Austrian Stereotypes

Brocade

I stopped into an interior design shop yesterday to see what the latest trends in this area were. The shop owner had beautiful heavy brocade and matelasse drapery and bedding. The shop was refined, elegant and fascinating. The accessories were ingenious. The valances looked like they'd just come from the Palace of Versailles. And size, most everything looked like it was created on a grand scale. Thought and care were evident in the layout and selections.The predominant flavor conveyed to us was "this stuff should be in a castle". We were impressed.

Matelasse

When the owner approached and engaged us in conversation, we discovered he was educated in Austria and his name was "Wolfgang". Okay. Wolfgang. Wow! 

If you are like me, the only thing you know about Austria - this is where Hitler came from.  It was a teeny bit weird to be standing there talking to this incredibly handsome man, trying not to think of Hitler and trying not to imagine a little black mustache under his nose. Wow, where did that come from? I realized that without proper education or research, we all default to stereotypes. And I was guilty! 

Then my husband says something about Australia and I realize he's misheard the man and I'm off thinking about kangaroos. Wolfgang was quite nice about it.

AUSTRIA IN YELLOW BORDER

So I went home and looked Austria up on Wikipedia - mainly so I don't think of Hitler every time someone says "Austria". Here are some quickie facts I discovered. 

• Austria is bordered by 8 other countries and is the 12th richest country in the world (United States is the 11th, Canada is 9th, Luxembourg is 1st). 
• Austria is a neutral country and does not allow foreign military bases on its soil. 
• 74% of the land is part of the Eastern Alps. 
• The country gave birth to many famous artists and scientists including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sigmund Freud and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
• The Pez candy was invented in Austria - yay!
• Einspanner Coffee - A Viennese specialty of strong black coffee served with whipped cream and powdered sugar - something I am dying to try!

I also looked up the meaning of the name Wolfgang. Who names their kid that? Evidently a lot of men in Germany and Austria are so named! Wolfgang is in the top 100 names for baby boys since the mid 1950's. There are a variety of meanings for this name including, "wolf's path", "traveling wolf", "running wolf" and "wolf leading in victory".  Pretty cool! I'm thinking maybe I'll name my firstborn Wolfgang! 

Lastly I google his website...holy smokes!  You have got to see the drapery section. I'll let you discover it on your own...www.wolfganginteriors.com. Oh, and to top it all off, he's a television celebrity and never mentioned a word!

All this guy really needs now are some beautiful Stained Glass Fireplace Screens!

My First Car

Do you remember the heady rush of excitement in owning your first car? I was 18 and mine was a light blue 10 yr old Duster with white racing stripes, I bought it for $400….the color didn’t matter to me because it was “My Car”. The make and model and mileage paled in significance because I had “A Car”!  I was mobile, I was free, I had “arrived”!  I even named it “Cookie”.

But this car did absolutely nothing for my personality or self identification. After a couple of months experience as a new car owner, the glamour died and comments like “what IS that thing?” started registering on my brain, I realized Cookie was an eyesore. And my adolescent logic made the jump that if my car was an eyesore, then I was an eyesore. I started begging rides again and plotted ways to get another car – one that blended in – on my next to nothing budget.

Me and Cookie would sneak onto car lots late at night and browse the long line of possibilities, leaving trails of drool between the tightly packed rows of cars and fingerprints on all the windows. I fell in love with a gleaming brilliant red glossy Jetta and my secret affair began. (Cookie was miserable and started acting out.)  I would stop after work every night to visit her. I’d peer into the driver’s side window to check the mileage to see if she’d been test driven, trying the doors in case she had been unlocked. I’d sit leaning against her brand new tires and sing ballads and told her fantastic stories.  I even memorized her VIN number. I dreamed of where we would go, what I would put on her license plate, maybe even some custom decals. This was MY car, it screamed excitement, passion energy and I knew if I could purchase her, my life would start!  I was motivated, I started working longer hours, saving money…life had purpose!

Two weeks later, she was gone, presumably sold to someone who would never love her like I did...(We’ll pause here for a moment of silence.)  Life was over, I was inconsolable, evidently it didn’t occur to me that there were many other gleaming red Jettas all vying for my attention.

Cookie was vindictively glad, I was heartbroken. I took the $172 dollars I’d managed to save and dropped it in an indigent’s guitar case outside of Strawberry Square in Harrisburg PA.

