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The Uniqueness of the Lolita Glassware Line

The Uniqueness of the Lolita Glassware Line

by on 06. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

Lolita glasses are a line of fanciful glassware designed by Tracy Lolita Healey. Designs are hand painted in brilliant colors and are oven fired for design durability. The inspiration for the line came in 2001 when Healey and some friends were having a “girl’s night out.” In an interview on You Tube, Healey said as she read the recipes on the martini menu, and then the idea of embellishing drink glasses with designs matching an occasion or to express different personalities came to her. Her first idea was to paint a recipe on the base of every glass with the recipe actually suggesting the design on the drink glasses. In 2004, the first line, “Love My Martini,” was launched and was so successful it is now one of the most popular glassware designs in the U.S.A. The line is a favorite and has many return customers and collectors. Because some designs are offered through all lines, it is possible to build a collection of matching Lolita glass.

Lolita martini glasses were the original line produced by Healy. They are in the classic martini shape and of good quality glass. They hold between 7 and 7.5 ounces and come in more than 80 different designs with martini recipes hand painted on the bottom of each. The designs are also hand painted with some additional molded embellishments such as a gold cord wrapped around the stem of the Santa’s New Bag style or a bit of fluffy feather at the base of another. An idea of what is available is suggested by names such as San Francisco, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and other cities. Also available are Little Black Dress, Congratulations, Miss Martini, Girl’s Best Friend, Five O’clock Somewhere, Birthday Cake, Flip Flops, Forty Something, Not Another Necktie, Etc. The names of the designs are just as whimsical as the glasses themselves. The martini line was so popular Lolita added other lines such as wine glasses, champagne flutes, shot glasses and more.

A Lolita wine glass is a good quality stemware produced in a 15-ounce size. It has a wide bowl that wine connoisseurs appreciate because it “allows the wine to breathe.” It is perfectly acceptable for use with either red or white wine. The recipes painted on the bottom of these glasses are for wine coolers and the glass designs are just as clever as those of the martini glasses. An example of the designs unique to this line is signs of the Zodiac, the alphabet through the letter T, and there are also designs that match those in other lines. Some of the matching designs include Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Little Black Dress, Congratulations, and many more.

The wine glass known as the champagne flute is no stranger to the Lolita glass line. Manufactured in the traditional flute shape they are of beautiful, durable glass in the 7.5-ounce size. Colorful and amusing designs include For Lovers Only, Little Black Dress, 5 O’clock Somewhere, Happy Birthday, Congratulations, Birthday Girl, Bubble Bath, Divorce and many more. The glasses are appropriate for wedding toasts or wedding proposals with special designs for those occasions.

A special glass designed by Healey is the Lolita Pink Ribbon Wine Glass. It is decorated with hand painted pink ribbons in the style associated with the fight against breast cancer. It was produced to assist women afflicted with breast cancer and help them retain important connections with friends and family members and help them overcome a sense of isolation. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure association receives a donation of a part of the sale of each glass.

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The Champagne Glass for Large Events

The Champagne Glass for Large Events

by on 05. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

The champagne glass has been a symbolic feature in weddings and other momentous events. From customized flutes and crystal glasses, each piece of stemware comes in different styles and prices. Whether you are hosting just a few or several hundred guests, there are realistic and appealing designs of wine and champagne glasses that will add to your elegant decor and fit within your party planning budget. While the design of stemware has not significantly changed throughout the years, the materials these fine flutes are constructed of have become more economical as well as durable, particularly for specific events where your crystal stemware just will not do. Save your glasses and your investment by purchasing plastic champagne glasses that are not only heavy duty but can also withstand an endless night of abuse and spills.

Weddings and other family-oriented gatherings are momentous events resulting in memories that can last a lifetime. While several families utilize the services of professional party and wedding planners to plan every detail of the event from the flowers to the food, others take the project into their own hands to save money and become more involved. Before taking on the project, many under-analyze the commitment and work they are taking on. While you are enjoying a party, many attendees overlook the small details that are included in the planning process. While do-it-yourself party planning does enable the host to use more funds on accessories, decorations and food, it does take far more time then those who are hiring the services of a professional. Research is the key to successful party planners for rookies, to receive the right pricing as well as quality products and services from caterers and DJs.

One of the most overlooked accessories associated with party planning is adequate champagne glasses. One of the most important moments during a wedding reception is the toast to the new bride and groom. Having glasses that will enable all party-goers to participate in the toast at an affordable price is important. While crystal stemware is the flute of choice and screams elegance, it is not a realistic idea to supply everyone in attendance with highly fragile and expensive flutes. This is why most seasoned planners will purchase plastic champagne glasses in bulk that are durable and can withstand the bumps and falls associated with parties including alcoholic beverages. This way, everyone can fill a glass of champagne and toast to the happy union of two special people, without being concerned about breaks and hazards.

Wedding champagne glasses can be customize for the bride, groom, and in-laws who are participating in the toast for the full effect of the moment. Therefore, the “ding” of the glasses and introduction of a speech can easily be achieved and not compromised for those parties on a strict budget. These wedding glasses can be customized with names, nicknames and pictures, and kept as a momentous keepsake from the special event. They can later be used for anniversaries from the first year to the fiftieth.

If you are the planner and have no clue where to go to find affordable champagne flutes, search the world wide web for a vast selection in bulk flute distributors. The available quantities can range from 10 flutes to several hundred, depending on your needs, and can be shipped directly to your door in a matter of days. For those on a strict timeline, Staples and Costco offer products in bulk that will fit your budget and can be purchased locally.

Make your event a night to remember with quality planning and accessories. Besides the obvious benefits of saving your fine stemware for a more intimate event, you will save yourself hours of clean up and dish duty in the days to follow.

