Make a Difference in the World by Helping Dogs in Need

Have you ever had a dog that you weren’t able to take care of? Or your dog had to undergo an expensive medical treatment and you couldn’t afford to pay for it? The Konan Koalition, www.thekonankoalition.com, is a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based non-profit organization that was created by Doug Ramage, to help individuals and families financially when their dog requires expensive, emergency services and/or surgery. It serves Western Canadian communities and has helped families from Winnipeg, MB to Saltspring Island, BC. It was created because of Doug’s dog Konan was misdiagnosed with torn ACL's in two of his legs on Feb 14th, 2011. Although the surgery to have them repaired was expensive, the family’s love for Konan made them proceed with the operation. The Konan Koalition has two goals: 1) Mitigating unnecessary pain and suffering in animals that cannot access veterinary treatment because of financial constraints facing their owners 2) Assisting pet owners in making animal care decisions based upon the needs of the animal rather than financial limitations. Helping pet owners in this way will go a long way to reduce unnecessary euthanasia. Konan was one lucky dog, many others aren’t. For the most part the organization raises money for families facing expensive, emergency vet bills through the sales of Koalition clothing and accessories. You can visit the online store at http://the-konan-koalition.myshopify.com/collections/all But it isn’t always enough, and that’s why Castle Designer Glass is getting involved. In order to help the Konan Koalition raise funds to continue their amazing work, on Thursday, February 14, 2013 Castle Designer Glass will be holding a public fundraising event at its facilities where it will give 15% of its sales towards helping the organization with its operations costs. Please set aside this special day in your calendar to help us make a difference in the community it can make a world of difference for a Canadian family with a sick animal. For more information about how you can help the Konan Koalition, please visit http://thekonankoalition.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/KonanKoalition. Please feel free to contact us at CastleDesignerGlass@gmail.com or call us at (306) 477-0098 for more details.

Are You Thinking of Putting your Home for Sale in 2013?

As the holiday season is now wrapped up, we are comfortably returning to our work schedule routine and look forward to a great start of a new year. In Saskatoon there is prediction that “commodity prices, base metals and energy prices will improve this year as the global economy picks up," says BMO Capital Markets senior economist Sal Guatieri. Sal continues speaking on BMO's Canadian Housing Outlook for 2013, and states that Saskatchewan is on solid economic ground, which in turn bodes well for the housing sector. Read more at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/Housing+market+stay+strong+2013/7793585/story.html. Moreover, despite absence of job growth we saw a healthy and strong market activity in the fourth quarter especially among single-family homes. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation highlights; “Moving forward, price gains from previous years will continue to encourage more homeowners to list their homes.” Therefore, MLS expects sales to continue to advance in 2013. If the possibility is running through your mind of maybe putting your house on the market there are some ideas that can help you add more value to your home allowing you to increase your asking price. For example, you can increase the amount of light that enters your home. Furthermore, you can remodel your basement or create a home office increasing space in your home. If you do not have an extra room the possibility of a glass divider can come into play. Castle Designer Glass offers glass dividers with patterns that can often span several panels, and when installed side by side can create a fantastic room divider, viewable from both sides. Thick paint and texture will create privacy, and varying amounts of light can be let through depending on the desired application. Lastly, products of glass such as: glass backsplashes, glass counters, decorative glass walls, glass door inserts, glass shower doors, and glass railings can be added to your kitchen, bathroom and surrounding areas of your home. This can help increase the value of your home and in turn allow you to increase your asking price when putting your home on the market. Please feel free to contact us at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/category/6-glass-dividers.html for any questions regarding adding glass elements to your home. Wishing you all the best in the New Year!!!

The Benefits of Art Glass as a New Hobby for the New Year!