Looking back 30 years ago…wow, I was an emotional idiot!  Today I still name my cars tho. And I currently have a charcoal Jetta – “Swan”, that is completely paid for…somehow it just seems wrong to think about a red car….speeding across the continent, plates reading “VOLITILE”, sunroof open, windows down, hair streaming in the wind, and the thundering notes of Johnny Horton’s Ballad of New Orleans wrapped in a rocketing red blur…just seems wrong.

PS.  My brother Mark's first car had a dashboard made of "great stuff" foam. It looked like intestines and disintegrated the longer it sat in the sun...so I don't feel like I was the biggest idiot in the family.

Floriography and a Decorative Fireplace Screen

FLOWERS HAVE MEANINGS?

Flowers are used heavily in stained glass art. Mostly we just look at the flower and think, "that's pretty" and then our mind goes on to the next attraction. I was struck recently when looking online at a decorative fireplace screen covered with flowers that perhaps there was a deeper meaning behind what I was looking at and sure enough there is something called the "Language of Flowers" or Floriography. I started researching this very fascinating subject and then I couldn't stop myself from checking out what message each of the stained glass fireplace screens were conveying.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Gaining peak popularity in the 18th Century, the language of flowers was a much needed boon to Victorian-era strict society. There were so many rules of etiquette that expressing one's feelings out loud was bound to result in undesirable waves of gossip. Self taught writer, the Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, introduced to the English court the concept of exchanging flowers with meanings to express what couldn't be spoken aloud. This started a boom of lists and dictionaries and a whole shift in fashion and communication. During their daily outings in the parks, ladies would display a bouquet given to them by a secret admirer, or a relative. Some would fasten to their hats a nosegay of flowers to convey regrets or acceptance of a rendezvous. The choices and messages were unlimited.

There was a hazard tho, if you didn't have the same dictionary as your secret admirer, some of your choices could be very unwise! 

SHORT BONUS POEM!

Here is a sweet poem commissioned by Edward W. Elgar in 1872, dedicated "to my sister Lucy on her birthday."  This shows some of the meanings of the flowers. It also shows creativity we've lost in language (due to television and other visual social media).

THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS

In Eastern lands they talk in flow'rs

And they tell in a garland their loves and cares;

Each blossom that blooms in their garden bowr's,

On its leaves a mystic language bears.

The rose is a sign of joy and love,

Young blushing love in its earliest dawn,

And the mildness that suits the gentle dove,

From the myrtle's snowy flow'rs is drawn.

Innocence gleams in the lily's bell,

Pure as the heart in its native heaven.

Fame's bright star and glory's swell

By the glossy leaf of the bay are given.

The silent, soft and humble heart,

In the violet's hidden sweetness breathes,

And the tender soul that cannot part,

In a twine of evergreen fondly wreathes.

The cypress that daily shades the grave,

Is sorrow that moans her bitter lot,

And faith that a thousand ills can brave,

Speaks in thy blue leaves "forget-me-not".

Then gather a wreath from the garden bowers,

And tell the wish of thy heart in flowers.

Forget Me Nots

ANYWAY...

Flowers have always been a girly sissy thing to me until I discovered the language of flowers and how to communicate subtle little digs and compliments! I would encourage you to spend some time using these online floriography lists and compare them to my decorative fireplace screens to get some practice on learning the language of flowers.

LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS DEFINITION LINKS

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT WIKI! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_flowers

SPARSE BUT GOOD http://www.santamonicaflowers.com/pages/floriography

GOOD LIST http://www.laflowerdistrict.com/flower,floriography.asp

NEED QUICKTIME http://www.victorianbazaar.com/meanings.html

CAN ALSO PURCHASE http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/features/vanessa_diffenbaugh//flower-dictionary/

BIRTHDAY FLOWERS http://www.merrymorphosis.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Birthday-Flowers.pdf

Seasoning Your Cast Iron Kettle and Cookware

http://www.stainedglassspark.com/page/page/8776877.htm

SEASONING YOUR CAST IRON KETTLES, STEAMERS, TEA POTS, DUTCH OVENS, CASSEROLE POTS, FRYING PANS, WAFFLE IRONS, GRIDDLES AND CAULDRONS

You name it!  If you use cast iron cookware for food consumption, it needs to be seasoned. Seasoning is necessary to keep rust from forming on naked iron.  It also helps to create a semi-non-stick surface.  All new cast iron cookware should be seasoned before using. If your cookware is enameled it needs no seasoning.

STOVE TOP STEAMER KETTLE

The advantages of enameled cast iron equal it's disadvantages. It cleans up great, comes in vivid colors and is quite durable. But it is usually more expensive and does not hold the heat as well as bare iron, plus replacing chipped enamel is virtually impossible to the common cook.