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Red Wine Glasses Explained

Red Wine Glasses Explained

by on 04. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

The experience of enjoying wine relies on several factors. The wine must be enjoyable and of high quality, you should enjoy it with people whose company you value, and you should use a glass that adds to the experience. The glass should not be an afterthought, but rather an informed decision, just like the wine selection. Different types of glasses are best suited for different types of wine. In the case of red wine, there are two main types of red wine glasses best suited for the drink.

The shape of all wine glasses is such that the opening is narrower than the widest part of the glass. This allows for swirling the wine a bit without spilling. This action should not be thought of as only something that wine connoisseurs or the very sophisticated do; it helps expose the wine to oxygen, which allows for the full flavor and aroma to be detected. This oxidation process in which the oxygen chemically reacts with the wine is particularly important for red wine. Thus, the bowl for red wine is wider than for white wine, enabling even more air to come in contact with the wine. The wider rim of the bowl also allows you to more easily detect the aroma of the wine.

Good wine glasses are made in such a way as to direct the drink to the most appropriate part of the mouth to maximize the flavor. Each type of red wine glass directs the wine differently. A Bordeaux glass is taller than the Burgundy but has a smaller bowl. It is intended to direct the wine towards the back of the mouth, which is most able to enjoy the full-bodied flavors of Cabernet and Merlot. A Burgundy is broader, has a larger bowl, and directs wine to the tip of the tongue, which can detect the sweet flavors better. It is best used for delicate wines, such as a Pinot Noir.

Wine glasses generally are composed of three parts: the bowl, the stem, and the base. There may be some functional advantage to all of these parts. The bowl shape and size is crafted to maximize the enjoyment of a specific type of wine. The stem allows you to pick up the glass without warming the temperature of chilled wines with your body heat, and the base is there so you can set the glass down. Although red wine is not served chilled, the stem still plays an important role. It aids in the visual enjoyment of the wine experience by preventing fingerprints on the bowl of the glass. Visual appreciation of wine is no small part of its appeal, and good red wine glasses can make red wine appear even more intoxicating.

The material of both the Burgundy and Bordeaux glasses is important as well. For most wine drinkers, a nice blown-glass wine glass is more than sufficient. Riedel red wine glasses are reasonably priced machine-blown glasses. They are quite popular and a good example of a nice wine glass for the average person. You will want to avoid any cut or fused glass, as these can actually interfere with the taste of the wine. On the other end of the spectrum are lead crystal red wine glasses. These are for the wine connoisseur who demands an extremely high level of visual, tactile, and taste enjoyment of wine. The crystal refracts light more leading to a heightened effect as the light passes through the glass. The lead in the crystal makes the glass a bit heavier than the blown-glass varieties. In almost all cases, the glasses are intended to be as clear as possible so you can enjoy the color of the wine, uninhibited by the texture of the glass.

Although it is not necessary to spend a fortune on a proper wine glass, it is wise to know a little about the different types of glasses and why they are constructed the way they are. For a pleasurable experience with red wine, it is important to drink from the correct glass, either Bordeaux or Burgundy, and to make sure the glass is of sufficient quality. The only things more important are the wine itself and the people with whom you enjoy it.

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Buying Champagne Flutes for Events

Buying Champagne Flutes for Events

by on 02. Jun, 2010 in Champagne Flutes

One of the best ways to serve champagne and sparkling wines is to use champagne flutes. These are a chic and aerodynamic serving glass. The way that champagne flutes are shaped allows the froth of the wine to expand. Also the tapered cavity of the glass stops the froth from vanishing too quickly. There are many styles of wine glasses available at different prices. These are made from a multitude of different materials ranging from glass to crystal. Buying the right set of flutes may seem difficult as there are so many versions on the market. However with a bit of knowledge your can easily procure a great set for your dinner table.

If you are looking for a special set of flutes to use as keepsakes it is important to look for good quality crystal champagne flutes.There are many great brands to choose from and flutes that are made by Lalique, Baccarat or Waterford are always popular choices with consumers because of their long tradition of quality and aesthetic appeal. Ideally if the right set is chosen they will become family heirlooms in the future. These designer glasses may be more expensive than one might expect however they are worth the price as they are of high quality and so pleasant to look at. Those that are traveling to Europe in the near future can go straight to the manufacturer or duty free stores in order to get a great bargain.

If you are hosting a big event you may be more concerned with quantity over quality. If this is the case the first place that you should head to is a restaurant supply store. This type of store will have bulk glasses selling for great prices. During parties and other events a glass or two tends to get broken. If they are purchased at a low rate at one of these stores it will be easier on your pocket!

If you are looking for special glasses but do not want to spend a great deal of money one of the best places to go is an estate sale. You can find out where and when estate sales are being held by looking online or in your daily paper. Generally there are glasses for sale at great prices. Some lucky buyers may find glass designs that are no longer being made. One thing to remember when going to an estate sale is to bring packing material in order to take the flutes home.

Those that have bought a quality champagne flute will know that having it is invaluable. This is why they need to be stored properly and washed by hand after use. If you allow wine to sit in a glass overnight it may cause permanent stains so it is best to avoid this. As these glasses are often considered special they are generally only used for special occasions.

If you are holding a party and do not want to risk your glasses being broken another way to go is to purchase plastic champagne flutes. These may not be as elegant as their crystal counterparts but they are good for big events.

Many people may think buying a wine glass is a simple affair only to find themselves at a loss when they find that they have so many brands and styles to choose from. This is why a you should consider what you want and need the glass for. Deciding whether the flutes are for keeping as an heirloom or using at a big corporate event will make the buying process a lot easier, as you will be more aware of your specific needs.

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