When I first visited Portland 3 years ago I went to the Saturday Market under the Burnside bridge where hundreds of local artists were set up selling their hand-crafted wares. I had always been fond of artsy markets and I knew I'd be moving to Portland soon. Overwhelmed at the expanse of canopies, commotion, and products, I thought to myself, 'I have to have a booth here. What can I make? What can I sell?' I suddenly felt desperate, panicked, and excited. Could I figure out how to make and sell wallets? T-shirts? Should I try to come up with something clever and new that isn't yet being sold here? I dwelled on this dilemma for months but after the long-distance move from Vermont, my life was filled with other obstacles (finding jobs, friends, modes of transportation, etc.).It wasn't until my first winter on the west coast that I randomly decided to take a glass fusing class. Even now I fail to recall how I stumbled upon this activity. But after four weeks of cutting glass and familiarizing myself with the functions and possibilities of a kiln, I knew I had to go into business.
I was in a relationship at the time with a glass-blower who had a small kiln which he used for annealing. Together we sought out glass distributers and I bought one or two sheets of glass and maybe one jar of frit (small chunks of glass that melt into little dots of color in the kiln). After four or five experimental firings, we finally figured out the necessary rates and temperatures to produce a smooth, symmetrical piece of glass. 'Yes', I thought, 'this will work out, indeed.' And I felt powerful.
Despite my lack of friends, a 3,000 mile gap between myself and my family on the east coast, a part-time job that only provided me with 2 days of work, no vehicle, minimal cash reserves, a room in a cold house with drug-dealing landlords who lived upstairs, and no health insurance, I realized the power and possibility that a kiln would provide me. Suddenly I felt very good about my new life in Oregon.
The boy and I split up shortly thereafter and I immediately bought a small jewelry kiln. I moved to a new apartment, set up the kiln in my kitchen and bought glass in every color that struck my liking. After producing hundreds of glass pendants, I brought my glass over to Presents of Mind on SE Hawthorne, one of my favorite little gift shops. I went home with a check in my hand, high spirits and a life plan.
Since then I've put my jewelry in a few shops around town, taken additional glass classes to learn valuable and less-common techniques, sold as a vendor at the Portland Saturday Market for a full year (I finally got my booth and had a phenomenal experience), started a website and an etsy shop, made matching necklaces for bridesmaids, taught glass fusing at my home studio, and quit my day job to give my undivided attention to what I love to do.
These days I wake up when my body is good and ready, drink tea all day, work on new designs late into the night, and spend the majority of my time being happy.
Here's a new pair of Valentine earrings that I feel particularly proud of... and a new earring design.
