Tag Archives: kaleidoscopes

Why Shop Here at KaleidoscopesToYou.com

Summer is coming to a close in a few weeks, meaning school will also be starting up very soon. With that said, some kids get excited to see their friends and teachers again, while others may be more nervous starting a new school or grade. When your child is nervous to head back to school, you’ll do anything to make them feel a little better and take that unnecessary stress off their shoulders. So how exactly do you get them excited to head back to school? We suggest you try with a new back to school gift, such as a kids kaleidoscope from KaleidoscopesToYou.com.

A wonderful kaleidoscope is a great way to help your child get excited for the new school year. They’ll be excited to take their new toy kaleidoscope with them to class and recess. They can share the fun colors with their new friends and be the hit at show and tell or recess time. If your child is nervous for the school year, talk to them about picking out their very own kaleidoscope as a back to school gift. You can spend time together choosing the perfect one and waiting patiently for the mailman to bring it to the door. Visit KaleidoscopesToYou.com for a wide selection of kaleidoscopes for sale, you’ll be sure to find the perfect for your child for back to school season!

How do you get your child excited to head back to school?

Become Captivated with Stained Glass Kaleidoscopes


If you are looking for an absolutely unique and unusual gift, our collection of stained glass kaleidoscopes will provide you with some wonderful ideas. Kaleidoscopes are often thought of as toys for children, but the amazing designs featured at KaleidoscopesToYou.com will surprise you with their interesting materials, concepts, and designs! In particular, the stained glass kaleidoscopes are elegant and striking, completely captivating for both kids and adults.

It’s important to recognize that the glass construction makes these designs more vulnerable to breaking. Supervision is suggested if children are handling these stunning devices. However, the designs and the mathematical exploration provided in a kaleidoscope make it worthwhile to provide a youngster with the opportunity to experience looking through one of these designs.

Stained glass kaleidoscopes are crafted by stained glass artists and merge the mathematical concepts involved in kaleidoscope theory with the beauty of colorful glass. Workmanship in the pieces offered online at KaleidoscopesToYou.com is superior, with elegant soldering and finish work. You will never think of these as simple children’s toys again after you explore the unusual structural and color details available. While stained glass options are captivating, there are many more interesting options in a huge range of pricing options available. Visit KaleidoscopesToYou.com today, and captivate yourself with our beautiful kaleidoscopes!

6 Things You Didn’t Know About Kaleidoscopes

Kaleidoscopes are magical instruments that produce a wonder of colors and images for users to view and enjoy. Although many of us have had the pleasure of viewing one in our lives, many of us knew little about them, such as who invented them, how exactly they work and so on. Here at KaleidoscopesToYou.com we’re here to offer a wide variety of kaleidoscopes from jewelry to favors, but also to teach you about them along the way. So we present to you 6 things you probably didn’t know about kaleidoscopes.

1. They were invented by Scottish physicist Sir David Brewster in the year 1816.
2. The world’s largest kaleidoscope is located in Mt. Tremper, N.Y., and stands a whopping 64 feet tall.
3. The scientific term “kaleidoscope” is rooted from the Greek words kalos meaning beautiful, eidos meaning form, and skopien which means to view.
4. The images that we see in a kaleidoscope are the creation of symmetry through reflections.
5. The first kaleidoscope appeared in the United States, reportedly, in 1870.
6. The kaleidoscope is used as a tool to produce ranges of colors and patterns for artists who create rugs, stained glass, jewelry, architectural patterns, wallpaper, woven tapestries, and more.

Kaleidoscopes are very majestical instruments that are used for both pleasure among children as toys and even for professionals for inspiration. Whether you want a kaleidoscope for fun or as a wonderful decoration piece for your home, we can help! Visit KaleidoscopesToYou.com for a great selection of kaleidoscopes in a variety of sizes, quality and price. Find the perfect gift for anyone or even yourself right here at Kaleidoscopes To You!

