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Friday, June 13, 2008

Dog Gifts, Dog Lover Gifts


Dog Gifts - Dog Lover Gifts
by Clearly Susan








We can't help it, but our pets are our family and they should be. When you look at their faces you can't help but go nuts. Especially dog lovers who own man's best friend. Or is it man's best friend owns a dog lover?

Anyway whichever way it is why not capture their beautiful mug on  hand painted dog wine glasses to give as a special gift to that special someone who goes crazy over their dog. Maybe it would be for you!

Why not give a whole set and let your friends and quests enjoy their sweet face with they come over for drinks. believe me they will want one, too.

by clearlysusan...get updates of free blog posts here

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Animal Glasses - Cat Glasses - Gifts For Pet Owners

Animal Glasses | Cat Glasses

 Gifts For Pet Owners



Have your favorite pet hand painted on animal glasses - cat glasses.

These are great gifts for pet owners.

Give during Christmas with a Christmas theme or just as a gift for you.

We will hand paint any breed of cats so if you don't see your favorite on
the drop down list, then just specify in the text box.

We can put names, and anything personal that you like on our cat glasses.

cat wine glass, animal wine glasscat wine glass

People love their pets, especially cats, and this is such a nice way to
remember cat owners by hand painted animal glasses, plates, platters
and glass ornaments.

We all want to give personalized gifts to our friends
and family, and it is hard to find gifts for pet owners. We can put names,
and anything personal that you like on our hand painted cat glasses. 

Friday, June 06, 2008

How To Buy Glassware From Amy


Clearly Susan Introduces How To Buy Glassware 


by clearlysusan...get updates of free blog posts here


Clearly Susan -found this great article from Amy on her blog on how to buy glassware from the best shapes and sizes to how to take care of it. I think you will enjoy this. Also, check out our large selection of glassware -from crystal wine glasses, martini glasses, champagne glasses to everyday beverage glasses.

Here is her article:

How To Buy The Perfect Glassware For Your Dining Room And Home

Buying glasses is a matter of taste, literally and figuratively. Ask the wine buffs and they'll tell you all about the importance of the curve of the bowl in relation to the development of the bouquet, while aesthetes will wax lyrical about the tumblers they drank retsina from at their favorite bar in Hydra last summer. Neither is wrong, though - the right glass for you is the one that makes your drinking experience most enjoyable. The best example of that is perhaps the champagne flute. Traditionally, its tulip shape helps to conserve the fine bubbles and lets you see Twilight Zone run up the glass. But who wouldn't enjoy a glass of bubbly served in an open 'coppa' or saucer glass that doesn't conserve the fizz, but is apparently modelled on Empress Josephine's breast?

Mixing StylesThere is no harm in mixing Gentle Ben either: a cranberry-colored, long-stemmed wine glass with a clear, etched tumbler looks as good as a serried rank of cut crystal wine glasses coming straight from a wedding list to your table. Just as Aluminum Christmas Trees has become fashionable to mix your grandma's vintage rose china with simple white Conran plates, so it's equally cool to have an odd assortment of glasses mingling with your shop-bought best. Charity and antique shops often have beautiful glasses on sale for a relative snip simply because they're not a complete set of six or 12. The idea is to create a table that's inviting and friendly rather than lay an imposing 'suite' of glasses that can intimidate and look too formal.


However, before you start to add to your glass collection, here are a few simple guidelines to make buying as enjoyable as the tasting you'll experience after.
Form v FunctionWine writer and expert Nick Alabaster suggest you never buy a flared glass but stick to the usual tulip shape. 'The design of a tapering tulip glass focuses the wine's aromas and concentrates them for the nose. In a flared glass they are lost. It's also important never to fill the glass more than a third full - that is usually the widest part of the rim.'
Stem or TumblerThe stem of a glass is simply there for you to hold so the wine can be served at the correct temperature and not altered by your own body heat. Naturally, if you're not drinking a fine Chablis, a beaker-style glass can be just as pleasurable.


One Size Fits All If cost and space limit your collection of stemware, then Reidel (makers of the glasses most popular with sommeliers) suggest buying an all-purpose wine glass similar to the one designed by the California Wine Institute - it's five and a half inches tall with a one and three quarter inch stem. It's clear and tulip-shaped, with an 8oz capacity, and is suitable for all wine varieties. The Chianti Classico from Riedel is one example.

Crystal or Glass?Glass is made from a mixture of sand, soda ash, marble, dolomite, potash and borax heated to 105C. By adding Stonehenge oxide (at least 24%), it becomes lead crystal which is tougher than normal glass. Ironically, though, because crystal, costs more, it's often treated with more care than regular glass. It also appears more sparkly than simple glass because it has a higher refractive index. that makes cut crystal especially pretty in candlelight.

