Hi! The days are much longer now, and despite the relentlessly brown trees and marshes, there's a hint of spring, if only in our imaginations. The other day L and I went out exploring. I'd received a coupon in the mail, an ad for a do-it-yourself art studio that specializes in ''fused glass". We had to go and find it!
Our plan was a future birthday celebration with a couple more friends. Some warm summer evening we'd pick up bubble tea at the cafe next door and we'd all make a pretty glass---something.
What is bubble tea, you ask? Or maybe you're familiar with it. I had heard about it from a writing group friend who lives in Taiwan, where bubble tea originated, but I have never tried it. Isn't it so pretty!
Bubble tea is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in Taichung in the 1980s. Most bubble tea recipes contain a tea base mixed/shaken with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca balls and fruit jelly are often added.
Wikipedia
Anyway the day of our outing was one of the coldest so far this winter! The bubble cafe was closed! The art studio looks fun, more for the great ceramic choices than the fused glass.
I had hoped to make a replacement for my Sydenstricker fused glass Christmas platter which I discovered broken in its cupboard this holiday past. I've always been fascinated by the glass works on Cape Cod and I know their designs are done with powdered glass and stencils. The art studio's method of fusing two thin layers of glass is similar but the designs are very mosaic like, not my style---and very expensive.
If we do go back, I'll probably made a ceramic piece. I loved this tall jug, with the simple polka dots. Not for sale, a sample only, too bad.
Down the block from the ceramics studio there was this shop.
A wine bar with painting, open only in the evenings. Not sure what one paints! The DIY art/ craft shops seem quite popular, everything from hen party-showers to toddler birthday parties! [migraine-in-waiting, imho. ] Too bad there isn't a quilt shop we could go to and make fun things!
We did find info about another bubble tea cafe, over by the big flea market. Something to find on another exploration day. here
And since we were in the area, we decided to stop in at the very big original [to us] Home Goods.
The blue and white choices were so tempting!
A gift from HG for me from L!
I thought these rough wooden bowls were interesting. The centers were carved out and filled with various glazes--pearl and gold and silver. Good for collecting sea glass or beach pebbles maybe?
I got this pretty shadow box frame with a clip inside, to show off my tiny Dragonfly quilt from Sue.
......
It was a busy day. I later went out with friends to celebrate late winter birthdays. We went to our fave Mexican place.
Raspberry margaritas!
And grilled slivered skirt steak Chimichunga burritos. Perfect on a frigid night. It was sooo cold, so windy, we ended up wearing our coats during dinner.
I hope you're having fun too!
love
lizzy
gone to the beach......
and HERE
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That mug is just perfect! I could totally go for painting and drinking. :) Always fun to explore. My youngest boy loves Bubble Tea and Korean/Vietnamese food. Perhaps he'll move to an Asian country when he's older. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteJust what was needed after winter was a nice outing out, even if it was cold. The restaurant didn't have the heat up inside? Yikes!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun day! That little frame is an awesome find--perfect for that tiny quilt!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to a 'do it yourself' craft place. The addition of a 'refreshing beverage' certainly makes it more tempting.
ReplyDeleteI was at a TJ Maxx yesterday and they had lots of blues, and turquoise things displayed. Really tempting stuff. Thought about buying some random turquoise bowls/glasses/whatever to use as substitute Easter baskets, for the adults coming over on Easter? The bowl you posted with the fishes is very cute!
Oh that margarita looks wonderful. Eeeek, it's nearing the end of March and you experienced your coldest day so far! I vaguely remember the days of it being so cold and WINDY that even with heat turned on, it was fighting a losing battle.
Your shadow box is perfect, and what a cute little mug for you. Dancing Mo! Look at him go! Thanks for sharing. Fun post!
Hi! I love the idea of using bowls for your grown up Easter Baskets! Are you hosting the celebration this year? How fun! What are you making? Cooking?
DeleteMo is quite proud of his dancing. You should have seen my kids when I said Mo needs a pink tutu, LOL!
Forgot to comment on your broken platter. What do you think happened? And, I looked at the links for the Sydenstricker Glass, really pretty stuff. I was not familiar.
DeleteWhat fun. I went to a "do it yourself" ceramics place and it was so much fun.
ReplyDeleteI just had a warm Filipino tapioca porridge called tambo-tambo. It uses large Pearl tapioca and it was delicious! One of the fun things about living here is that it is incredibly multi-cultural and we get to try many different cuisines at each simple potluck.
Thanks for sharing yet again.
Hunter
Hmm, does the fused-glass place do small things like pendants? Too bad the platter idea didn't work out, but it sounds like it would be a fun craft, even if only once. There used to be a ceramics place here, a woman with her own shop out in the country, and I enjoyed going there a lot.
ReplyDeleteI've read about bubble tea but I haven't had it. I even saw it on a tv show recently - like maybe NCIS? It looks fun and different.
I love the pug mug, lol. And the wooden bowls are great! By the door to drop keys in? And beach glass and shells definitely! They're very interesting and I imagine they're all a little different. I don't think we have a Home Goods, though, darn!
Your dinner out sounds like it was very fun, and Mo looks like he was glad to see someone! Too bad it was so chilly. One of these days I hope you try a Green Lantern on an outing - if only to see your friends' faces! (LOL, that's IF the place can figure out how to make one.)
Thanks for sharing!
The studio did offer glass pendants to make but they were very unattractive and $$$
DeleteOh, I love the little frame for the dragonfly quilt. Perfect! I still have to make one for myself. Will keep an eye out for a frame as such. The depth of the frame "fits!" Beautiful bowls and dishes.
ReplyDelete