Claudia Knauss
As the holidays approach, unique ornaments are a perfect way to capture the heart and personalize our gift giving. Having a party? Why not lay out a variety of handmade ornaments for friends to help decorate your tree? Or, set up a tree stand to display a collection of your favorite ornaments. The possibilities are endless, including using glass ornaments as gift tags to tie onto special presents. Glasshoppers offers ornament-making classes in November and December, during which ideas, materials, and instruction are all provided. Studio time is also available if you’d prefer to come in and craft ornaments from examples you’ve seen on websites or in magazines, or ideas from your own marvelous brain.
Holiday plates can also be used in several different ways at holiday time. They can add festive touches to your own table for holiday gatherings. You can use a special, handmade holiday plate on which to transport a dish to share at a holiday open house or visit from Santa, leaving the plate as a lovely hostess gift. A holiday plate fits the bill for leaving out those most important cookies and milk for a jolly old elf who just might also have some hungry helpers on his sleigh.
If time has already gotten away from you this season, no need to worry. Remember that many glass holiday ornaments, serving pieces, and other giftware will be on sale in the Glasshoppers studio on Friday, Nov. 1 (1 to 5 p.m.) and Saturday, Nov. 2 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) during the SaddleBrooke Ranch ARTwalk. Nothing says, “I really care about you!” more than making or purchasing a one-of-a-kind gift made with love.
To be ready to make your own artwork for 2025, it’s time to sign up for the one safety class required in order to join Glasshoppers. This informative half-day session teaches how to operate all the equipment required to produce beautiful pieces of art. The safety class is taught once per month, and is followed a few days later by a beginner’s level class during which you will produce your first art glass project. After these two sessions, you can make the decision to join Glasshoppers and begin making new friends and fun works of art. Sign up today by contacting the Glasshoppers’ Membership Chairperson, Joy Cafferty, at [email protected].