Jane, our photo stylist, is the woman who adds that special touch of magic to our photography, both on our website and in our catalog. Specializing in floral arrangements, Jane adds touches of seasonality and personality to our treasures so you can see them to their fullest potentials. We hope you will enjoy this interview with her!

Do you have a background in the arts?

Yes- I went to Paier Art School for illustration and graphic design. Also upgraded my computer skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Director at Fairfield University. I went on to work for an ad agency creating marker illustrations in New Haven, CT. Additionally, I freelanced in various jobs, including page design for children’s educational books and a corporate baking company. Soon I realized I loved working with my hands, and not behind a computer.

My Mom and Dad taught me skills like wrapping gifts and how to tie bows. Every job along the way has had some small lesson learned, but I found that photo styling uses all my talents.

When did you begin creating floral arrangements?

In between freelance jobs I apprenticed for a floral shop.  The owner persuaded me to take floral design classes. I worked part-time for a local flower shop for 10 years where I created arrangements for special events such as weddings, birthdays, funerals, etc.

What are the pros and cons of working with flowers as a medium?

Flowers are strikingly colorful, full of texture and life. I love that, just like the special events, the arrangements are created for they only last a brief moment. (Not to mention the thorns.)

What is your favorite part about working at Uno Alla Volta?

I love the challenge of working with and creating backgrounds, as well as finding the perfect props for each shot. I also enjoy working with the talented photographers in the studio who bring life to each beautiful treasure we offer at Uno Alla Volta.

 

See the video below for a how-to guide on floral arrangments with Jane featuring your favorite glass vase from Venice!

It is an exciting time for new homeowners to move into their first place. Help your special friend or family member create a warm, inviting space with beautiful handmade treasures and bring cheer to their new home with our top 10 favorite housewarming gift ideas people actually want. You can also mix and match to create the perfect gift basket!

1. Pewter ”Curious Cats” Cheese Board And Knife Set

This is the perfect pick for cat lovers and it’s great for entertaining! This cheese board features yellow birch wood, perfect for cutting and serving cheese.

Cheese Board and Knife Set

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2. Murano-Style Millefiori Rainbow Drinking Glasses

The colorful patterns of these Murano-style millefiori rainbow drinking glasses will make the perfect gift. They are formed by rolling molten glass in colorful glass chips before each piece is skillfully hand-blown.

Murano-Style Millefiori Rainbow Drinking Glasses

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3. Large Polish Pottery Baking Dish

Whether your friend or family member is a beginner baker or master chef, this incredible stoneware piece will delight both of them. This baking dish is handcrafted of local clay from Boleslawiec, Poland, which is high-fired for durability and coated with a protective glaze to prevent food from sticking.

Large Polish Pottery Baking Dish

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4. Hand-Painted Polish Pottery Sunflower Mug And Cake Plate Set

Have your morning coffee with a plate to hold your breakfast, too! This mug and plate set is perfect for sunflower lovers. It is beautifully handmade by our master artisans who use carved sponges and fine brushwork. The pottery is then glazed and fired at high temperatures.

Handpainted Polish Pottery Sunflower Mug And Cake Plate Set

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5. Hand-Carved Wooden Sailboat

A wooden sailboat will make the perfect addition to any coastal collector’s home. This spectacular hand-carved treasure was hand-painted with an antiqued, crackling finish.

Hand-Carved Wooden Sailboat

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6. Hand-Painted Slate Butterfly Coasters

Coasters will show how much you care about your friends or family home by protecting their furniture. These butterfly coasters are UV resistant, so they can be used indoors or out and would make the perfect drink accessory for their next party! Made with high durability, these slate coasters are hand-painted with a colorful butterfly.

Hand-Painted Slate Butterfly Coasters

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7. Owl Polish Pottery Salt And Pepper Shakers

Salt and pepper shakers are essential to have in your kitchen, which makes them a great housewarming gift. Each piece is carefully formed from Boleslawiec, Poland’s native clay before being expertly glazed, hand-painted, and high-fired for durability.

Owl Polish Pottery Salt and Pepper Shakers

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8. Boxed French Knife Set

How can we not include a knife set in our gift guide?! These sleek knife designs have been customer favorites for many years. This set of 6 colorful knives will make a great practical and welcoming gift.

Boxed French Knife Set

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9. Giovanni’s Borosilicate Glass Candle Holder And Vase

Make arranging flowers for any occasion easy for any new homeowner! This handcrafted bud vase with removable candle holder is the perfect centerpiece for a tablescape. Each vase is hand-blown by the children of master glassmaker, Giovanni Battista.

Giovanni’s Borosilicate Glass Candle Holder And Vase

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10. Hand-Gilded Yellow Rose Champagne Glass

They will love using their champagne flutes for special occasions. The design of this beautiful champagne flute was drawn freehand on the surface of the glass with stucco, and then a layer of pure silver leaf was carefully applied before adding the translucent yellow color.

Hand-Gilded Yellow Rose Champagne Glass

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Polish pottery is one of the finest potteries and it makes the perfect kitchenware and decorating piece for any home. You can easily add a pop of color to your table décor with its vibrant colors. Artisans in Boleslawiec, Poland have been creating beautiful and functional folk art pottery for centuries, but what really makes Polish pottery so unique?