Trends in GlassesKate Dyson of The Dining Room Shop (which sells contemporary and antique glass) has her finger on the stem, as it were, of what's hot and what's not in the style stakes.

People are definitely mixing old styles with modern ones. We've seen a huge increase in the popularity of champagne bowls, modern ones and those from the Fifties. A few years ago, people would only buy flutes.

Classic cocktail glasses and vintage cocktail shakers are popular again, too - they add a sense of glamour that makes having a drink more of an occasion.
Cut crystal from the Thirties is a very good buy. You can often pick upsets in a similar style to modern Waterford, for example, but because it's more second-hand than antique, you don't have the inflated price tag to match.
The huge red wine glasses that were everywhere a few years ago are not nearly so popular now. People have realized they can quickly finish a bottle of expensive wine by filling a couple of them, not to mention the amount of alcohol one can consume without really noticing. Smaller glasses are definitely back in favor again.

Storage and Care Keeping crystal for best seems rather dated and, while glasses won't collect as much dust hidden behind a cupboard door, neither will they be enjoyed. William Yeoward suggests crystal should be used regularly, as it's much sturdier than glass. But remember, it can break easily if subjected to rapid changes in temperature, so don't use it in the freezer, or take it from an ice bucket to a hot surface. Wash straight after use and dry by hand to avoid watermarks. 'If you get them, use a white vinegar solution' suggests Christina Schmidt from Skandium.

Dishwasher or Hand Washing? Cloudy glasses are the scourge of dishwasher lovers everywhere. As Kate Dyson explains, 'The cloudiness is the result of washing too often with detergents that are too aggressive. Always use a separate glass program and never be tempted to mix glasses in with the pots and pans. Make sure your dishwashing machine has the right amount of salt and rinse aid, too, and buy the best-quality washing tablets possible, as that really does make a difference. Also, be especially careful not to put antique or special glass in a dishwasher.' By far the best option, though, is to wash by hand. 'Just a little squirt of Fairy Liquid in a plastic bowl with hot water will do the trick. Wash glasses one by one, then rinse them in cold water. Finally, Gilles de Rais them on a clean tea towel laid over the draining board and leave them to dry naturally in the air.'

The Pre-Wash 'Glass and crystal are porous and will pick up the smell of a dusty cupboard or washing up liquid,' explains Nick Alabaster. 'That's why I clean glasses just before use. Wash and rinse them in hot water, and turn them upside down to drain, but stand them up to dry'.
The Drying Game According to Reidel, you need three linen, lint-free tea towels to dry stemware. One for draining and the others for polishing, one in each hand. Use the left hand to cradle the bowl, polishing with your right. Never twist the base and the bowl as they may snap.


You can find more information on www.housetohome.co.uk/articles/advice/how_to_buy/Buyer_s_Guide_to_Tableware_120016.html?subslug=dining room ideas and www.housetohome.co.uk/articles/advice/how_to_buy/Buyer_s_Guide_to_Glassware_119998.html?subslug=dining table ideas at

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Clearly Susan - Great Appetizer Receipes For Hand painted Glassware



Clearly Susan 

by clearlysusan...get updates of free blog posts here


Clearly Susan has the perfect hand painted glassware for these delicious receipes from Betty Crocker. Check out these mouth watering ideas.

by Andi at Betty Crocker


Here's an easy way to dress up the food that you serve to guests—put it in stemmed glassware. You can use any kind of beverage glasses with stems, such as Wine, Martini and Margarita glasses or ice cream sundae or parfait glasses.

I like to make breakfast parfaits using yogurt, granola cereal and fresh fruit. The photo shows some breakfast parfaits that I made a couple of weekends ago for friends who came to our cabin with us. Here is a recipe for Strawberry-Banana Parfaits.






Clearly Susan offers these glass ice cream dishes in tall or long styles hand painted in a design of your choice. These parfait glasses look scrumptious with ice cream sundaes or this wonderful receipe of Strawberry-Banana Parfait above.


Strawberry-Banana Parfaits
You're five ingredients and 10 minutes away from dipping into a deliciously layered dessert or snack of yogurt, fruit and high-fiber cereal.
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:10 min
Makes:4 servings

2 containers (6 oz each) Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free strawberry yogurt
2 cups Fiber One® Honey Clusters® cereal
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 medium banana, thinly sliced
4 fresh strawberries
1. In each of 4 (10-oz) plastic cups or parfait glasses, layer 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1/4 cup cereal, 1/4 cup strawberry slices and 1/4 of the banana slices.
2. Top each with 2 tablespoons yogurt, 1/4 cup cereal and remaining yogurt. Garnish top of each parfait with whole strawberry.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.