Art glass is an artistic object that can have a purpose or can be used simply for decoration. There are many different techniques when it comes to art glass, for example, stained glass windows, glass blowing, sandblasted glass and copper foil work. “Art glass has grown in popularity over recent years with many artists becoming famous because of their work, and also as a result of colleges that offer courses in glass work. Many amateurs now undertake making art glass as a hobby.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_glass Making glass art has many positive attributes; it can be a rewarding hobby learning a new technique and using your glass art once finished is equally rewarding. Secondly, if you find yourself continuously bored or nervous making glass art can keep you busy and calm while bringing out a creative side you thought you never had. Thirdly, making glass art can also get you out of the house and provide social interaction - by meeting new people if you consider taking a group class learning all the techniques needed to create your glass art. Furthermore, you can make unique glass art items for family and friends which make great Christmas or Birthday presents. Also, if you see that you have a great talent in producing glass art you may even be able to sell your piece to earn a little extra income. Most important of all, making glass art as a hobby offers many pleasant hours of enjoyment and fun. As we end this year and enter 2013 maybe a new hobby for the New Year is exactly what you need to have a little fun while acquiring a new skill and who knows maybe meeting a new interesting friend! Castle Designer Glass works hand in hand with designers, architects, contractors, and corporations to produce unique and elegant glass installations. Commercial installations include hotel lobbies, casino wall murals, restaurant feature walls, and many other functional and artistic designs. Our artists work hand in hand with your staff to meet all your specific needs of your project, no matter how large or small. Please don’t hesitate to e-mail Castle Designer Glass today for any questions related to glass or glass art at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/contact.html

Interior Home Door Decor

What does every home have? If you answered a toaster think again. The answer I was looking for was interior doors. Regardless if we rent or buy a new home or existing home we tend to overlook interior home door décor. The reason may be that the home already came with those plain white or traditional rustic wood color doors and they are efficient enough that décor does not even cross our minds. On the other hand, changing interior doors can indeed alter the way the room looks. Unique materials and innovative design can make a door not just a privacy provider or room separator, but also an integral part of a room's décor, creating beautiful homes. “A beautiful door is one of those subtle necessities that can make a big difference in your home's style. Like trim or molding, most doors go fairly unnoticed, but they can have a dramatic effect on the look of the room. Since most of us purchase or rent homes with the doors already installed, we often look right past them.” Furthermore, interior doors are a vital part of a home, just like choosing the right palette for your walls, your choice of furnishings, decorative items, and lighting. Choosing an interior door you have a wide selection of styles, materials and diversity of colors and with a little thought a right choice of interior door can significantly improve the look of your dwelling! Castle Designer Glass over the years has replaced in homes regular mundane doors. We see doors with glass inserts all the time- but imagine your plain door with custom one-of-a-kind glass artwork installed, rather than plain clear or frosted glass! Possibilities are endless, as individual panels can be created to your specifications, and installed in your current doors. Both interior and exterior applications are possible, such as front doors, pantry doors, cupboards/cabinets, closets, bathrooms, bedrooms, and more.

When Lightning Creates Glass

If you haven’t already seen the movie “Sweet Home Alabama” you missed out on some beautiful glass sculptures. Sculptures are made naturally when lightning hits the sand making the sand hot enough; transforming glass in the natural shape of lightning forms. When lightning hits sand we will see a shape of fragile rock called fulgurite being created. The University of Florida’s Dr. Vladimir A. Rakov stated that, “there are two phenomena that are responsible for making natural glass on Earth: meteorites and lightning.” Glass that is made as a result of the collision of a meteorite with the Earth's surface is called meteoritic glass or tektite. Glass (a glassy object, to be exact) that is made as a result of a cloud-to-ground lightning discharge is called a fulgurite (from the Latin "fulgur" which means lightning). Fulgurites come in a great variety of forms and can be viewed as “nature's own works of art.” Although this is fascinating, I would not suggest you try it yourself using a rod, a bucket and pure composites such as silca, quarts and carbon, as it is very dangerous and not the easiest way to making glass or beautiful glass items for your home. The architectural glass used in your home comes in different shapes and sizes. If you are in need of a change maybe using glass for your stairs, balconies and decks could be the answer. Today, glass is the hottest trend to take hold of the industry. Glass is often used as railings on stairs, balconies, and decks for its tough components because it is easy-to-maintain and makes any space seem larger. At Castle Designer Glass, we can custom design and install any style of glass railing in your space. Combinations of texture, paint, and frosting can be used to create a design to match your unique application. If you’d like a custom quote; visit us at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/category/11-glass-railings.html