Cast iron is desirable because once seasoned, it becomes indispensable cookware. An added benefit when cooking with bare iron, is the amount of leached iron into our food and thus into our dietary systems. Wikipedia states that "The iron in spaghetti sauce increased 2,109 percent... iron in cornbread increased 28 percent"  when cooked in a newly seasoned cast iron frying pan. 

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU SEASON CAST IRON

GRILLS  If you are seasoning your grill...there are a few items to consider.  If you insist on using a metal bristle brush to scrub the food off the grill you will be removing factory seasoned coatings and your grill will need to be reseasoned. If you (or the factory) do not season the grill correctly, the seasoning will need to be reapplied monthly when using grill year around. Season the grill correctly...(it is a lengthy process but well worth it) and you will never need a wire brush, food will  not stick to a well seasoned grill.

KETTLES  If you are seasoning a cast iron kettle or steamer (for water or teas) the seasoning can be lighter than the recommended 6 coats. But the kettle should be seasoned on the inside as well as outside.

REMOVE ALL DEBRIS  Clean your cast iron item thoroughly. You want to remove rust and built up oils/foods on both sides. Start by giving it a thorough scrubbing with soapy water and a stiff-bristled brush. Some experts suggest heating the item to 600 degrees for an hour to burn off built up oils, this takes less muscle power but depending on how thick the coatings are it make take longer and higher heat to turn the oils to ash. Most ovens only go as high as 500 degrees. Sand blasting is successful too, it's quick if you have access to a blaster.  Oven Cleaner is another option but high in chemicals.

DRY CAST IRON COMPLETELY  Thoroughly rinse all soap off and place in an oven. Heat for an hour on 250 degrees, you are drying all remnants of water from crevices you can't see.  If you season your item without this step, you will get bubbles under the seasoning and it will flake.

SEASONING METHODS

The "Quickie" seasoning method: Use lard or vegetable oil or bacon drippings or olive oil. Coat entire cast iron area, place upside down on foil (to catch drips) in oven heated to 300 degrees and "bake" for an hour. Repeat process several times.  
      Pros: cheap and quick. 
      Cons: Seasoning does not last.
                 If oil is applied too thickly it will dry gummy. 
                 This method is not recommended for serious cooks who want permanent non stick cast iron cookware.

The "Permanent" seasoning method recommended by Sheryl's Blog. In a nutshell...Use flaxseed oil to coat entire cast iron in very thin layers. Wipe it as dry as you can. Place in a 500 degree oven for an hour, allow to cool for 2 hours, repeat process 6 times. This is the best and hardest drying oil available. If you use lard, vegetable oil, bacon drippings, olive oil, Crisco, Pam, etc...these oils do not dry as hard or permanent as flaxseed. Flaxseed is a "drying" oil, it is the food grade equivalent to linseed oil. (Linseed oil has been used for centuries as a glossy hardening finish for oil paintings.)
     Pros:  Coating will be hard, slick and non stick.
                Seasoned cookware will be able to handle utensils scraping against it
     Cons: Flaxseed costs $17-$23 per bottle and goes rancid quickly.
                Process takes several days

I have read dozens of articles on how to season (or re-season) cast iron cookware. The best I have come across is Sheryl's Blog and she goes into scientific detail on the best oil to use and seasoning process. She has step by step instructions on the recipe for the perfect cast iron seasoning and goes into the hows and whys...very worth the read!

Taking Stock of your FireSpace Decor

Stained glass is making a comeback in home décor. There is a sweeping new artistic movement in stained glass that transforms the traditional designs into a more modern sleek presence. This article is going to give you some direction on how to incorporate this new and exciting art form into your home and hopefully your heart!

The Visual Vantage Point

Step back to the wall facing your fireplace and take a visual sweep of the entire space. Is it cluttered? Is it well lit or dark? Are there bookshelves flanking the area? Is it bland, boring, colorless? What material is the surround made of? Are there windows that affect the lighting or dimensions? How wide is the mantel? Is there a television or artwork mounted above the mantel?

Some fireplaces look grand all on their own, and some need a little help. A general rule of thumb in Interior Design is to make the fireplace the focal point of the room and from there decorate outwards (except in bedrooms or kitchens).

Without seeing firsthand what your space looks like, we’ll be offering suggestions, ironically, that coincide with the products on our website, www.StainedGlassSpark.com.