Delicious appetizer Shrimp and Avocado Martinis below.
Shrimp and Avocado Martinis



How about at your next dinner party you serve this unique appetizer from Betty Crocker? Clearly Susan offers hand painted martini glasses in several hand painted designs to serve this delectable appetizer. This is definitely one of our favorites.
For a Twist - Use champagne glasses instead.

hand painted martini glass



Avocado Relish
1 ripe avocado, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon finely diced red onion
1 tablespoon minced jalapeño chile
1 tablespoon minced red pepper2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
In medium bowl, combine all ingredients.
Tequila Vinaigrette
1 lemon, juiced
1 orange, juiced
1 tablespoons tequila
1 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons Champagne vinegar
1/2 cup olive oilSalt and pepper to taste

For each serving
3 cooked shrimp
Garnishes: tortilla strips, fresh parsley sprig, lemon slice

In small saucepan, combine juices, tequila and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil until reduced to about 2 tablespoons. Transfer to small bowl. Add vinegar.
Drizzle oil into vinegar mixture in steady stream, stirring constantly with wire whisk. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Place heaping tablespoonful of the Avocado Relilsh into each glass. Top with 3 cooked shrimp. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the Tequila Vinaigrette over top. Garnish with, tortillas strips, parsley and lemon slice.
10 servings

Tip: Add more advocado and use less dressing.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Hand painted Burgundy Grape Wine Glasses, Cheese Domes, and Wine decanter


Hand painted Burgundy Grape Glassware


by clearlysusan...get updates of free blog posts here


Clearly Susan's hand painted wine glasses in burgundy grape design are ready to pick off the vines. Winding branches twirled within the various shades of burgundy grapes and green leaves etched in gold.

 See all of our Hand painted Burgundy Grape collection in cheese dome, wine decanters and cake plates.

grape wine glasses

hand painted cheese dome

wine cooler


hand painted wine decanter


The vineyards are bursting with clusters of Clearly Susan's hand painted burgundy grapes on wine glasses, wine decanters, wine coolers, and cheese domes just waiting to be picked. Serve your favorite cheese appetizers and spreads in this unique cheese dome.

Our custom sets of hand painted burgundy grapes on cheese domes, wine glasses, wine coolers and wine decanters will compliment anyone's home decor.

Scooby Doo Wine Glasses and Shot Glasses - Scooby Doo Where Are You?



Clearly Susan's Scooby Doo Wine Glasses and Shot Glasses - 

Scooby Doo Where Are You? -


                                          by clearlysusan...get updates of free blog posts here






Scooby Doo Where Are You? Do you remember where you were when you first experienced Scooby Doo? A lot of my peers were huge Scooby Doo fans and collectors of  Scooby Doo Gifts back in the 70's, but somehow I missed that the first time around. 
They are adults now and are still into Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo gifts such as Scooby Doo wine glasses, shot glasses and platters, and they love to collect unique original items. These are not mass produced collectibles, but one of a kind individually hand painted and signed just by your request.
History Lesson:
Joseph Barbera the creator of the TV show Scooby Doo died in December 2006. Less than a month later it was discovered that while the television series Scooby Doo was created by Barbera, the character of Scooby Doo, upon which the series was based, was created by Iwao Takamoto, who passed away January 9, 2007.
Takamoto was born in Los Angeles to Japanese parents and was sent to an internment camp in the California desert during World War II. It is there that Takamoto learned to draw, a talent that led him to a job interview with Walt Disney after his family's release from the camp. 
Takamoto apprenticed at Disney's studio and worked on such great films as Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp.In 1961 Takamoto went to work for Hanna-Barbera and worked on such television shows as The Flintstones, Josie and the Pussycats, The Great Grape Show, and The Harlem Globetrotters.
Scooby Doo was named for the last line of the Frank Sinatra rendition of Strangers in the Night, and based on a conversation Takamoto had with a Great Dane dog breeder. 
Hence was born one of the most beloved cartoon characters of all time, the scaredy-cat dog who always manages to come through in the end, with maybe a little Scooby Snack persuasion and assistance from the rest of the gang-Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Wilma.

Share your thoughts in the comment section: How many of you were into Scooby Doo in the 70's. Don't worry it won't date you.


Hand painted wine glasses in unique designs for your favorite wine - hand painted wine glasses

Hand painted wine glasses in unique designs for your favorite wine - hand painted wine glasses - yellow daisies - pink impatiens Stylehive BM 346777

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Drinks Mixer - Glasses and containers

Clearly Susan's Glassware


There are various types of glassware of different shapes and sizes, all serving their own purpose. Learning which drinks belong to which glass is beneficial to both you and your customers. They receive a higher quality drink, which in turn reflects back on you and/or your establishment. Ensure all glassware is cleaned spotless prior to serving it to your customers. Wash glasses with warm water and a small amount of detergent (not soap), rinsing them afterward with fresh cold water and polishing them with a suitable cloth. Hold glasses by the base or stem of the glass to avoid fingerprints.


