Astrology holds that each sign of the zodiac is aligned with a planet or star that influences the personality of each person born under that sign. Our Washington State glass artisans masterfully handcraft these paperweights, representing the astrological signs’ ruling counterpart.

To create their celestial paperweights, our master glass artisans form the images by rolling the heated glass in colored glass powders, shaping with hand tools and adding gold leaf and dichroic glass pieces to the surface for an iridescent effect, using molten glass heated to over 2000° F. After the features are formed, they are then surrounded by clear and matte molten glass, shaped into a rounded form and polished to a smooth finish. Ash from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens serves as the secret ingredient.

Just in time for summer, these masters of glass blowing have handcrafted an elaborate collection of ocean-themed paperweights depicting jellyfish and a coral reef.

See our whole collection of paperweights here.

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Dive into the deep blue sea with these purple and blue hues for your home and your wardrobe.

Hand-Blown Glass Starfish

Using traditional glassmaking techniques and his own signature details, our Massachusetts artisan handcrafts this sweet starfish. Once the design is complete, he uses only a blowpipe and hand tools to meticulously shape colorful molten glass into each starfish, which seems to radiate with beauty in the light.

Mark’s Hand-Blown “Northern Lights” Vase

Mark, our New Orleans glassblower, likens his craft to a dance, as he masterfully handcrafts each “Northern Lights” vase. Forty years’ experience has taught him to anticipate the glass’ response to slight changes of movement or additions of color. Using only a blowpipe and hand tools, he masterfully shapes layers of richly-colored glass, then uses a cold-fusion technique to create each

Lorena’s Blue and Purple Nautical Stretch Bracelets

Of all our glass artisans, Lorena of Murano is one of the most prolific, creating delicate masterpieces such as these purple and blue nautical stretch bracelets. These fun, beachy bracelets will stretch to fit most.

Lucille’s “Sorbet” Marbled Scarf

Lucille, the artisan behind this “Sorbet” marbled scarf, works just minutes away from our office on the Connecticut shoreline. Each scarf is made from 100% silk gently placed upon water that has been combed with rich, specialized pigments.

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June is the month of roses. Whether it is a traditional red rose, a pink rose, or yellow rose, each color holds a certain sentiment.

• Red rose: “I love you,” beauty, respect, congratulations
• Pink rose: appreciation, happiness, sympathy
• Yellow rose: joy, gladness, friendship
• Orange rose: enthusiasm, passion
• Lavender rose: love at first sight
• Blue rose: achieving the impossible

What better way to celebrate this month’s official flower than with roses that will last forever?

Everlasting Red Murano Glass Rose

For nearly 30 years, Francesco and Roberta have been masterfully handcrafting delightful glass sculptures on Venice’s famed isle of Murano, such as these everlasting red roses. To create each “forever flower,” this husband and wife team lampworks each petal, one at a time, then adds a silk stem adorned with glass leaves.

Capodimonte Porcelain Pink Rose With Bud

Capodimonte porcelain is the finest of Italian artistic pottery, with a history beginning in Naples in 1738. In that year, with clays of pure white color and the finest grain brought in from Calabria, artists created highly detailed objects rivaling the best of other European courts. Almost 300 years later, each piece is still meticulously handcrafted, uno alla volta, with detail that brings each flower to life.

Eternal Rose Wreath

This vibrant rose wreath is hand-assembled on a natural twig base in Baja California, Mexico. Each is composed of eucalyptus, green caspia, green and lavender sudan grass, pink and mauve larkspur, fuchsia, red and yellow sinuata, silk green and pink hydrangea, and burgundy, light and dark pink and purple silk roses.

Hand-Gilded Rose Champagne Glass

In a third-generation workshop in Verona, Italy, Amedeo and his two sons, Valentino and Roberto transform ordinary glass into works of art with this rose champagne glass. Each design begins as a sketch placed within the glass to be used as a guide. They draw the design freehand on the surface of the glass with stucco, and then carefully apply a layer of silver before adding the translucent color.

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The summer solstice is upon us, and it’s time for us to enjoy the longest day of the year. After a long winter on the East Coast, we can’t wait to brighten up your day with these sunny looks!

Hana’s “Darling Daisies” Necklace and Earrings

Our Georgia artisan takes inspiration from nature and the traditional Bohemian style of glassmaking to design this fresh and feminine “Darling Daisies” necklace. Once the design is complete, she collaborates with her partner artisans in the Czech Republic to bring her artistic vision to life. Each lightweight, memory wire piece is adorned with glass in this darling daisy pattern.

