Glass Block Nitelites Tell Stories

Glass Block Nitelites Tell Stories 34-5-8 Glass blocks make great nitelites, says Margo Boyd, who sells her rural-themed crafts at local shows and through her website. "My idea is to make each block tell a story or be a page out of a story book," says the rural Park Rapids, Minn., entrepreneur, who notes that many family members help with the business. Creating the nitelites is a blend of machining skill and artistic flair. She drills a 1/2-in. hole with a vertical mill in the back of each block. The hole is just big enough to slip a string of 15-20 craft lights inside. "The most challenging part is drilling the hole and not breaking the jar," Boyd says. Using a regular power drill takes a long time and is harder to control. Once the hole is drilled, Boyd washes the interior and lets it dry. To decorate the block Boyd uses stickers, greeting cards, tube paints, glitter and decoupage, spraying the finished product with three coats of polyurethane to hold everything secure and make it washable. She wraps a ribbon, yarn or other accent around the edge and slips in the lights. Boyd takes custom orders; Nitelites start at $25, plus shipping. Boyd buys new glass blocks from big box stores. More expensive pre-drilled blocks are also available. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Margo Boyd, HeartMade Creations, 58199 St., Hwy. 34, Park Rapids, Minn. 56470 (ph 218 255-4816; www.heartmadecreations.com)

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