When did you first become interested in glass?

I was a graphic designer for eight years, then I had triplets and did freelance for another four years after my kiddos were born (yes I worked with triplets). In between all of that, I always made some form of jewelry. I have a total of 17 years of jewelry making experience, the latter seven years of which was fusing. Jewelry, and the money I made from it, saved my life more than once, so I always came back to it. Glass was just my next step after ten years of playing with shrink plastic, friendly plastic, polymer clay, beads…you name it. I so wanted to do lampwork beads because I am addicted to beads. Much to my surprise, my little chronic pain problem wouldn't allow me to be at a torch for very long. So, fusing was next. I fell in love with it—pure destiny I tell ya! It was a gift every time I opened that kiln. It gave me a reason to wake up every morning. I would fire that little hot box three times a day. Yes, that meant I didn't sleep. I haven't stopped folks.

Is there a pattern in the way you select materials? In the way you use color, texture or light?

No, I just go for it. If I like it I use it. I will tell you, I have a huge catalog of glass and the way glass behaves all stored in my tiny little mind. I use every kind of glass, paint and frit related material known to the glass world. If I can fuse it, I use it.

What inspires you? How are your inspirations expressed in your work?

My biggest inspiration and motivation is the response I get from my customers. I am a response junkie. I listen to people talk about what they like, and I look at what they wear. How people respond to what I make just feeds my creative flame. This is also very hard for me because when the selling season gets hectic I can't work like I want. Then there is the slow season, and since I need the response, you see how can I get stuck sometimes.

What do you find most challenging about your work in the glass arts?

After seven years of fusing ORIGINALITY, finding a technique and style that no one can or will copy is the biggest challenge.

Integrity is also a biggie! Ya know just because you can do someone's technique doesn't mean you should—at least not within the same venue. So the question should really read... "What do I find most challenging about working in the glass arts?"

How did you find Etsy? What do you like most about it?

I get the winter blues, and last March I was browsing for glass related anything when I read where this gal just hated that fused glass artists always use dichroic glass and wished they would do some thing else. So I set out to show her that I was a fuser that made stuff without dichroic glass, but I had to use flickr to upload photos. That is where I found this wonderful world of creative people, and there was Etsy. I never left flickr because I am a response junkie as I told ya. I like Etsy mostly because people know they are in an art community, and we are more likely to get what we are worth. That is a fantastic feeling after four and a half years of selling on ebay.