The Love of Glass - a Valentine's blog

Do you believe in fairy tales?

The best fairy tale I ever read was  called "The Glassblower's Children" by Maria Gripe. A story of magic and love oh and a little fear thrown in for good measure. Just like real love...  

This book was given to me by my parents when I was young What my dad did as a day job became magical and fascinating and every piece of glass he made told a story. Holidays were invariably Venice or a trip to the local glassworks where no matter what form glass designs took, whether they were made in the kiln, in the flame, slumped, stained, in beads around your neck every bit was made out of love a passion and magic...but like love glass breaks it can shatter and is fragile..in some instances it is so delicate it is like paper it flutters and makes light dance. Surprisingly though Glass has another side It too can be tough and hold the weight when you least expect it, like the SkyWalk platform over the Grand Canyon - heart stoppingly awesome...

           

millions & billions of tiny grains of sand make glass, all hugging together to create love and beauty, wonder awe and magic. Glass is a fairy tale.....

Just like our Angels' each one is made with love each one is a fairytale, a little piece of magic....If you only love one thing..... Love Glass this Valentine's Day... from the Glassblower's child.... Slainte


       

 

 

selected images by janie Meikle Bland © www.picturethepossible.co.uk

 

the Winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Children’s Literature

Albert the Glassblower and Sofia are the loving parents of little Klas and Klara. Albert makes the most beautiful glass bowls and vases (unfortunately they are so impractical that no one will buy them), while Sofia supports the family by working in the fields. Every year Albert goes to the fair to try to sell his wares, and sometimes Sofia and the children go too. At the fair the family meets Flutter Mildweather, a weaver of magical rugs that foretell the future, and Klas and Klara come to the attention of the splendid Lord and Lady of All Wishes Town, who have everything they want except for one thing: children.

  images and excerpt by "New York Review books" 

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