Redecorating or Remodeling Your Bathroom with Glass

Planning on redecorating or remodeling your bathroom? Maybe you wish to only add some color towels and hang a work of art to bring a little pop to detail. On the other hand, if remodeling is an option and getting a new shower or bath tub is in the future plans; did you ever think of incorporating glass into your design? Remodeling your bathroom has many benefits. For one if your bathroom is outdated with wall to ceiling pink tiles maybe a little revamping would not hurt. As we quickly approach to a new year, a new concept might be more appealing to your household. There are many benefits of remodeling your bathroom besides improving the appearance of your bathroom. Don’t get me wrong it is very important that your bathroom should reflect the ideal place to unwind and relax while you either take a shower or a bath and pleases whose ever eyes while entering-in. On the other hand, at the same time, you can increase your home in value and make better use of space. An increase in home value is one of the biggest benefits you'll enjoy when you remodel your bathroom. “When you remodel the bathroom, you end up with an even better home, and larger remodeling projects can really make a difference in the amount that your home is worth.” Another benefit is that you can make better use of space; choosing what goes where and what does not belong can be finally pushed aside allowing you to make the best out of the space you have. Remodeling is a great idea if you wish to create a pleasing and relaxing environment; increase the value to your home and make better use of space. Adding a touch of glass and art will only make it better. Glass is one of the easiest surfaces to keep clean, and as such, can be a fantastic artistic touch to any shower stall. Clear glass can be embellished with glass elements, frosting, or painting, and back-painted panels can serve as shower walls. Picture yourself showering while surrounded by a serene piece of art, such as a waterfall scene, a let me know how relaxing that would be! At Castle Designer Glass we provide glass shower doors and walls that can be incorporated in your bathroom redecorating or remodeling project. If you wish to remodel your bathroom and would like to add a modern, unique, and glass touches come take a look at our shower doors and walls we have to offer at: http://www.castledesignerglass.com/category/5-shower-doors-and-walls.html

Customize Glass in Your Home as You Would Customize Your Dream Glass Home

Presently, we see home design turn in a different direction where Glass Homes are becoming more and more popular. Glass homes are being built as well as being lived in by families around the world. My interest as well as my curiosity in glass homes has increased. Beyond adoring their aesthetical structure and architectural design, my interest and curiosity stems from their advantages over the more traditional home. Living in a glass home will provide you with all the sunlight you wish to receive. Vitamin D is essential to human health and your environment. Getting enough sun will ultimately allow you to avoid taking Vitamin D as a supplement. There are many health benefits in receiving balanced exposure to sunlight for example; helps the intestine absorb nutrients, regulates blood pressure, reduces stress and respiratory infections, aids in insulin secretion, helps fight depression, etc. James Muir states “natural light is the best light we can get. It varies through the day, and psychologically stops fatigue in many environments, and makes the internal environment much more interesting.” http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s1343223.htm Unless you are building a home from scratch, Glass homes offer a mass customization ideology rather than a mass production ideology. Glass homes are the future as they enable the homeowner to incorporate their unique wants and needs of sunlight and sustainability. Homes can incorporate solar design, natural cross- ventilation, minimal energy consumption, recycled & recyclable materials, stormwater detention, indoor-outdoor flow & so on in their glass home design. Depending on your needs and desires your customized glass home can align uniquely with the importance of your lifestyle. Glass homes provide you unlimited choice! Regardless, if your necessity is to maximize on privacy and sunlight like the Portuguese courtyard house or to engage with nature on many levels as does the insanely cool house located in Cape Town, South Africa (shown at http://www.trendir.com/house-design/) it can be constructed with the right architect. More importantly, Glass homes reflect modern uniqueness rather than the traditional ordinary. Castle designer Glass understands variety, choice and uniqueness. On one hand, if building a dream glasshouse today is not yet a reality you can on the other hand, incorporate different aspects of glass into your home emphasizing on characteristics of innovation and design. One of the many products we offer are backsplashes which are made using 6mm strengthened glass. Strengthened glass can be subjected to much more heat and impact than regular float glass. This unique custom glass is certainly a popular feature for a kitchen or bathroom. You no longer have to settle for the plain-color glass panels that most backsplash manufacturers supply. There is no limit to the design possibilities at Castle Designer Glass as there are no limits in building a Glass Home with the right architect.

