Watercolor in 5×5″ Hand Book Journal
(To enlarge, click image, select “All Sizes”)
I found this little glass at a thirft shop and really liked it. I’d been leaving it on the kitchen counter where it’s handy to grab for a quick glass of water. Yesterday when I came home from work I found it in the sink, chipped and cracked. I guess the kitties were investigating the counter and knocked it off. It makes me sad that I can’t drink out of it anymore. It was just the right size and shape. I like it too much to throw it away. I’ll just keep it in the studio to look at and enjoy.
I know it’s odd that to be so fond of a cheap little thrift shop glass the way other people might relish jewelry or other fancy things. That’s just how I am though–I get more pleasure from simple things than fancy ones–like the old wool blanket on my bed. It’s warm and cozy but long ago lost all its satin binding. It has several holes chewed on the edges from when I took care of my niece Sophie’s pet rat for a few days. We kept the rat in its cage in my sons’ room next to their guinea pigs. But the rat’s cage was too close to the bed and it pulled the blanket (which had been my grandmother’s) into the cage and chewed off some nice bedding material for himself (or herself, I forget which).
My sons grew up and moved on, but I still have the blanket and don’t mind the scalloped edges. The blanket keeps me warm and it’s nice to sleep covered with something that my grandmother once held in her arms as she folded it (and probably ironed it knowing her).
Jana Bouc, Artist 
40 replies on “My little cow glass is broken”
This is a lovelly drawing and I’m sorry you can’t use your beautiful glass. The attachment to something can’t be questioned! Beauty is beauty….even cracked beauty.Sort of a good metaphore for humans : flawed and beautiful
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This is too funny. I have 8 of these cow glasses. I just lent them to my sister who’s moving into her new condo and needed something to use until her stuff is moved out here. Anyway, she had a friend over, who noticed and commented on the glasses. This evening she was asking me if I could remember where I got my little cow glasses. She said she just loves them, they’re the perfect size, and they read “Canada” at the bottom.
Just had to share!
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Thanks for leaving the fun note! I still love my cow glasses! Jana
Sketchblog: JanasJournal.com Website: JanaBouc.com UrbanSketchers-BayArea,blogspot.com
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They always seem to choose favourite objects don’t they?
Can’t we blame them for being so cute and naughty?
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Bad kitty! 🙂
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Wonderful sketch; the way you can paint crystal objects, drawing the sinous reflections is marvelous. That is a beautiful skill. I call these simple things I love, things with character. Great story, great drawing.
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I know it isn’t the same but you used to be able to buy these glasses at Crate and Barrel. I expect they still have them. There’s something special about a thrift store find though.
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We used to have two pet rats and got them for our kids at Christmas. Thanks for the nice memory. They were very affectionate, bright little guys. As for the glass, your anecdote reminds me of my cat who only drinks my brush water. After painting I always refill my brush jar and leave it on my drafting table. I don’t think she’s ever used her water dish. I haven’t painted for several days so the jar’s only half full now!
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I know JUST what you mean! I still have my wonderful hand blown glass goblet in the kitchen window with a weed bouquet in it, because I couldn’t bear to throw it away. It was SO cool, with bubbles and rich colors shading down through the glass…
Your cow glass does look perfect…doggone cats! I keep telling myself mine are rescuing me from attachment to Things…how Zen-like of them…
I’m glad you’re keeping it, though… 🙂
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The colors are exqusite! I am sorry about your little glass. I too, have a thing for thrift shop glass, although I have not been in a thrift shop for a couple of years due to the plans of moving. May have to venture back in for inspirational “stuff”. I love the tale of the wool blanket!
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What a wonderful, delicate sketch. Our rabbits have “redesigned” many items in our house, including the baseboards. But they let us live in “their house”, so I guess it’s OK!
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Yu are the master of reflections-gosh, they are beautiful! And you will always have the glass to paint with-put some flowers in it or whatever.
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Oh, Jana! I’m so sorry about your glass! I can so understand how those simple things mean more than anything else. And your blanket … memories, symbolism, warmth — who wouldn’t love it — no matter the holes or frays! The glass is so well done, Jana ….The sparkle of the glass, shadings, reflections….!
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Great paint sketch with lovely reflections. Cups are just about the only craft/art work I buy – quirky, delicate, humble, bold – they have such character and we use them all the time, choosing according to mood or drink. Of course, the don’t last for ever so we have a shelf in the bathroom for ‘retired’ cups – it’s a great memoir of our married life.
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You may not be able to use it for drinking anymore, but perhaps the glass can serve a new purpose in your studio as a container for pencils, brushes, etc. Beautiful story as well. I love the rat blanket.
