Laurie's Cobalt World Earned an Honorable Mention In Last Year's Contest!
Please vote for Laurie’s Cobalt World in the HomeBased 100 contest held by StartUp Nation. It’s already that time of the year again. Voting is very quick and easy.
I love having a home-based business. Luckily, a few years ago, my father, husband, and I added a lot of space to our home. (Dad and I built the house together in 1999-2000). In the additions, we have a craft room, classroom, and glass room. Try saying that three times fast.
You can often see pictures taken in the craft room in photographs we take for the crafts sections of my monthly newsletter.
The classroom has turned into a combination classroom, weight room, and teen lounge since it was first built. I suppose we should call it the multi-purpose room now!
The glass room is actually a long room with two large closets. One closet has built-in shelves full of cobalt blue glassware. The other closet has shipping supplies. That was originally a computer nook for the classroom, but we “stole” it for Laurie’s Cobalt World. (And consequently got each of the three younger children a computer for their own room.)
The large glass room is also full of glass - some on built-in shelving, others in cases under the work tables. More is on industrial strength floor-to-ceiling shelving. Some is on the work surfaces. And often there is a piece or two queued up in the light box, where my husband takes photos of the glass for the website.
I’m always looking for ways to add more glass to the glassroom since I’m also interested in adding more quality cobalt blue glass made in the USA to Laurie’s Cobalt World. It’s pretty stuffed right now, but I think I could add some cases to that closet!
The additions to the house also contain two office spaces. I used to have the smaller space when I only had my two rabbits websites. But when Laurie’s Cobalt World started doing well, he agreed to switch offices with me. Now my commute to work is about 12 steps. It would be about 4, if I slept on the other side of the bed!
Working at home means that I am often here outside of our posted business hours. I have taken phone orders on Sunday afternoon or late in the evening. It means that I can turn around an order quickly since we are not a huge organization - there’s no lack of communication between the office and the warehouse.
It also means that I’m intimately familiar with everything I sell. I inspect it all and I’m very proud of the quality of glassware we sell. I love talking with our customers on the telephone. And I really enjoy all of the emails we receive from happy customers.
I love having a home-based business. And we do a good job of it. We sell a great product, offer exceptional service, provide a newsletter at no expense, and operate our business with integrity. Please vote for Laurie’s Cobalt World.
There’s a saying that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. If the same principle holds for baby bowls, then the world should soon be beating a path to the door of The Baby Dipper Bowl.
But let me back up for a moment. Why does a 47 year old whose youngest child is 12 care about baby bowls?
Have I mentioned lately that I’m going to be a grandmother in the late summer? Oh yes. It’s a boy who will be named Eli. It’s hard to believe that it is possibly time for that, but considering that my little sister (by four years) became a grandmother almost two years ago, I guess it’s definitely time.
So when I got the chance to review the Baby Dipper, I was more than interested. I had already noticed from my great niece and nephew’s things that lots of really great products have hit the market since my baby was a baby.
And the Baby Dipper is cobalt blue. That, by itself, told me that the inventor has good taste. Plus she’s a real mom, so she knows what moms need and want.
So now let me tell you why I like this better baby bowl so very much. And it does go beyond the color, I assure you.
Before opening the package, I read it all completely. I found what I wanted: dishwasher safe, top rack. If a baby product can’t go into the dishwasher, forget it. I’ll save my handwashing for my prized hand-crafted cobalt glass, thank you very much!
The first thing that impressed me was the non-skid bottom. I hate for a bowl to slide when trying to feed with just one hand. And it worked perfectly.
The second thing I really liked is that the bottom is sloped. How much time of my life have I spent scraping baby food up so that I could get it onto the spoon? This bowl is contantly helping out by allowing the food to flow into one corner. Great!
The best part is how the spoon fits snugly into the lowest corner, allowing the feeder to easily scoop up a full, but not overly full spoonful of food.
In my case, I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with my great niece this week. We tried it out with oatmeal to both our satisfactions. She’s old enough to feed herself, after a fashion, but also enjoys a little help with really soft foods. So we both got a chance to try out its qualities.
It will be some months before Eli is born and several more before he eats food, but The Baby Dipper Bowl will be there for him when he’s ready. In fact, I think there will be more than one. It so very easily became a favorite to this future Nanna.
Tags: Baby Bowl, Baby Dipper
True, Laurie’s Cobalt World is absolutely full of items that women love. But don’t sell us short - we have great gifts for guys, too.
My Husband's First Favorite
My husband has many favorites at Laurie’s Cobalt World, but his first favorite was the cobalt blue glass coffee mugs. When they arrived, he fitted one to his hand and said, “Now we’re talkin’!”
The mug holds a generous 13 oz. and is deep cobalt blue in color.
Include dad’s favorite coffee, coffee flavoring, or tea for a special gift package. And why not include some sweet biscuits or cookies while you are at it?