5 Eclectic Graduation Gifts

Finding the right gift for a college graduate can be difficult, especially one that matches their personality. This can be especially true for those graduates who may not be interested in money, a fancy pen set, frames, and other traditional graduation gifts. That is why we have collected 5 eclectic graduation gifts for unique college students who would appreciate less traditional gifts.

1. Kaleidoscopes

” A beautifully crafted wooden kaleidoscope would be the perfect gift for any graduate who enjoys art or anything unique and fun. KaleidoscopesToYou.com also offers the ability to engrave the wooden kaleidoscopes with the graduate’s name, school or year of graduation.

7.5 Brass and Rose Wood Wheel Kaleidoscope

7.5" Brass and Rose Wood Wheel Kaleidoscope

2. Art Glass Marbles

” KaleidoscopesToYou.com also offers hand blown art glass marbles. Once again, a personal and unique gift for a graduate who appreciates art, or maybe blows glass as a hobby.

3. Weekend Getaway

” Maybe you know a graduate who already has everything, and doesn’t need any knick knacks or sentimental items. For that graduate, we would recommend a weekend getaway. Depending on the graduate, this could include a weekend in the woods, camping or hiking, or maybe a trip to a museum they always wanted to see, or just a weekend on the beach to relax before the reality of working full-time kicks in. No matter what they are doing, the graduate will be very appreciative of such a fun, thoughtful and personal graduation gift.

4. Spruce Up the Apartment

” If the college grad you know is moving out of mom and dad’s house and into their own place, offer your time. Offer to help them move in, or paint the bedroom, even hang shelves or pictures. They will be more than happy to have the extra hands, and even better, they will have a finished apartment to relax in and enjoy that much quicker with your help.

5. Vintage Copy Book or Magazine

” Maybe the college graduate is a book worm that loves to read, or maybe they are going into law school or want to become an author. Whatever the reason, a vintage copy of their favorite book or magazine, or the book that inspired them to write or go to law school, would be a gift they will treasure for the rest of their life.

If you need a gift for a unique or eclectic college graduate, be sure to get a gift that fits their personality and passions. Visit KaleidoscopesToYou.com for a great selection of unique gifts for any occasion.

What was the most memorable graduation gift you received?

Love Summertime!

I just love summertime. Especially early summer right now when the corn is up and the fields and trees surrounding our gallery are every shade of green. This is the season that inspired many of Grant Wood’s paintings. In fact, he spent his last summer painting at Clear Lake, IA only 30 miles away from us.

Summertime inspires some lovely and playful kaleidoscopes too. Butterflies, dragonglies and all things summer have a way of showing up in and on scopes.

Luc and Sallie Durette have a new way to show of the beauty of the butterfly. Their great handheld scope, the Cosmo can now feature an inlay of wood with a beautiful butterfly inset.

Durette Cosmo with Butterfly Inlay

Durette Cosmo with Butterfly Inlay


The intricate mirror system mimics the folding of wings too.
Interior Image of Durette Cosmo

Interior Image of Durette Cosmo


Watch the video demonstration at this link!
Durette Cosmo Kaleidoscope with Butterfly Inlay

If you live far from the ocean as we do in Iowa, The Shell Collector by Judith Paul is a lovely way to capture the spirit of the sea.

The Shell Collector by Judith Paul

The Shell Collector by Judith Paul


Interior Image from Shell Collector Kaleidoscope

Interior Image from Shell Collector Kaleidoscope

And if you need a quick souvenir after your summertime trip to the beach, take a look at this motif in the Jazzy Kaleidoscope!

Summertime Jazzy Kaleidoscope

Summertime Jazzy Kaleidoscope

We love Summertime here at Kaleidoscopes To You so much we try and capture a bit of it inside kaleidoscopes whenever we can!

