Glass Orchids - Dichroic Glass Jewelry
Ranked #4,649 in Squidoo Community, #329,873 overall
The Long and Winding Road
Life can be funny; technology and art have woven themselves throughout my life. As a child I would go to work with my Dad on Saturdays, at Univac, where he let me play with giant printers and go through the tiny drawers full of computer components. For my 12th birthday I asked for, and received, an oil painting kit and began to paint landscapes; I still have the first one. In High School I studied computer science and art and went to college to study pre-med. I wound up transferring to another college to study fine arts and art education. I entered the work force and eventually taught myself computer programming and got a job as a programmer. Over 10 years I worked my way up the ladder and became a Vice President at a major international bank in New York City.
I bought myself a fusing glass kit as a hobby to take my mind off work. Now, almost 20 years later, I've left New York City for rural Maine and left computer technology for the arts. It's a winding road but I find that I use everything I've learned along the way to help run Glass Orchids, the business, the website, marketing my work and everything in between.
[The photo to the left is of my Dad setting up a computer for a big show back in the day. He's the one squatting down.]
I bought myself a fusing glass kit as a hobby to take my mind off work. Now, almost 20 years later, I've left New York City for rural Maine and left computer technology for the arts. It's a winding road but I find that I use everything I've learned along the way to help run Glass Orchids, the business, the website, marketing my work and everything in between.
[The photo to the left is of my Dad setting up a computer for a big show back in the day. He's the one squatting down.]
Full Time Glass Artist
When our daughter was born it caused us to re-evaluate our life goals and decisions and we decided that I would leave the corporate world to raise her. Dropping a child off at 7am and picking her up at 7pm was no way to raise a child. Being type 'A' I began working with glass more and more in my spare time. I started by setting up a studio in a small room in our garage but by 2002 My husband, Greg, and I moved to Maine with our young daughter. We bought an old dairy farm and converted the barn into studio/ office and gallery. Now, almost 20 years after I bought my first fusing kit, I have 6 kilns and both Greg and I work full time running Glass Orchids. We create fused dichroic glass jewelry, accessories, dishes and art objects which we sell on both a wholesale and retail basis. We do craft shows, run a website and have a small gallery attached to our studio. We have a business called UGotGlass? where we sell fusing supplies to other glass artists around the world.In addition, I teach others to fuse and mentor people around the country on running their own businesses. I've created many free HOW TO articles which are posted on my site covering many glass projects, teach in my studio and have even created some DIY projects for those who can't get to a class and want to start fusing at home.
Ready to Start Fusing?
I am a self taught glass artist. I did create a lot of horrible stuff but eventually found my way. Back then people didn't really know what dichroic glass was all about. You are lucky! Today you can get books on the subject and ask questions if you get stuck. There are so many more resources available that the learning curve is shortened drastically.
My sites
You can find my work at Glass Orchids and fusing supplies at UGotGlass. In addition, you can find step by step projects, a chat board and our specialty patterned glass at UGotGlass.
- Glass Orchids - Dichroic Glass Jewelry
- You'll find dichroic glass pendants, bracelets, earrings and more at my Jewelry Site.
- UGotGlass?
- Where you'll find fusing and jewelry supplies as well as Free how to articles, a support/chat board and more...
by GlassOrchids
My husband and I run Glass Orchids and UGotGlass?, a warm glass jewelry business and glass supply company respectively. We live in Maine on an old dai... more »
- 4 featured lenses
- Winner of 3 trophies!
- Top lens » Making a Dichroic Glass Cab
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
Explore related pages
- Electrifying Dichroic Glass Beads and Jewelry Electrifying Dichroic Glass Beads and Jewelry
- Creating a fused glass lily pad triptych Creating a fused glass lily pad triptych
- Setting Fused Dichroic Glass into Metal Clay, Pmc, Art Clay Silver Setting Fused Dichroic Glass into Metal Clay, Pmc, Art Clay Silver
- Handcrafted polymer clay costume jewelry in medieval style Handcrafted polymer clay costume jewelry in medieval style
- GLASS ART GLASS ART
- Firing Fused Glass into Precious Metal Clay (PMC) Firing Fused Glass into Precious Metal Clay (PMC)