WHITE FIREPLACE   If your fireplace is white and your walls are white, you need a pop of color either flanking the chimney or guarding the fireplace opening. We’d suggest wall sconces, pendant lights, or artwork for the sides of the fireplace.  The hearth would look rich in texture and color with a stained glass firescreen, or firesafe hearth rug.

MANTEL DÉCOR   You want a focal piece over the mantel, something that suggests your family pride, philosophy or heritage.  A large family portrait, a shadowbox collection of the husband’s fishing lure collection (those are colorful!), or a special piece of artwork or objet d’ art.

NARROW WALLS   It’s often hard to find something to fit onto a narrow wall especially as they always seem to be in a high traffic area. We’d suggest an ornate mirror, thin tapestry or some flat piece of beauty. There are many, many stained glass windows, mirrors and hanging panels that would be perfect. Remember, stained glass does not have to have light behind it to look fantastic!

MANTEL TELEVISION  We’re not fans of televisions mounted over the mantel.  Historically, fireplaces are the common meeting place for family and guests to sit and talk, and a looming television screen is, well…distracting. We suggest placing it in the family room - not over a mantel.

FIREPLACE WINDOWS   If you have windows on either side of the fireplace, arrange a collection of plants surrounding a stained glass panel hanging in the window or a stained glass room divider. The muted light creates color, interest and is good for most plants.

FIRESIDE BOOKCASES   Bookcase corners beg for cozy little private reading areas, a stained glass pendant light hanging above a plush armchair invites family to open those dusty tomes. If you have an end table in this area, place a stained glass lamp there with adequate wattage!

DOME CEILINGS   If you are building a home ask your contractor how much more it would cost to install a dome ceiling that will support the weight of a stained glass ceiling medallion. These are incredibly beautiful and elevate your home décor beyond elegance!

SKYLIGHTS  are desirable for the amount of light they let in. However in some areas the light is too direct and intense. A textured stained glass window will soften the direct light while allowing brightness in. Plus, it gives a pop of color to your ceiling and draws the eyes up.

WAINSCOTING    Instead of wainscoting, consider recessing fluorescent lighting horizontally along the walls where wainscoting would normally top out. Then flush mount a thin (4”-6”) strip of stained glass that encircles your room. This transforms your space into The Room. It brings color, warmth and dimension into a bland space. This can also be done just under crown moulding – breathtaking.

FIREPLACE HEARTH  One of the most phenomenally beautiful yet comfortable views you will ever see is in watching a flickering fire behind a firescreen made of stained glass. The shadows and light dance unpredictably against textures and colors on the glass. Everything becomes special, necessary and your room suddenly turns into a sacred spot you don’t want to leave. Times this by two if your fireplace is stone!  Natural settings are enhanced by stained glass.

Please tell us your tips and suggestions on how you've used stained glass in your home!

Choosing a Firescreen Wisely

How Often Do You Use Your Fireplace?

This is probably the most important factor in choosing a firescreen.  If you are a log burning addict and cannot live without the thrill of a roaring fire trapped in your fireplace, you will not want to keep moving a 30-40 lb screen several times a night. But what do you use to keep those dang sparks from rocketing onto your beautiful original hand woven pure silk Thai carpet? We suggest if you don’t already have a “chain mail” curtain firescreen you install one that hangs, opens in the center and slides to either side. The wire mesh will take care of about 98% of the flying sparks aimed at the sleeping dog!  Or you can have tempered glass doors installed.  Once you have the mesh screen in place you are ready to start choosing your fireplace focal piece.

Spark Arrestor for Chimney

*Note: if you are one of those people whose neighbors gather in clusters on your lawn sitting on blankets to observe the firesparks coming out of your chimney, please consider placing a fire arrestor in your flue to minimize those dangerous sparks! Also remember to have your flue professionally cleaned twice a year! 

If you are merely a frequent log burner, say once to several times a week, and you like to have comfortable sedate warmth on the edges of your consciousness, then sparks and flying embers and rolling logs are not as big of a concern and a portable fireplace screen is what you need. There are many kinds to choose from. 

If you have a fireplace and are still trying to solve the mystery of how it works (hint: you need wood), perhaps you’d like to select an awesome decorative piece that actually diverts attention from the fact you haven’t a clue (until you get around to it of course!).

Gas fireplaces are increasing in popularity and design and are a very good candidate for fireplace screens without mesh.

Types of Fireplace Screens

Mesh – A fine metal mesh designed to keep sparks on the wrong side of the tracks

Fan – Purely for decoration.

Glass – These include, etched, cut, stained and clear. The stained glass is not usually tempered and should be kept further back from a live fire as flying embers that stick can cause small pits on the surface of the glass, usually it’s not noticeable but should be noted in case it does happen.

