
DATE: Sunday, September 7, 1997             TAG: 9709060095

SECTION: HOME & GARDEN           PAGE: G1   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: Around the House

SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   96 lines

DRAMATIC DESIGNS INSPIRED BY NATURE

HER DINNERWARE is modeled after flowers, seashells, leaves and butterflies because everything in nature serves as her inspiration. One of her newest lines, pictured here, is titled ``Flora,'' dishes in undulating white floral shapes.

She is Ann Morhauser, the California artist who in 1983 created Annieglass, a line of glass tableware that is both functional and frivolous. Her top-selling signature line, called ``Roman Antique,'' which is a series of dinner pieces banded in 24-carat gold or platinum, was an attempt to create a spoof of traditional china.

Morhauser specializes in a technique called slumping, a method in which a sheet of flat glass is laid atop a mold and then heated until the glass melts and takes the shape of the mold. The process results in a tough product that resists chipping and can even go in the dishwasher.

The dramatic designs of Annieglass are matched by a bold use of color, making the pieces wonderful gifts, according to Kathy Axelrod, owner of Simply Selma's, a Norfolk gift shop that carries the line. There, the best-sellers are heart-shaped bowls in an array of colors, priced from $42 to $60 each.

Simply Selma's is located in Ghent, at 1504 Colley Ave. Annieglass is also available at The Proper Setting at Willis Wayside, 4220 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach.

Worldwide, more than 1,000 specialty stores and galleries carry Annieglass.

``Tribute to Tiffany''

A different kind of glassware is being celebrated at the Heritage Lighting showroom in Virginia Beach. Titled a ``Tribute to Tiffany Celebration,'' the show and sale, which run through Sept. 27, feature hundreds of reproductions of the lamps and lighting fixtures of American artist Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Many of the lamps on display were created with the original molds and tools used nearly 100 years ago.

In addition to the Tiffany reproductions, the show offers lighting fixtures in the Mission style inspired by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Stickley.

The show, which is free, runs during store hours, Monday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Heritage Lighting is located at 3450 Holland Road.

In search of spare parts

A free telephone service comes to the rescue of do-it-yourselfers in search of replacements for lost and broken parts. Teleparts, created by Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an 800 number that helps consumers order parts for appliances and other household items, even if the products were not purchased at Sears.

Last year the service sold more than 34,000 timer knobs for dryers, the most requested item.

Customers are advised to have an appliance model number ready before dialing 1-800-366-PART. The service operates 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Air out new carpet

Are you about to install a new carpet? From the current issue of Better Homes and Gardens come these tips about how to minimize airborne dust and reduce exposure to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the dyes and glues used to manufacture carpet.

First, ask the seller if the carpet and cushion can be unrolled in a warehouse or storage facility for a day or two before they are installed in your home.

Vacuum the old carpet before you remove it. After the new carpet is installed, thoroughly ventilate the house. If you replace your carpet when it's warm outside, you'll get maximum airflow by opening all of the windows, running fans and turning on the central air.

Continue to ventilate for several days. The VOCs in most carpets dissipate within 48 to 72 hours after installation is complete.

Stuck for ideas?

The home designers at Velcro USA are offering a free booklet that details four home decorating projects that revolve around a sticky subject - Velcro, what else?

``Ideas and Accents'' offers complete step-by-step instructions for making a fabric shower door coverup, fabric room divider, circus tent ceiling for a child's room, and a custom bed canopy. The booklet also includes general decorating tips using Velcro.

For your copy of the booklet, write to Velcro Booklet, P.O. Box 6441, Dept. D-2, Riverton, N.J. 08077-6441. MEMO: Gary Krino of The Orange County Register contributed to this

report. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

R.J. MUNA

Newest line of Annieglass, called "Flora,"

Photo

MEYDA TIFFANY

Venetian Tiffany lamps, recently unveiled by the Meyda Tiffany

company, will be among the many pieces on display as part of

Heritage Lighting's ``Tribute to Tiffany Celebration'' through Sept.

27 in Virginia Beach.