A little note on presentation & perseverance

Presenting Jason’s glasswork is always a challenge. We want to do it justice, make sure it sparkles and shows it’s best side. But not having our own studio we pack the glass treasures in and out of boxes, and each time we work on promotional photography it is a big deal to get everything we need in one place. But presentation is important. This is not a place to cut corners. Can you do it yourself!? YES you can. Is it incredibly helpful to delegate and focus everybody’s attention and time in a way that they do what they are best at: I don’t even need to ask, right!?

Perseverance. Sometimes getting the right photo can take a lot of shots and even multiple session tries. Then learning to do the photo editing, how to use software, which software to even use: all that takes perseverance. But it is worth it to honour and treasure the glass creations.

Yesterday we realised that we had misplaced the original edit of the image below, but we urgently need a specific file size of it. We have used this image on Jason’s business cards and now need it at a specific size for a residency application. So of course it needed editing immediately tonight, from the original file format, all over again. After an hour it looked like it does in image #1. I had touched up to reduce some odd reflections and a couple of too obvious fingerprints (what were we thinking not wearing gloves when photographing!!!) We were reasonably pleased but I just wasn’t sure it was all it could be. It looks a bit flat and the white was refusing to be white and it just had a bit of the ‘meh’ quality about it… I could have just leant right into the contrast, and thrown my weight around the curves but it didn’t feel like that would be enough by itself..

Fast forward another 2 or so hours, it is now 1:30am in the morning. Way too late, as I have other things to attend to besides Jason’s glassblowing career (i.e. my own career / an early morning language class to teach) but honestly I couldn’t leave it as it was before. It just didn’t look fresh enough! And Jason is such a hardworking and talented glassmaker, he needs better than average effort from me!

So.. I wrestled 2 photo editing softwares, created layers in Photoshop Elements; and with a combination of Lightroom > Photoshop Elements and back into Lightroom the end result is a fresh, fantastic, clear and exciting image that I have now saved in 3 different file sizes for Jason. We are now prepared for all eventualities! Don’t you agree that this is now a tasty eye candy, colour popping photograph of Jason Stopko’s Glass ?!

I know there is still room for a little more subtlety in the image but it is 1:30am.. there is no time to work on subtlety. But in the future I will try out working with more than 2 layers in photoshop and fine tune my overall approach with more thought before action..

If anybody would like to know how this was done let us know. I can add a description of the photo editing workflow for you to follow.

Signing off duty until the next time, Birgit Deubner. The woman for everything that is not glass in this little business of ours.

Good luck with your application Jason!

1test

2test

test3

August 31, 2017September 30, 2018 by Birgit Categories: glass, glassblowing, marketing & self promotion, nuts and seeds in glass, Objects of Desire, productsTags: collection, marketing tips Leave a comment

The acorn harvest is in the basket!

Hello Squirrels! (and everybody loving autumn fruits and nuts.).

The acorn harvest is in the bag, we have already selected boxes to ship them in, are just waiting on labels from the printers. This is the season to be nutty.

Clear acorns are proving difficult to photograph, but they are easy to admire. They have lovely light catching qualities and complement well with the etched acorns that we have recently added to the repertoire.

We have a big, giant autumnal goal to get as many acorns out into the world this autumn and winter as possible. Everybody should have some of these precious nuts.

Fun fact: Did you know that acorns are edible? They were an essential crop used to grind into a flour by Native Americans. Since we found out some months ago we have been rearing at the bits to go acorn harvesting (in nature, not the glass studio) and try them for ourselves.

Have we already missed the acorns?!

Another great fun fact: California is home to a great variety of acorns / Oak Trees!

Want to get more connected? Love acorns so much you want to ask about a commission for your wedding table decoration? For a graduation ceremony? For Christmas? For a gift for somebody recently returned from hospital..?Acorns are fabulous, you can use the contact form below to say ‘Hi’ to Jason.

October 19, 2016 by Birgit Categories: christmas, glass, Jason Stropko Glass, nuts and seeds in glass, Objects of Desire, products, VALENTINETags: acorn, blown glass decoration, harvest nuts, new beginnings, nuts and seeds, seasonal decoration, strength and longevity, symbol of growth, table decoration, wedding decor Leave a comment

Jason’s Etsy Shop is back up and running

After a long wait and not a moment too soon Jason’s Shop is back online and fully functioning. A couple of the postage prices need to be corrected as we have a few shipping estimates set to too low.

If you would like to gift handblown heirloom glass for Christmas then we can no longer supply in time but you could print out a picture of the object of your choice and Jason will make it to commission to be delivered in january.

Who else do you know who receives the gift of a made to commission heirloom piece of Art and master craftsmanship?!

You can follow this link to Jason’s shop and see some of the beautiful glass:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/jasonstropko

December 23, 2015 by Birgit Categories: Etsy, glass, Jason Stropko Glass, made to order, nuts and seeds in glass, Objects of Desire, products, shop, tablewareTags: 2016, blown glass, gift, glass blowing, heirloom, heirloom art, heirloom glass, Valentines, wedding gift, wedding list Leave a comment

Special edition Sunflower Seed

This sunflower seed by Jason Stropko is made from nearly solid glass, with only a small air bubble within. To achieve this lovely texture the glass has been etched with a special acid that is able to etch glass. To the touch this sunflower seed is velvety. Very special…

December 8, 2015January 31, 2023 by Birgit Categories: acorn, Custom made Glass, glass, Jason Stropko Glass, nuts and seeds in glass, productsTags: giant acorn, giant glass seed, giant sunflower seed, Jason Stropko glassmaker, sunflower seed Leave a comment

Christmas Glass Sale

see the flyer here: 2015_Jason_Christmas_flyer_4

Jason’s Christmas Glass Sale :

{for Friends and Colleagues}

Saturday 5th December @ Jason’s Tai Chi Studio only ! Call Jason for details 510 375 8487.

