Lynn Atkins
For Bella Vista residents Sandy and Ed Prill, finding something they could do together led to a business. Now the couple are the owner/operators of Prill's Peacock Glass and will be at the Bella Vista Arts and Crafts Festival for the 11th time.
They don't exhibit anywhere else, Sandy said, although they may travel to more craft shows after she retires. She enjoys the local craft festival each year.
"People are really nice," she said. "They're interested in everything. We meet a lot of people from out of state who would like to take our stuff home. It's a lot of fun. We enjoy it."
Each of their creations is one of a kind. They use recycled glass that they often find in thrift shops. It took years of experimentation to find paints that will adhere to glass. Eventually they developed a system. They spray up to three colors on the glass, letting each coat dry. Because the paint won't stick the same way twice, it's impossible to make the same design twice, Prill explained.
They use all colors, which is why they chose the name Peacock Glass.
Once the outside is dry, they spray the inside of each piece gold. The gold, Prill said, makes the colors pop.
Many of their pieces begin as clear glass vases left over from a fresh-flower arrangement. When they find jars or other glass containers, they paint those, too. Prill said the first piece she ever sold was an old pickle jar.
Really large pieces, such as the old pickle jar, are priced at about $75, but candle holders are only about $2.50. Most pieces are between $15 and $25.
Prill said she's never seen anything exactly like her glassware at a craft show. People ask how she does it and she'll give a general explanation, but she doesn't tell them everything. After all, she explained, they spent a long time figuring it out.
Sandy and Ed Prill's Peacock Glass will be a the Bella Vista Craft fair from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
General News on 10/18/2017