Art and Summer Kaleidoscope projects

Love summer with all its spontaneity. We started our first creative project with the kids in April. We were inspired by the Trashtastic Yard Art competition at the Charles H MacNider Art Museum. Our family started the concept of building a pedestal outdoor kaleidoscope from recycled parts.

Karl took one child to the Saab Graveyard at Meyer Saab. There they found gaskets for the eyepiece and a fabulous transmission gear shaft that makes up the central part of the pedestal. Karl took our other child to another junkyard where even more parts were found. The next evening, I did a U Turn to pull a couple of ceramic urns out of a ditch. Those are in the backyard because they just didn’t fit the scope.

Extra parts from a C Bennett liquid suspension object cell were adapted into the these car parts with a new, longer mirror system. This YouTube video is of the scope from which we scavenged the object cell. Flag Liquid Suspension Kaleidoscope by C Bennett

A couple of old disc blades out of my Dad’s farm machine shop and an AWESOME rusty capitol column also found in a dusty corner…..

Funky Junky Trashtastic Kaleidoscope

Funky Junky Trashtastic Kaleidoscope

So we invite you to come explore the arts in North Iowa with us either in person or virtual! We also have another little hidden gem here in North Iowa. The Unionhurst Gallery is the only gallery in the world that features the paintings of Atlanta Sampson.

And a fabulous renovation has reopened the last standing designed hotel by Frank Lloyd Wright; the Historic Park Inn. At Kaleidoscopes To You, we may be out in the middle of a cornfield, but we are surrounded by diverse history and art.

Value of Kaleidoscopes

Value is a concept I’ve been thinking about recently. Value is not the price you pay but what greater benefits you receive for the product for which you parted with some of your treasure.
We are often asked what creates a great value in a kaleidoscope. Value comes from quality materials, good construction, an aesthetic quality that is personal as well as the rarity of the piece.
Some friends were Facebook chatting about a $50 butter dish from a high end kitchen retailer. For $50, you could select a Spirit Kaleidoscope by the Collier Studios. This scope creates great value by using ABS plastic for the housing and FeMo clay for the interior object cells. No skimping on the mirror system or optics however and you have a great scope with a 2 mirror system.
by the Colliers”]Charcoal Spirit Interior Image by the Colliers[/caption]

Spirit Kaleidoscope by the Colliers

Spirit Kaleidoscope by the Colliers

For $100 (or a bit more), you can get a decent pair of shoes. For that same price, you could select a fabulous stained glass kaleidoscope by a number of artists such as Kathleen Hunt, David Sugich or Joanne Jacobs.

For $200, you can have a great meal in a great restaurant with fabulous wine. Or you can have an extraordinary signed, unique piece of art by Judith Paul or kaleidoscope jewelry by the Healy’s.

Healy Sterling Silver Kaleidoscope Necklaces

Healy Sterling Silver Kaleidoscope Necklaces

So value is your own personal judgment as to what is precious to you. Here at Kaleidoscopes To You, we search out the best values in scopes so that you have the best balance of optics, art and price in your kaleidoscopic experience.

Art Inspired by Spring Weather and Breezes

Springtime! It came early to us at Kaleidoscopes To You. March was the warmest on record here.

Tulips are blooming and the lilacs are budding a full month early. Azaleas here usually bloom on Mother’s Day. Azaleas were in full bloom on Palm Sunday this year!

The Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscopes are fabulous scope to celebrate the rebirth of spring.

Peggy and Steve Kittleson create an incredible kaleidoscope with Cherry Blossoms inside and out.

Cherry Blossom Glass Kaleidoscope by Kittlesons

Cherry Blossom Glass Kaleidoscope by Kittlesons


Interior Sculpted Cherry Blossom interior image

Interior Sculpted Cherry Blossom interior image


Here’s a link to some video of this incredible scope.
Cherry Blossom Kaleidoscope by Kittlesons at Kaleidoscopes To You

Now as gorgeous as the Kittleson’s version of the Cherry Blossom is, it does not fit every shopping budget. We have another Cherry Blossom kaleidoscope that does fit any budget. Collier Studios has created a version of the Spirit Kaleidoscope that features the Cherry Blossom theme also.

