fhb Glass Designs
About
Since retiring from Hallmark I have taken up glasswork and have found a new passion! I love working with glass and exploring all you can do with it — taking it from a solid state, to melting it, blowing it, shaping it, listening to it, etc.
I have a home studio where I use a very hot torch to make both solid and blown pieces which I make into jewelry and small sculptures. Glass has taught me a lot and parallels my years at Hallmark — no matter what you plan, you have to be ready to deal with what’s right in front of you — reading and adapting on the fly!
I have studied with some renown glass artists from KC, New Jersey, Finland, The Corning Museum Glass Studio and Murano Italy where I studied for two weeks last fall.
What inspires you to create?
So many things inspire me to create — other artists who I want to pay tribute to, nature, animals, photography, films, people or places I’ve travelled. I often see something in my daily life — be it on a walk or as I’m catching up on social media or watching a show — and I wonder, how can I make that in glass? The challenge of trying to create my own unique interpretation of the world as I encounter it keeps me going in my studio. That, and a lot of experimentation…it’s just so much fun to keep trying new things, learn from it and try something else. The possibilities are endless…and I love that!
What advice would you give to people looking to express their creativity?
Don’t impose limits on yourself — just jump in and give it a try! Be curious and open to new things.
Everyone can be creative — you just might have to get a bit uncomfortable for a bit…and you never know where giving it a try will take you.
How does your art connect with people?
I aim to have people connect with my art over shared experiences. People seem to find wonder and happiness in my work. Glass is a tactile medium with both strength and fragility, and I aim to have people appreciate and respect that and feel a sense of joy and calm when wearing or viewing a piece of mine.