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After graduating early, I decided to pack my bags and head out to Washington state where I lived for almost 15 years. I traveled throughout Oregon and Washington while working for Sears helping set up new Parts and Service Centers while also training the associates. Chicago home office now uses one of my stores as a template for other service centers. This recognition helped me move up to the Seattle area where I somehow became the inventory queen. (Still trying to figure that one out!) I always played around with arts and crafts while on my off time and dabbled in water colors and writing a still unfinished children's book series. I plan on returning to it when I retire. A friend got me involved in fantasy and sci-fi art where i began to display my work at conventions. Yes...I am a geeky nerd, but I got to meet several accomplished artists along the way and even sold a few of my works.
My sister planned on moving away from Ohio, so I returned to help keep an eye on mom and dad as they were a little spunky and got into things. I took up helping my parents teach stained glass while working as an Assistant Manager at Jo-Ann Fabrics at Great Eastern. I became a mentor and helped mentor several young people in quilting and stained glass. The friendly RPS driver at Great Eastern introduced me to my husband Walter. We married 11 years ago and have no children, but I pick up after him like one, so that's okay. We moved to West Unity area where I continued to teach stained glass and eventually took over for my parents. After my husbands work brought us closer to the area, we lived in Haskins for a short while. It was then that I began to work as a stain glass conservator for someone else. I have worked on many projects new and old including The Willow Mausoleum, Toledo Memorial Mausoleum and The Renaissance Apartments which are part of the Valentine building downtown. I have done too many things to mention, but some of my projects are on my Facebook page. While working at this shop, I met a totally awesome friend for life named Amy and we became business partners. We were asked by the Wood County Historical Society to bid the Bowling Green Courthouse stained glass ceiling and got involved in with the Maumee Arts Council. After designing several fish for the fiberglass walleyes auctioned off for the Maumee Children's Theater and actually doing 2 of them that were purchased by businesses, I was asked to do a 1 man show for the Maumee Arts Council at the Library. I chickened out and didn't accept the offer. Amy and I thought we would change the name of Echo Glass Studios to Bloody Stumps Glass Studio since we were both accident prone. I need not regale you with the multiple injuries sustained by either of us. (Yes, I still have all my fingers!)
I developed Fibromyalgia and spinal stenosis a few years ago which is forcing me to leave the stain glass field. (No more scaffolding climbing for me!) I like designing the best of all and seeing the completed project. There is a sense of satisfaction knowing you did a project correctly. I have recently thought of going into gemology as I can spot flaws in diamonds with my naked eye. (Not a good thing when your husband gives you diamonds! LoL) But then...maybe I'll go into designing stain glass patterns. Who knows, but what ever it is, it must involve color.
Five years ago my mother passed away and now my father lives with us in Millbury. (Now there's an adventure!) I have been across the United States and back, been stranded on a mountain pass in the middle of a snow storm, lost in the deserts of eastern Washington. Life has been an adventure and I hope it continues to be.
