Bubbles and Clowns and Dots!

In the creative world of Clancy Designs, tumblers get hoops, bowls get bubbles, goblets get polka dots and many more imaginative designs from the wife-and-husband glassblowing team of Jennifer and David Clancy. The Clancys have been working together for more than 20 years, drawing on traditional and contemporary glassblowing methods and often incorporating an Italian technique that produces multi-colored dots or stripes.

That technique (called murini) involves layering pieces of hot glass and then pulling the “glob” across the room (like taffy) until the “cane” that forms is the desired length and diameter. When it cools, it is snipped into stripes or dots that will be used on the glassware pieces, when they are being blown. Excess color not used as a dot or stripe is then blended together to create the multicolored “clown pattern” (seen in the photo).

“It’s something that takes on depth, because of the family of colors spiraling through the glass,” explains Jennifer. The clown, bubble patterns and anything with a polka dot have been quite popular. “As gifts, it’s always fun to get something handmade,” says Jennifer. And what a merry, festive table they make at this time of year!

Call ahead for studio hours or holiday sales. 382 North Road (near the windmill), Jamestown. 401.423.1697; ClancyDesigns.com