How It’s Made

Polish pottery is made with high quality white clay. The pottery is hand-formed or made from molds then hand-painted using carved sponges and fine brushwork. No two items will ever be alike. This unique clay and glaze are then high-fired to create stoneware pieces of enormous durability which are resistant to chips and breakage. Polish pottery is naturally non-stick because it is coated with a protective glaze. This stoneware does not contain cadmium or lead which makes it completely safe for cooking food. Because of its high durability, Polish pottery is microwave, dishwasher, freezer, and oven safe.

How It’s Designed and Decorated

The decoration of Boleslawiec ceramics have been greatly influenced by the color blue, which is a desirable color because it is consider precious and expensive. Blue is associated with beauty, which gave Poland its start.

Each piece of pottery is decorated through hand-painting and stamping with carved sea sponges. The design is strikingly original and detailed. Overall, the design and decoration of Polish pottery enhances its beauty and value.

How Polish Pottery Is Used

Polish pottery is commonly represented in the form of dinnerware, serving ware, and mugs. However, Polish pottery artisans have created pieces that will make a perfect accent to your home. They have creations of Halloween Jack O’Lanterns, Christmas ornaments, figurines, luminaries, and Easter eggs. These decorative pieces will reflect a truly distinctive style to every room in your home.

How To Care For It

Since Polish pottery is so skillfully handcrafted, it can last for many years if cared for correctly. Even though these pieces are very durable and can be used every day, they are still pottery. They need to be cared for when adjusting to temperatures right out of the fridge or oven. Here are three ways to care for your Polish pottery for lasting enjoyment:

1. Make sure your pottery dish reaches room temperature before placing it in the microwave oven or on the stovetop.
2. After removing stoneware from the refrigerator, do not place it on direct heat like in the broiler.
3. Do not place hot dishes on wet or cold surfaces.

Whether you like to collect Polish pottery or want a unique, yet timeless piece of stoneware, we hope this will give you an inside scoop about the beauty and uniqueness of Polish pottery, and how to treasure it for years to come.

Murano glass is exquisitely beautiful. From jewelry to drinking glasses, there is definitely something for everyone. These handmade treasures are created one at a time. Patterns and colors may vary, and some may or may not contain millefiori accents. The surfaces may appear uneven and they’re also in various shapes. This is what makes glassmaking such a special craft. With hundreds of years of history behind it, explore the history of Murano glass and how it is made.

The History of Murano Glass

The origin of glassmaking goes way back to the times of the Roman Empire when they created molded glass for illumination in their bath houses. As early as the 8^th century, the Venetian Islands began to specialize in glassmaking. When a ruling class law was passed to avoid the risk of fire in an overpopulated area, the island of Murano was named as the true and most appropriate glass production area.

Decline and Success

Murano glass had moments of success and gradual decline. Competition increased for them from the glassmakers of France and Bohemia. Rulers in the 18^th century preferred their glassmaking in Bohemia and passed laws, making it expensive to bring raw materials into Murano. As a result, half of the furnaces were shut down. Although, the industry in Murano did not die completely, Antonio Salviati, who practiced law, went to Venice to open a factory to produce traditional Murano glass. However, there was still constant fall and rise over the years. For example, during World War II the industry did not thrive, but as soon as the war was over the glassmakers continued creating their art.

The Spread of Murano Glass Tradition

Many craftsmen were inspired by the making of Murano glass. The art of glass spread throughout Europe. Wherever there was a demand for glass, productions were created. Many artisans outside from Murano developed an eye for quality in creating beautiful Murano-style glass. Today, all across Italy and the rest of the world, these workshops use the same techniques and materials as a Murano workshop with identical skill and artistry.

How do they create captivating colors?

Murano glass products are brightly colored and often infused with metals such as gold and silver leaf or copper crystals. When creating millefiori designs, they layer and slice colorful glass rods which stretch into unique designs. For other creations, glassmakers use a blowpipe with which they masterfully shape layers of color to achieve a richly-colored decorative piece.

What are the techniques?

As the techniques of Murano glassmaking have evolved, Murano glass has become a valuable treasure over the years. These glassmakers use unique, masterful techniques to create these amazing pieces. Both lampworking and hand-blowing create beautiful Murano style pieces, which is an incredibly rewarding experience to these artisans.

Lampworking

This technique is also known as torchworking. Artists use high quality glass rods which are melted with a torch and then shaped into beads by cutting it with a steel cutting jack. Once they have the glass bead, it is heated to a temperature of about 950 degree Fahrenheit until the material reaches its stress relief point. The bead is then decorated by etching, polishing, or by other techniques.

Lorena’s mother creates stunning jewelry beads using the technique of lampworking in the video below:

Blowing

Blowing glass is a challenging technique. This technique is done by using a blowpipe and basic hand tools to meticulously shape molten glass. These glassmakers are able to get unique patterns and shapes by blow piping. After the process is complete, the glass needs to cool until it becomes solid glass. The final touch that may be done to a glass piece is polishing, engraving, and enameling.

Our glass Artisan, Vittorio shows his methods on Murano glassmaking.

Annealing

Both techniques use the annealing process, which helps the glass slowly heal until it reaches room temperature. This process prevents the glass from cracking or breaking easily.