A range of nuts and seeds that will look just perfect in windows displays, as part of table arrangements, nestled among gifts under the Christmas tree, in your bowl of ready to be cracked walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds..

www.jasonstropko.wordpress.com

christmas ornament

November 30, 2015 by Birgit Categories: christmas, gift, glass, nuts and seeds in glass, Objects of DesireTags: Christmas Sale, Jason Stropko Glass Leave a comment

A unique solid clear glass acorn

.. the acorn is shown photographed from the same angle but with slight changes in the light direction..

This particular acorn is currently unique in Jason’s collection because of the way that the acorn cap was created. Every time Jason is in the studio we try and experiment with one thing so expand the overall range. We haven’t made more of this one yet, so in case you love it: it is here and has no twins and might never have any, but it fits really well with all the other acorns and nuts and seeds…

Yes, sorry, I am getting a little bit ‘salesy’, its coming up to that time of year and Jason is coming to spend Christmas in Germany & England, he might depart as early as December 15th, so we are ‘laying our eggs’, ready to hatch as early as we can this year..

We imagine these seeds to look just fantastic in window displays, on table settings, anywhere where light reflects, at Thanksgiving dinner tables or displays. The symbolism of acorns is reflective of the symbolism of Oak trees, their strength and the characteristics of prosperity and wisdom. Seeds in general are great symbolic gifts for anybody who is planting seeds in life, starting something new, beginning a journey of education, career or health… Glass like this acorn is a really good gift idea for minimalists as well as those people who love to populate their home with treasures and objects of desire..

We will upload more pictures of acorns in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes on Jason’s blog.

November 7, 2015 by Birgit Categories: christmas, gift, glass, nuts and seeds in glass, Objects of DesireTags: 2015, acorn, blown glass, clear glass, collection, giant acorn, giant seed, Glow Glass Studio Oakland, home decor, home decoration, home interior, Jason Stropko Glass, Jason Stropko glassmaker, lifestyle, Martha Steward, Oak, Oakland, objects of desire, ornament, seasonal, seed of prosperity, strength and prosperity, symbolism, wedding, winter wedding Leave a comment

Jason’s colour samples for a blown & sculpted glass project…

To get ready to make additional seeds for the ongoing nut and seed project it is necessary to try out different glass colour batches, blow them out and see how different colours react with each other. It takes trial and error and educated judgments to find those glass colours that work best to make life like blown glass seeds and glass nuts.

Glass colour samples in Jason's studio, getting ready for a range of seeds and nuts to be made soon. — Glass colour samples in Jason’s studio, getting ready for a range of seeds and nuts to be made soon.

September 28, 2015 by Birgit Categories: antique glass, blog, glass, nuts and seeds in glassTags: colour, corn, glass seed, heirloom, Jason Stropko, Jason Stropko Glass, Jason Stropko glassmaker, maize, nuts and seeds, sculpted glass Leave a comment

creating an extra large blown glass acorn

THIS acorn is now SOLD. We welcome your custom orders.

Jason Stropko creating a special order, extra large, blown clear glass acorn.. The small ones are usually solid glass and weigh about what a good paperweight does. All size acorns are available well in time for the Thanksgiving Winter season, we strive to complete your orders at the first opportunity. If we have a lot of work in the studio we will try and fit acorns between other production items. We know your order is special to you and it is to us, too. If you have a deadline by which you need any custom made pieces then please give us a call or send us a message before placing your order. We always try our best but it is still best to check in.
Prices for all acorns vary depending on size. For current pricing please check our shop or use the contact tab on our website.

(Limited acorns are available for $– please check current prices on our website shop or send us a message. Our prices have changed as our business grew since 2015.

Also worth noting is that we do continue to have occasional seconds sales of pieces that are beautiful but have small irregularities – perhaps a small air bubble or a slightly unintended shape. As the years have gone on we have less seconds these days than we did 7 years ago but it’s worth asking us about seconds if you love what Jason Stropko creates but need a more wallet friendly option.

All our glass is, yes the seconds, too, is tactile, beautiful and daydream invoking but may contain a small defect, which can be that the size doesn’t match it’s brothers and sisters or that it’s cap sits a little differently or it may have caught an unintended dent. Still a beautiful heirloom piece with a character all of it’s own)

September 24, 2015January 31, 2023 by Birgit Categories: acorn, blog, nuts and seeds in glassTags: acorn, Alice in wonderland, autumn, blown glass, California, California culture, clear glass, collection, commissions, craft, fairy tale, giant acorn, giant seed, glass fruit, glass seed, glassblowing, glassmaker, Glow Glass Studio Oakland, harvest, harvest season, heirloom, hollow, Jason Stropko Glass, ornament, seasonal, table display, Thanksgiving, Winter Leave a comment

Blown Glass Sunflower Seed (large)

Watching the entire process of Jason creating a single seed takes a good 30 – 45 minutes. Many steps are involved in the making of each individual seed. Good timing and control of the glass is essential. ..