No doubt there is an extra dose of gloom and insecurity going around nowadays - I feel it and I know you do too. But I have an antidote to offer, my number-one most wildly successful tool for sweeping gloom away: beauty. Beautiful things are soothing, joyful, easy reminders of why it is great to be alive - and glass has got beauty in spades.

There is an undeniable and very primal sense of "wonder" that goes hand-in-hand with the beauty of glass. It is a uniquely beautiful metal whose only corollary for millennia was precious gemstones (and glass was once just as expensive too!). Only in recent times has a new material even come close to imitating it; plastic. But just say the words "plastic" and "glass" and it is clear that not only does "glass" sound better, the materials have very different emotional resonance. Whereas plastic is synthetic, toxic and lightweight, glass is fragile, mysterious and filled with history. Glass is in a class of its own, brilliantly and impossibly beautiful.

It is also only very recently - since the Studio Glass Movement, something Blenko played a role in - that independent artists (not working at a factory) have been able to explore the metal in a totally free and self-directed way. And what is the big complaint that artists most commonly say about it? (this is a bit nuts) "It is too beautiful, too seductive." Ideas, concepts, the intellectual is squashed by the weight of the sheer beauty of glass. Glass artists are often trying to find a way to have their ideas not be drowned out by the incredible beauty of glass. This is no small problem in a culture whose contemporary art is primarily conceptual in nature, one where classical beauty is often considered lastly, if at all.

Right about now, that sounds exceedingly DUMB to me - and I say that as a person who holds a degree in contemporary art and has worked in the heart of the New York art world for years. Right about now in this gloomy time, in this moment of insecurity where culture is shifting to accommodate a new reality, the solidity, dependability and beauty of glass and its history is like a talisman and a beacon, a comfort and a joy. I don't know about you, but I need that right about now!

Funny thing, until a new customer reminded me of the primacy of the beauty of the glass that I offer (thank you Kira) I had been too distracted to remember just how gorgeous it is - and how important that aspect is. As a specialist I get carried away sometimes in issues of authenticity, history and the relative merits of different designs. Kira reminded me that first and foremost what is important is a very simple and impossible-to-screw-up appreciation of beauty.

If, like me, you are craving something fun, pleasant and beautiful right now then I'd like to help! Here are six easy tips on how to "refresh" your collection and see the beauty of your glass in a new way:

1. Do the Shuffle. I have my "favorites" that I never put away even though I have hundreds of pieces of glass, but I find that I love a favorite piece even more when I pick it up and move it to a different room or shelf. Most of you probably have a bigger home than I do (New York, West Village, 1 bedroom apartment; not big!) so don't tell me you have no room! Even if you just slide it over to the other side of the shelf or move it 6 inches I promise you that you will look at it differently! So easy to do - try it now!
   
   
2. Temporary = Special. So, idea #1 was too crazy for you? You are (like me) bit obsessive and know you already have your glass in the perfect spot? Fine. But still move it. Just one piece. Pick one special piece and move it temporarily, just for a day or an hour or a week, put it where you will see it all the time; on your desk, on your kitchen or dining table - just move it to a central spot for a short while and appreciate it from a different vantage point.
   
   
3. Take your glass to the spa. Trust me, this is way more rewarding than it sounds; get yourself some Windex and a cloth and lovingly polish either just one piece of glass or, if you can handle the fun, all your glass. I always think I hate doing this but then once I've done it the glass just feels more beautiful for a while, like it glows (and New Yorkers know how insanely dusty it get here).
   
   
4. Put a flower in it. I'm not saying you need to call up the florist and spend a million dollars - in fact, just the opposite; just one single blossom or stem of greenery sitting in a vase is all it takes. In my neighborhood the delis, bodegas, green grocers, they have cheap, simple flowers and for $5 I can always quickly grab something while I'm out. I don't care if it's a humble carnation, chrysanthemum (in season now!) or rose, they all do the trick. If you live somewhere where you can walk out and snip something off for yourself, even better, go out right now with a pair of scissors and get just a little branch of fall foliage or a palm frond for FREE and put it in your vase. Easy. Done. Enjoy!
   
   
5. The switcheroo. OK, so you are a real collector and you own more glass than you can fit out at one time. Your closets and storage spaces are full of glass that you never see. I understand, believe me I know about this as only half of my own collection is on display. I'm not saying go all crazy and re-do your entire display (but if you want to, then read Newsletter #4 for inspiration). Just pull one piece out from your cupboard and put it on display. Switch it with a piece that has been out for a while. Just one. No big deal, no reason to put it off because it's too much work. You'll be done in 10 minutes.
   
   
6. If all else fails you: I am here to help! Just add one special new piece to your collection. Brighten up that empty spot with a special piece or freshen up the glass you already have by adding a companion piece to get that fresh, new glow. To help you feel even happier about it, if you have your eye on something on my site I'll give you 20% off any one item for the next 5 days if you say you are getting it because of Bulletin #7.

Damon Crain

Please email me with your comments!