Cast Iron / Aluminum – Heavy, Sturdy, Impressive, will generally outlast even you.

Brass / Alloy – Shiny, sparkly, gold tones

Bowed – this screen works best if your hearth is flat, otherwise you get a wobble as it does not have feet.

Fenced – it’s like an indoor adjustable gated fence around your fireplace, usually to keep small children away from hot surfaces. And dogs.

Flat Panel – Best for gas and small fireplaces, usually have feet and are lightweight.

Folding Screens – Probably the most versatile and popular, gives depth and balance to the screen and makes reloading logs easy as you can move just one panel aside.

Screened Doors – Doors set in the frame of the screen let you load logs through the screen without having to pick it up and move it. Don’t let the logs bump the screen or it might fall over. In my opinion, it’s a silly idea that’s gone viral recently.

Glass Doors – usually professionally installed, it’s not really a type of firescreen since it is not portable. But we suggest a decorative firescreen to hide the unsightly accumulation of stain that builds up on the interior of the glass doors.

Decorative / Summer – Generally for the off season or for unused fireplaces. Does not usually have mesh. Often has tea light holders or other decorative items

Magentic Screens – Decorative cloth with magnetized edges to seal fireplace opening

when unused

You know what’s best for you, we can only give you our expert opinion and set you free to choose. Are you more concerned about safety or do you need to finish your room with a little elegance and style? 

BRASS FACTS

WHAT IS BRASS?

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses. The term “bronze” is applied to a variety of other alloy components (in place of zinc) such as arsenic, tin, phosphorus, aluminum, manganese and silicon. Color variations are the result of slightly different proportions of copper and zinc. In history, brass was the “poor man’s gold” or used where solid gold was too soft. Brass is often used where it is important that sparks not be struck. Brass finishes include a highly polished, mirror-like finish; a satin or brushed finish; a soft, hand rubbed finish; an antiqued patina, a bronze patina and verdigris finishes.

TELLING THE DIFFERENCE - SOLID BRASS & BRASS PLATING

An item is solid brass if the material is pure brass and can always be polished to its original beauty, although an old lacquer may need to be removed first.  Brass plated items are usually made of steel or zinc and molecules of brass are electroplated to them.  Because brass plating is very thin and will deteriorate over a period of time, a lacquer is usually applied to protect the plating. If the plating is deteriorated the piece will probably need to be replated to restore the brilliant brass shine.

Test item with a magnet - solid brass is not magnetic.  If the magnet sticks, the item is usually ferrous - steel or cast iron, with a brass plating.  If the magnet does not stick, test further by scratching a hidden area with a knife, awl or sharp tool.  If you see a shiny yellow scratch, the item is probably** solid brass. If you see a silvery scratch, your piece is probably zinc.  Iron, steel, and white metal can be replated, in which case a lacquer is always usually applied to protect the plating.

Lacquer is a clear coating which protects and preserves the beauty of the brass by sealing it from the air which oxidizes (tarnishes) it. Lacquer gives brass a high glossy shine and eliminates the need for polishing. Moisture exposed lacquer (such as bathroom faucets) will not hold up as long. But remember, solid brass, whether kept in or out-of-doors, can always be repolished and relacquered, no matter how hopeless it may look.

**Sometimes a thick sheet of brass is wrapped around a steel or zinc item, giving it more durability and strength. This is not solid brass but will appear like it is.

CARE & MAINTENANCE 

Never try to polish a lacquered piece, no matter what the metal, because polishing will damage and cloud the lacquer.  Lacquered items should be dusted and cleaned with a very soft cloth, which may be moistened.  

Removing lacquer for replating or polishing; We’ve found the easiest way to remove a lacquer coating is with a lacquer thinner, usually available at paint stores. Follow instructions as they vary slightly and repeat the process until all lacquer is removed, examine small tight areas to make sure all traces of lacquer are gone.

DIY Solution – Mix baking soda and water (1Tbsp of soda to a quart of water) and bring to a boil, immerse the item, one half at a time if your pot of solution is not large enough to immerse the item completely. Be careful to not overflow the pot when you immerse the item. Let boil for around 15 minutes and the coating will peel and flake off. Remove from the pot and rinse item with hot water. Remember to protect your hands and exposed skin rom hot water, the item will be 212 F coming directly out of the boiling water. Use acetone (nail polish remover) on a cotton ball of soft disposable cloth to remove any remaining traces of lacquer. Rinse.