Collier Cherry Blossom Exterior

Collier Cherry Blossom Exterior


Collier Cherry Blossom Interior Image

Collier Cherry Blossom Interior Image

As winter fades away and spring takes hold, we are inspired to try new things. Being involved with art, color and movement, beautiful art mobiles are a new item we are beginning to feature. Joel Hotchkiss has incredbly well crafted and well balanced mobiles that dance ever so slightly with the air movement in your home or office.

Lumen in Green by Joel Hotchkiss

Lumen in Green by Joel Hotchkiss

Lumen Kinetic Art by Joel Hotchkiss at Kaleidoscopes To You

What’s New and Happening at Kaleidoscopes To You in March!

Here at Kaleidoscopes To You, we’re always delighted to see the new and different pieces of art that come to us!

We develop a new section each month just to highlight what came in. This section will have a mix of inexpensive toys and very high end, one of a kind pieces that even blow us away!

Here’s a quick overview of the What’s new for March 2012

Since it’s March, one must have a Green Kaleidoscope for Saint Patrick’s Day! So here’s one of the best!

Green Cone Kaleidoscope by Charles Karadimos

Green Cone Kaleidoscope by Charles Karadimos


Karadimos Green Cone Kaleidoscope at Kaleidoscopes To You

Watch the video at this link above to see the Amazing and Intricate Green Kaleidoscopic images. This one is better than a pot of gold!

Then also new for March, we have a fabulous new etched aluminum kaleidoscope. This has a sleek modern feel that makes for a fabulous corporate gift! Engraving onto a coordinating rosewood base is a great option too!

Aluminum Etched Kaleidoscope on engraved base

Aluminum Etched Kaleidoscope on engraved base


Etched Aluminum Kaleidoscope with Velvet Pouch

Etched Aluminum Kaleidoscope with Velvet Pouch

Blue, Blues, Blue Glass and Blue Kaleidoscopes

I wore blue turtleneck, jeans and blue sweater today. And the 3 scopes I’m most enamored with today are all gorgeous and tranquil creations from blue artglass. The kaleidoscopes use traditional stained glass technique as well as modern magic. Blue stained glass kaleidoscopes are what I am enthralled with today.

The first scope that soothes this Monday is the Kittleson Midnight Blue Mystic Rapture. This elegant kaleidoscope has a serene deep blue and the full palate of shades of this dusky blue inside.

Midnight Blue Mystic Rapture Kaleidoscope

Midnight Blue Mystic Rapture Kaleidoscope


Interior Image from Midnight Blue Mystic Rapture Kaleidoscope

Interior Image from Midnight Blue Mystic Rapture Kaleidoscope

Another scope that showcases incredible blue glass is the Bella Sera crafted by Sue Rioux.
This is an hip and modern sculptural statement using traditional stained glass techniques.

Bella Sera by Sue Rioux

Bella Sera by Sue Rioux


Bella Sera Eyepiece

Bella Sera Eyepiece

Bella Sera Interior Image

Bella Sera Interior Image

And then there is this magical piece that incorporates blue glass, blue Japanese and English papers, blue paint and even a blue dragonfly. The Peek A Box by Marc Tickle

Peek A Box in Blue by Marc Tickle

Peek A Box in Blue by Marc Tickle


Peek A Box has the kaleidoscope hidden under a mirror within the box. This piece is real magic encapsulated in art glass.
Glass Dragonfly within the Peek A Box Kaleidoscope

Glass Dragonfly within the Peek A Box Kaleidoscope

Watch the YouTube video as it demonstrates the magic and colors better than words.
Peek A Box by Marc Tickle at Kaleidoscopes To You

Peek A Box Interior Image

Peek A Box Interior Image