Your rare treat needs to be a lot more common. That there is pauper's tea. Also, the way you collect glass and the way you like being frugal and crafty, infused oil is an awesome gift. You can totally make it. Get your groovy bottles, get 'em clean, fill 'em with Bertolli, a sprig of rosemary, some mixed peppercorns and a couple dried chilis and then close 'em up with sealing wax. You can make a presentation-grade gift for like $3. Really, if you started 'em before September you'd have stuff perfectly infused and ready to go for Christmas.

(also, french bread is one of the easier bakes - and fresh french bread with a decent olive and balsamic dip and a cheap bottle of wine? mangia)

No shade on the infusion. light blue presents better than cobalt would in this instance and the inconsistency is lovely. And yes. it's something the slumpers do. Trick to glass is if you aren't just making stained glass windows or whatever is you end up with some pretty negative heavy metals in your environment. You wanna use adequate ventilation.

My wife's wedding ring is an alexandrite. It shifts from blood red to turquoise green depending on the light. I love it 'cuz you have to be a jeweler to know what I spent on it. And yes. Photographic glass is lovely. Me? I love dichroic.