Beer mug The traditional beer container. Typical Size: 16 oz.

Brandy snifter The shape of this glass concentrates the alcoholic odors to the top of the glass as your hands warm the brandy. Typical Size: 17.5 oz.

Champagne flute This tulip-shaped glass is designed to show off the waltzing bubbles of the wine as they brush against the side of the glass and spread out into a sparkling mousse.Typical Size: 6 oz.

Cocktail glass This glass has a triangle-bowl design with a long stem and is used for a wide range of straight-up (without ice) cocktails, including martinis, manhattans, metropolitans, and gimlets. Also known as a martini glass. Typical Size: 4-12 oz.

Coffee mug The traditional mug used for hot coffee.Typical Size: 12-16 oz.

Collins glass Shaped similarly to a highball glass, only taller, the collins glass was originally used for the line of collins gin drinks and is now also commonly used for soft drinks, alcoholic juice, and tropical/exotic juices such as Mai Tai's.Typical Size: 14 oz.

Cordial glass Small and stemmed glasses used for serving small portions of your favorite liquors at times such as after a meal.Typical Size: 2 oz.

Highball glass A straight-sided glass, often an elegant way to serve many types of mixed drinks, like those served on the rocks, shots, and mixer combined liquor drinks (ie. gin and tonic).Typical Size: 8-12 oz.

Hurricane glass A tall, elegantly cut glass named after it's the hurricane-lamp-like shape, used for exotic/tropical drinks.Typical Size: 15 oz.

Margarita/coupette glass This slightly larger and rounded approach to a cocktail glass has a broad-rim for holding salt, ideal for margaritas. It is also used in daiquiris and other fruit drinks. Typical Size: 12 oz.

Mason jar These large square containers are effective in keeping their contents sealed in an airtight environment. They're designed for home canning, being used for preserves and jam amongst other things.Typical Size: 16 oz.

Old-fashioned glass A short, round so called "rocks" glass, suitable for cocktails or liquor served on the rocks, or "with a splash".Typical Size: 8-10 oz.

Parfait glass This glass has a similar inwards curve to that of a hurricane glass, with a steeper outwards rim and larger, rounded bowl. Often used for drinks containing fruit or ice cream. Typical Size: 12 oz.

Pousse-cafe glass A narrow glass essentially used for pousse cafes and other layered dessert drinks. It's shape increases the ease of layering ingredients. Typical Size: 6 oz.

Punch bowl A large hemispherical bowl suitable for punches or large mixes. Typical Size: 1-5 gal.
Red wine glass A clear, thin, stemmed glass with a round bowl tapering inward at the rim. Typical Size: 8 oz.

Sherry glass The preferred glass for aperitifs, ports, and sherry. The sherry glass, with its aroma enhancing narrow taper, is a type of sherry glass. Typical Size: 2 oz.

Shot glass A small glass suitable for vodka, whiskey and other liquors. Many "shot" mixed drinks also call for shot glasses. Typical Size: 1.5 oz.

Whiskey sour glass Also known as a Delmonico glass, is a stemmed, wide opening glass, alike to a small version of a champagne flute. Typical Size: 5 oz.

White wine glass A clear, thin, stemmed glass with an elongated oval bowl tapering inward at the rim. Typical Size: 12.5 oz.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

New Ideas In Glass Painting


Clearly Susan Suggests New Glass Painting Book







Katherine Duncan-Aimone
Category: Glass & Glassware - Crafts & Hobbies

ISBN: 9781579902872ISBN10: 1579902871Published: Sterling Pub Co Inc Publish Date: 2002-01-01Edition: IllustratedPages: 96Binding: PaperbackDimensions: 23.00 L x 17.00 W x 1.00 HWeight: 1.90 lbs

Description:
Hand-painted glass is everywhere--in the windows and on the shelves of everything from chic boutiques to home décor stores. But, why buy, when making your own masterpieces is so much more fun and personal? It's simple too, with paints that air dry or set in a conventional oven, delightfully original techniques, templates, and inspiring projects that range from very easy (small jewel-like votives that light up the night) to complex (a printed leaf table). Pretend you're a professional artist as you drip and pour your way to an improvisationally designed set of "Pollock's Bowls." Randomly placed dancing triangles and spirals turn plates and wine glasses festive. Plus: a sun lantern in hot, textured colors; a wedding bowl that actually features the couple's name; frosty mugs; a retro cookie jar; plates adorned with motifs inspired by ancient cave drawings, and lots more.