Transforming Glass to Art is Eye Delight

Glass is one of the most useful materials that has been used in the past and will surely be continuously used in the future. It is interesting to note what makes glass so useful and the importance of glass being displayed properly to enhance the fundamentals of transforming glass into art. Glass has been around for centuries and as we evolve we continue to use this relatively inexpensive raw material; glass is a non-crystalline solid material made from silica (silicon dioxide), soda ash (sodium carbonate), and limestone (calcium carbonate). In simple terms, the process of making glass is melting these three inexpensive ingredients together usually in large furnaces at very high temperatures until all three ingredients blend together to form a syrupy texture. Although glass is used for its practical components it is also used for aesthetic purposes. For example, glass paintings, glass blowing and contemporary works using glass if you have not already seen some, are so beautiful! Furthermore, when glass is combined with paint or light, they create amazing works of art. The art of glass is becoming more popular each day, museums provide collections where impressive glass art can be displayed and popularity stems from those especially who want to decorate their homes with an artistic touch. The Toledo Museum of Art has given glass a special moment marking the 50th anniversary of the Studio Glass movement. They have not only established themselves as one of the world’s largest facilities for glassblowing demonstrations and live glass design sessions; but have also, chosen a preliminary design for its proposed new North Wing where it has already featured light-filled galleries for its collection of contemporary works in glass. Thomas Phifer and Partners, the architects has created a 100,000-square-foot expansion that will have the purpose of dramatically enhancing the visitor experience for the Museum’s local and international audiences. The building is scheduled to open in 2014 and expecting an increase amount of visitors in the future. http://www.fingerlakes.org/latest-news-information/2012/6/6/corning-museum-of-glass-unveils-plans-for-64-million-expansion Castle Designer Glass, is a true believer of transforming glass to art and have created a stunning wildlife, nature, and native themed art exhibition in collaboration with our artists Gary Natomagan. The show included large stand-alone artworks, as well as paintings and drawings. Each of the pieces is available for sale for more information please inquire by e-mail to castledesignerglass@gmail.com.

Have We Underestimated the Use of Glass?

Glass has been used throughout history and continues to be an important element in today’s world. It is more than likely that in the near future we will continue to use glass to develop new innovative products. Products that may surprise you and that will have an important role of organizing, interacting and staying connected with each other. Glass has been recorded in use and first created around 3000BC. Glass is a tough material that resists the effects of wind, rain or sun; it is used for the making of bottles and jars, windows and mirrors. We see glass being used in skyscrapers to Christmas decorations. Today, as I have watched A Day Made of Glass on youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHqrrki47ec; I realize that glass will not disappear but only become more prominent in our daily lives. Wendell Weeks provides a vision for the future that “includes a world in which myriad ordinary surfaces transform from one-dimensional utility into sophisticated electronic devices.” Imagine organizing your daily schedule with a few touches on your bathroom mirror, or chatting with far-away relatives through interactive video on your kitchen counter. I know hard to believe! http://www.corning.com/news_center/features/A_Day_Made_of_Glass.aspx On one hand, it is difficult to understand the technicalities of these technologies if you have seen the video. On the other hand, we understand why we have seen glass century to century and more importantly why we will continue to see glass in our daily lives. Castle Designer Glass understands the importance of glass playing a role in our lives and creates products that are both practical and aesthetically pleasing and can be incorporated in a traditional or modern style. Glass is functional, durable, recyclable, practical, aesthetically pleasing and multifunctional. All significant characteristics of why glass usage in the future will continue to be of use.

Inspiring Creativity with Glass Dividers

Glass dividers, what a lovely and simple item that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing in nature. Whether it is for the office or for the home, glass dividers can add a creative and convenient way to divide a room, keep privacy and add beauty.“If you feel like your home has too much open space and you need to create divisions, room dividers can offer the perfect solution. By using room dividers in your home, you can create extra living space as you can have a room that is separate.” On the other hand, in my years of experience I have seen many office owners who do not pay much attention to the design and look of the room. Glass dividers in the office can be useful for two reasons. It can act as a practical tool to divide a room but also, aesthetically it can impress potential investors and enforce company’s integrity and credibility. Glass Dividers can act as an advertising strategy attracting attention. Both big and small companies can easily combine glass dividers into their office design for its practical and aesthetic functions. Furthermore, other benefits of using glass dividers in the office are: glass dividers offer privacy, provides the feel of a more spacious area, and allows natural light to enter the room. You will be able to enhance lighting conditions within the room and enhance working productivity for your employees. At Castle Designer Glass, glass patterns can often span several panels, and when installed side by side can create a fantastic room divider, viewable from both sides. Thick paint and texture will create privacy, and varying amounts of light can be let through depending on the desired application. Inquire about your space for a custom quote at http://www.castledesignerglass.com/contact.html