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Oh, NO! I’m so sorry your sweet glass was broken. Maybe you can make it a fun project for early 2007 to find a new thrift shop glass that speaks to you as much as this one did. You’ve done such a great, colorful job painting it.
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Sad story, but great sketch. I love the dark rim around the top. Nice work.
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The stories that go with the painting are so interesting! I love the colours you’ve used here and yes, I feel like that about things. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive to mean a great deal. Love that you called the edges scalloped!! Hope Busby is better.
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Sorry to hear your glass broke, but I love the watercolor! I have these glasses and am looking for more. If you find them please let me know. My first set was found at Crate & Barrel. These are clear glass with Canada written on the bottom. My other set was from a local store. These have a green tint to them with Italy written on the bottom. Like you, I love these glasses, especially for my kids, but as kids do they break things, too.
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Holy Cow!! (pun intended…) I was searching the internet because I just now broke my favorite cow glass that I have held on to 2,500 miles across the country. I have had it for years,and have always adored it. I stumbled across your headline, and there it is- a beautiful portrait of the SAME glass, just broken in different places. I too was broken, as silly as it sounds… and you, you have made a beautiful piece of art from it.
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I have two glasses exactly like that and I love them too – to the extent of adoration! I found this looking for a site that might sell more…
🙂
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I too came across your lovely rendering of the cow glass on a search for replacements. I FOUND THEM! After much searching and a pleading email to Crate and Barrel, I found them through amazon:
Hope you all have many years of happy cow glassing!
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I am very sorry to hear about your Cow Glass, but love the picture. I was shopping at the local Goodwill store and came across 5 of these could you please give me any info on them that you know. I am really looking for 1 more to complete the set. Thanks April
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Try Googling “latte milk glass”. It will bring up Cox and Cox, Co. I saw these glasses and the milk bottle that goes with it on another website, but of course, I can’t remember what it is now. I was looking for them, that is why I saw your website.
Very lovely painting.
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http://www.boardandbasket.com/browse.cfm/4,1222.htm
This website has them, too.
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Jana,
I broke my last set of 12 cow drinking glasses, I have had them before my son was born, he’s 10 now. He was so sad, we drank our OJ out of them every morning. I have been searching for replacements. Yes, they were ordered from Crate and barrel about 15 years ago…let me know if you find any. thanks. i love your painting…
Ellen
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I have these glasses too and I bought them from a Williams Sonoma outlet store. I have been looking for them since to replace my broken ones :o( and I found them at this website. I can’t wait to get them. Hope this helps those that are looking for them too.
https://www.benningtonpotters.com/product/188/2
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I, too, found this site while looking to replace my Crate and Barrell cow glasses when I broke the last one. I found a set of 12 on ebay and just lost the auction for $22 when I left the computer. Glad I found your lovely painting and story.
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Found this site while searching to replace my cow glasses.
Too funny – I guess I’m not the only one that still insists on drinking out of my chipped glasses because Crate and Barrel no longer carries them and is very protective of their suppliers. No luck for me at a thrift store, I did see them at the Machine Shed Restaurant but at $7 a piece I guess I could stand my chipped ones a little longer…
I love your painting!
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I guess I’m not like my mother who would tell us ‘Don’t use those glasses – I don’t want them to get broke’. So after 40 years my mother still has a full sets of even numbered, un-chipped, unbroken glasses because they NEVER GOT USED!
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http://www.benningtonpotters.com/product/188/specials?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=cowglasses&utm_campaign=misc&utm_term=default
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You won’t believe this, but I have a set of 12 of these cow glasses that I am looking to sell. I was looking on Google for where I bought them to see if they were sold anywhere and I saw your page!
Are you interested in buying these? They are all in excellent condition with no cracks!
Laura
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Laura do you still have the set for sale. I just recently started looking for these and Crate & Barrell stopped selling them years ago. Thanks!
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I have one of these very same cow glasses left from an original 12 received as a gift from my niece many years ago. Very fond of it but they tend to be fragile and crack, chip or break easily. I would also like to buy half a dozen more.
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I have 4 of these glasses if anyone is interested.
Kim Van Sickle
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If anyone still wants these glasses…The Williams-Sonoma Outlet in Memphis currently has these glasses for $2.40 each. I’m almost sure that most of the outlets will carry them.
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What’s up i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this post i thought i could also make comment due to this brilliant piece of writing.
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Hi there i am kavin, its my first time to commenting anywhere, when i read this article i thought i could also make comment due to this sensible post.
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good paint!
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Thank You for your posting
I have broken two of our “Cow” glass we us in our 74 GMC classic motor home.
I have looked and looked for replacements.
From your tips I bought a set of six on Amazon
Thank you all again
Howard
Alpine Ca
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