I first fell in love with beautiful glass pieces when a friend gave me a perfume bottle from Italy. It was made on the tiny island of Murano, just a few minutes’ boat ride from Venice, and is known for producing exquisite glasswork. The bottle features a delicate leaf-shaped stopper and the body looks like the colorful ribbon candy you see at Christmas. Since then, I’ve started collecting perfume bottles, and always have an eye out for that perfect piece.
That’s why I knew I had to stop in Chameleon Art Glass (5711 Kavanaugh Blvd., 664-6966) as soon as I saw its colorful sign. The shop specializes in stained glass and sells supplies like books, glass, grinders and saws.
For the hands-on types, Chameleon Art Glass offers classes. The schedule includes lessons on beginning stained glass, glass beadmaking, mosaics and etching. They also teach a class on how to make a kaleidoscope! If you love the look of stained glass but don’t have the time or the talent to make it yourself, the staff can custom design pieces, from small home projects to large church windows.
The store continues the stained glass theme with its selection of floor and table lamps, many in the classic Tiffany style. There are also Vortex table lamps designed by Light Touch Studios. Resting in a metal stand, an inverted glass cone with the light bulb at the bottom projects light upward, as a wall sconce does.
Much to the detriment of my pocketbook, Chameleon Art Glass also has some of the most delicate and well-made perfume bottles I’ve seen locally. They range from fat and round to long and thin, and come in colors like cobalt blue and iridescent green. I also saw paperweights that reminded me of my filigree perfume bottle.
Glass vases from all over the world and wall hangings are also for sale. It’s great to know I don’t have to travel the world to shop for great glass — it’s all right here in my own backyard.
On a personal note, this is my final shopping column for the Arkansas Times, and I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for reading. Jennifer Barnett Reed will be taking the helm two weeks from now, and will continue to keep you shoppers out there in the know on what’s new and interesting. E-mail your suggestions to her at shoppingchick@arktimes.com.

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