, not all pieces are able to fit in your home for display.  There are glass figures that are so big; they take up almost an entire room in a museum. 

The largest recorded glass structure is called Fireworks of Glass and is located in the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.  The structure is forty-three feet tall and weighs eighteen thousand pounds.  Building this structure was not easy.  It contains over forty-eight hundred pieces of class and took fourteen days to put together.  The tower has thirty-two hundred pieces, the bulk of the structure.  This amazing figurine was created by artist Dale Chihuly. 

While your home wouldn’t be able to accommodate something quite so large, a small glass figurine is always a great sight to behold in your home.

Whether you have one glass figurine or a collection, keeping them safe is a priority.  Our eyes are automatically drawn to these gorgeous reflecting pieces of glass and the little tikes are no exception.  If you have children or ones that come and visit, be sure that your pieces remain safe.  Set these keepsakes out of the way, or supervise the children, and adults if need be, so that they do not touch them.  Some precious items are very fragile and are crafted with delicate pieces that break easily.

Keeping your collection on a shelf or in a curio cabinet is a good idea.  The advantage of keeping your pieces in a curio is that they will stay cleaner longer and it is less likely that people will touch them.  Another way to keep them safe is with putty sometimes known as Museum Putty or Earthquake Putty.  Just a dab under your figurine will keep it in place should someone attempt to pick it up or bump into it.  Keeping one piece or an entire collection safe is important so not to have a broken heart.

Last weekend my family and I went to Palos Verdes for a little family getaway at the beach.  It was gorgeous.  The weather was amazing, and the ocean was a crystal clear combination of blues.  It was the perfect getaway location. 

While we were sitting out enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, we watched a pod of dolphins swimming in the bay.  The sight was completely serene.  We watched them jump and flip around in the water, joyfully playing and enjoying themselves just as my family and I were.  The sight made me not want to go home. 

We I returned home, I looked at the dolphin figurine I have on my shelf.  It made me smile and think of the dolphins whimsically playing in the bay.  A dolphin figurine is a perfect reminder of a calming and relaxing trip to the beach.