Necklace

Earrings

Smadar’s Crocheted “Pearl” Necklace

Smadar of Israel is a talented young jewelry designer who is inspired by her international travels to create masterpieces such as this crocheted “pearl” necklace. She creates this unique necklace uno alla volta, crocheting the piece by hand of the finest 14k gold-filled wire and Swarovski crystal “pearls.”

Alessandra And Elisabetta’s Floral Three-In-One Florentine Handbag

With our friends Alessandra and Elisabetta of Florence, we’ve created this three-in-one, versatile handbag. Our ever-popular fold-over clutch shape, in rich suede, with one side printed with elaborate florals, can be dressed up or down. Wear as a clutch or wristlet for a night on the town, or add the crossbody strap for comfortable wear with your favorite jeans and t-shirt.

Yellow Torsade Necklace

In his Castello studio, just a short walk from Venice’s famed St. Mark’s Square, our friend Giulio continues the lampwork tradition of his grandmother. Each of the beads in this exquisite torsade necklace is handcrafted one at a time over a small flame, from the stunning millefiori and round beads shimmering with gold leaf to the thousands of tiny hand-strung seed beads.

Celebrate the summer solstice with our summer specials!

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After graduating from art school, our artisan Amedeo founded his glass workshop in Verona, Italy. From the time his sons Valentino and Roberto were old enough to hold a paintbrush, they have worked alongside their father, becoming expert craftsmen and artisans in their own rights. Today, the three transform ordinary glass into luminous works of art, one at a time.

Each silver-leafed sealife wine glass of Verona is masterfully handcrafted in a third-generation workshop where he and his sons transform ordinary glass into works of art. After applying a stucco design to the wine glass, a layer of color and silver leaf is added by hand to create each piece. Once completely dry, they are hand-polished to a gleaming luster reminiscent of the sea.

Hand-Gilded Seahorse Wine Glass

Hand-Gilded Turtle Wine Glass

Hand-Gilded Red Fish Wine Glass

Hand-Gilded Dolphin Wine Glass

Hand-Gilded Anchor Wine Glass

Hand-Gilded Mermaid Wine Glass

Hand-Gilded Sealife Glass Vase

Watch below as Amedeo and his sons handcraft the vase in this collection

To see all of Amedeo’s glasses, visit his artisan page.

Fill Amedeo’s beachy glasses with this wine spritzer recipe courtesy of Bbritnell.com.

Fruity Wine Spritzer

Ingredients:

• ½ cup white wine
• ½ cup club soda or plain sparkling water
• Squeeze of lime
• Fresh fruit of your choice (optional)

Directions:

• Put some ice in a glass
• Add in equal parts of club soda and white wine
• Squeeze a wedge of lime into the glass
• Stir and garnish with fruit
• Enjoy!

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Being an employee at Uno Alla Volta is more than just a standard 9 to 5 desk job.  Our una grande famiglia spans across the entire company,  including our artisans, our customers, and our employees. Our product developers, Minetta and Marina, are the perfect example of co-workers turned family.

Back in 2011, Marina came on board to Uno Alla Volta as an intern for our product development team. “After talking to Marina and watching her work, I took her under my wing,” Minetta says, smiling while reminiscing on how they met. While teaching Marina the ropes, the two prospered, producing not only a strong co-working  dynamic, but two very best friends.

Today, Marina is our primary home and accessories product developer, while Minetta hones in on jewelry, resulting in a team that puts a fun twist on executing everyday tasks. The two combine their unique senses of style in order to bring variety to our customers. A great example of this is our Sparkling Teal Bucket Bag, which was designed with influences from Minetta’s bright, bold, shimmering style. When the two partner to develop jewelry pieces inspired by Marina’s sense of style, it’s almost the complete opposite, as they incorporate her signature neutral and earthy tones. Despite their differences in style, the two always keep communication fluid, resulting in great teamwork.

With such a strong mutual understanding of each other, Minetta and Marina have traveled together on several product development trips from Italy to Las Vegas, meeting a variety of artisans and building close relationships with them while strengthening their own friendship. Together, they work efficiently and diligently, with laughter and smiles on their faces, to ensure our fashionable products appeal to a variety of tastes.

How many companies can say that they have two co-workers who not only like each other, but love each other like best friends? Uno Alla Volta sure can!

Uno Alla Volta wishes you a happy Best Friend’s Day. May it be well spent with your closest friends!