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Americano Spiritile

"You are like a fresh cup of coffee first thing in the morning."Unknown

Upon waking, the day opens slowly. We rise out of bed with hazy ideas about our next steps in mind. Stretch, turn on the light, blearily look around, pad out to the kitchen, prepare the morning brew. Wait. Let it steep. Take in the aroma. This first cup of the day is meaningful. It sets the tone for our morning. It can be an experience we rely on to receive the day with delight. Some people in our lives are like this. Spending time with them is a “wake up” and a source of joy. We are rejuvenated by their presence, and grateful for what they bring to our life. Whether it’s a friend, a mentor, a sibling, or a partner, they represent that first cup of coffee, spurring us on to greater days.

Spiritiles are made by firing glass powders on copper until they become molten and fuse to the copper surface. Each is 8.5'' x 5.5'' x 2'', ready to hang. Along with the image on the front, an accompanying quote appears along the side with attribution on the top edge. Each Spiritile is carefully handmade using a series of intricate stencil techniques. From the beginning, Houston Llew’s vision for his enameled artworks drew from the beauty of simplicity. He sought after an imagistic theme for his work rather than pursuing the abstract often seen in other enameled wall art. The image is just the beginning - each piece is paired with a quote sgraffitoed around the sides to create an inspiring story through words and images in glass. After firing, a pin is rolled over the enameled metal to form intentional crazing marks in the glass.