White House Orders
625 Ornaments from Ohio Glass Artist Jim Maxwell
FOSTORIA, Ohio--Dec. 6, 2002- Ohio glass artist, Jim Maxwell, got the chance of a lifetime
when First Lady Laura Bush commissioned him to create 625 ornaments
to be given by the Bush's as holiday gifts this year. The ornaments,
each about five inches in diameter, are hand-blown, hand-cut,
and sandblasted crystal spheres featuring an engraved picture
of The White House.  Each ornament was individually hand-blown from crystal glass
at Maxwell's studio and gallery, Foster Glassworks, in Fostoria,
Ohio. After it was annealed and cooled, the design was engraved
using two processes: sand-carving to create the building outline,
monogram and frosted-white look; and hand-engraving to complete
the details of the White House design. Finally, each ornament
was hand-signed and numbered by Maxwell. (Please visit www.fosterglass.com
to see a photo of the White House ornament).
 Mrs.
Bush realized Maxwell's talents last year after he was
chosen by Ohio Governor Bob Taft and his wife, Hope, as one
of four artists from Ohio to create an ornament for the official
2001 White House Christmas Tree. The previous year, Maxwell
submitted an ornament for Mrs. Taft's "2000 Treasures
for the Tree Contest" in recognition of the 75th anniversary
of the Governor's residence.
This isn't the first time Maxwell has created a piece of glass
for the White House. While working for the Tiffin Glass Company,
Maxwell engraved 144 pieces of stemware, ordered by the Reagan
White House, for the visit of Queen Elizabeth to the U.S. in
1983.
Maxwell
has been in the glass business for over 29 years, beginning
his career as a glass engraver
in 1973 at the Tiffin Crystal
Co. In 1983, Maxwell opened a small glassblowing and engraving
business in Tiffin, Ohio. At this time he concentrated
on engraving custom designs, monogramming and replicating
homes and buildings
on glass while learning the art of glass blowing.
Eventually,
he became a skilled glassblower and now blows and decorates
each one of his annual Limited
Edition Christmas
Ornaments. This year marks his twenty-sixth year of producing
this popular annual ornament. In addition to ornaments,
Maxwell also blows paperweights, perfume bottles and
unique "handkerchief
bowls," named after their non-symmetrical shapes. Maxwell now operates a glassblowing and decorating business
called Foster Glassworks in downtown Fostoria, Ohio, about
50 miles south of Toledo. His studio and gallery is located
at 103 N. Main St. where visitors can watch him create his
glass art. The gallery contains a variety of hand- blown artwork
as well as stemware, barware, candles, lampwork sculptures,
sun catchers, paperweights, and other giftware items. Hours
are Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit www.fosterglass.com to see a wide variety
of Jim Maxwell's glass creations. CONTACT: Foster Glassworks
Kim Maxwell, 419/435-1995 or 888/258-9414, e-mail: Jmaxglass@aol.com
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