I cannot imagine more manly paperweights than the pair of iceberg paperweights we offer. Whether you choose the horizontal or vertical, your gift will be a hit.
Horizontal Iceberg Paperweight
These paperweights are a full 7 inches tall or wide, depending on your choice. They are very substantial. Not only are they are handsome addition to any desk, they are heavy enough to be truly useful.
Add some papers of your own to the gift: poems, drawings, gift certificates, or other handmade treasures.
Other cobalt blue glass paperweights are available as well.
For the father who enjoys a martini or other beverage that is served in a martini glass, consider making a basket with glasses, ingredients, and supplies such as olive picks or a shaker. And of course I would suggest our lovely cobalt blue martini glasses.
Teardrop Wine Goblet
These glasses are beautiful!
Wine glasses are also very popular with men here at Laurie’s Cobalt World. Pair the glasses with dad’s favorite wine or non-alcoholic beverage.
Add a gift of assorted cheeses and crackers. It’s a great gift for the dad who has everything.
Both styles of wine glasses are multi-purpose, so they will suit a white-wine- or red-wine-loving dad equally.
Other choices at Laurie’s Cobalt World include figurines. We offer an elephant, pony, frog, and Scottie dog, among others.
Enjoy shopping for Father’s Day. And let us know what we can do to help you make your father’s special day truly special.
My son is 17 today. He’s very nearly a grown man. How could that have happened so soon?
I dreamed last night that I had come across a piece of his baby clothing. I laid it on my shoulder and looked in the mirror to remind myself of how small he had once been.
I woke up remembering him as a baby.
You may have read elsewhere that all four of our children were adopted. I’m keenly aware of how unlikely it was that I would even be his mother. I”m so glad that all things worked together so that we have been the ones to enjoy the privileges and responsibilities of watching him grow up, if it could not be his birthmother.
We first heard about the existence of Daniel when his birthmother was just a few months pregnant. A friend of ours put in a good word for us, but she had decided to work with an agency.
Months later, I got a phone call from my friend. Call them. She’s not happy with the agency.
I ended up talking with Daniel’s birthmother until 3:00 a.m. We met her and her older son on Saturday. I held my breath on Mother’s Day. I hoped against hope that he wouldn’t be born on Mother’s Day for her sake. I wanted her to have a separate day to reflect on his birth.
On Wednesday, I got a call asking me if I was ready. I met his birthmother and aunt at the hospital, and was there from the very first contraction on (she was induced).
After the nurse, I was the first one who held him. It was a wonderful experience until then. After that, things got a little strange. The hospital had no experience with a totally open adoption. We didn’t fit their rules and regulations.
The nurse closed the blinds while we tried to watch his first bath. At first, we couldn’t get information on him. Later, we worked it out to see him in the nursery. And then after his birthmother signed the papers, they wouldn’t give her any information on him. We upset their apple cart.
But on the day the attorney came and we were all in one room together, I noticed that more than just we had teary eyes. I can’t remember how many times I heard, “This is so wonderful,” that day.
The nurse in the nursery told me that I would have no problems with Daniel. He was an easy baby.
Her words could not have been more true. He ate well, slept well, and was contented. What a joy!
One of my favorite pictures of Daniel is of a young child, in his bathing suit, concentrating on an ice cream dasher full of homemade ice cream. Another favorite is of him holding his baby sister Lydia. They were both asleep.
He’s always been a great brother, very protective of his little sisters. In many ways, he’s been more like the oldest than his older sister.
I admire him so much. He’s a deep thinker. He’s very responsible with his animals. He’s persuaded by reason. He thinks about his life to come. He once asked what would be a good career for him that would allow him the time to homeschool his kids. Wow.
So here I am, celebrating Daniel’s birthday. He’s probably looking more forward to calzone and stromboli (his pick) for dinner, and the cheesecake his father made at midnight last night more than anything else.
I’m just looking forward to being part of his life for many years to come.
My mother and sister hosted a bridal shower for my daughter this past weekend. Over 40 people attended and we all had a very lovely time.
I was overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends. And I was delighted to find that friends from one circle knew friends from another.
Mom and Wendie (that’s my sister) served a light luncheon. It was very well received:
- quiches - cheese, broccoli, ham & broccoli, and ham
- a beautiful green salad with strawberries
- a gelatin salad
- pickles
- nuts
- mints
- cake
- punch
- coffee
Mom had collected every card table from every friend and family member she knows. They were scattered about, giving guests little clusters of four to enjoy. Rose candles floated inside ruffled jars on each table.
RJ, my future son-in-law popped by the hen party for just a few minutes. I heard several people mention what a beautiful couple they are. I agree!
The shower made the impending wedding so much more real! This weekend, I enjoyed the festivities. Now I’m in a panic to get everything else done for the wedding!
