I specialize in creating unique kiln-formed, fused art glass pieces that are both functional and decorative. The story behind Ice Beam Glass Studio is deeply rooted in a mother’s love and a journey that changed my life. In the late 90s, I owned a Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studio—a perfect blend of my marketing background, passion for the arts, and love for working with children. One evening, after a
long day at the studio, I watched a documentary about China’s one-child policy. The film deeply moved me, inspiring my husband and me to embark on the journey of adopting a baby girl. To dedicate my time and energy to the adoption process, I made the difficult decision to sell my pottery shop. While waiting for the adoption to be finalized, I purchased a small, manually controlled jewelry kiln, some fusible glass, and a few tools—simply as a creative outlet. Around the same time, the glass industry was beginning to cater to contemporary pottery studios. Through my membership in the Contemporary Ceramic Studios of America (CCSA), I had the privilege of learning kiln-fused glass techniques from renowned glass artists Patty Gray and Jane Persico. I also studied under a local fused glass teacher with decades of experience. That was the moment I fell in love with glass—I knew it would become my next creative passion. After 1½ years of waiting, we finally received the life-changing news: it was time to travel to China and meet our daughter. Once we settled back home, I placed an art easel in her playpen, hoping to share my love of creativity with her. But at just 15 months old, our art sessions were fleeting. Before long, she was climbing out of her playpen, drawn to the sparkling colors of my glass studio. That was when I knew—I had to pause my passion for glass and focus on raising my amazing child. As she grew, Kelly began learning English, and one of her first combination words was "Ice Beam." She repeated it over and over, and it took me a while to realize she was trying to say "Ice Cream". That memory has stayed with me all these years. So, when I was brainstorming a name for my new fused art glass business, there was no question—Ice Beam was the perfect choice. Now, if you’re still reading, I named my glass studio Ice Beam Glass Studio as a tribute to my incredible adult child, who has since flown the nest to pursue an engineering degree. To me, "Ice" represents the rigid, solid nature of glass before it’s transformed in the kiln, while "Beam" symbolizes the warmth and light my child now radiates into the world. As an empty nester, I can finally dedicate myself fully to my passion for fused art glass. I hope you enjoy my unique, heartfelt creations. I’ve opened an Etsy shop, starting with my Gothic Cathedral Rose Window Suncatchers, and soon, I’ll be adding fused glass jewelry and homeware designs. Thank you for visiting my shop and for taking the time to read the story behind the creation of Ice Beam Glass Studio! https://icebeamglassstudio.etsy.com
