Interview with Papernclay

I live in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I have two children, ages 9 and 18. I work fulltime as a floral designer where I've been since I graduated highschool with the exception af a few years when I travelled from South Carolina to Okinawa, to California with a Marine , then back home to Pennsylvania.

What made you start working with glass and when?

I became interested in working with glass when I asked the organist at my church, Frank Weidman,who is a professional stained glass artist, to make me a window which I wanted to design. He did and was very gracious in sharing information with me as I had lots of questions. A couple years later I was toying with the thought of buying a kiln and went to Frank for some advise. He gave me a kiln that was no longer used for his glass business. I did a lot of learning since that and continue learning as I work with glass.

Is your studio all you want it to be?

No it's not but I have what I need to do things I never thought I'd be able to. I work in my basement next to the furnace, so it's warm any way, just a little dark but I fix that with lots of lights.

Do you perfer music or quiet when you are working with glass?

Definitely quiet. I'm in the basement so many times my children are above me and I need to hear them in case I need to referee. Seriously. I truly enjoy the quiet more.

If you have a really bad glass day, what comforts you

I pretty much have most of the equipment including 5 kilns, 2 saws, grinders, sandblaster, polisher and torch equipment. I have most of the toys, not enough room and it’s definitely not as neat as I would like it.

Do you prefer music or quiet when you are working with glass?

I like some background noise so it’s usually TV. When I moved back into the basement studio my husband bought me cable since I couldn’t work in the dungeon all day and usually well into the wee hours of the night with regular station. Most of the time I have the learning channel or HGTV on and am looking at more creative things as if I don’t have enough to do.

If you have a really bad glass day, what comforts you?

I call smokeylady on the phone and gripe about it, get it out of my system, determine the cause, find some alternatives, and try again another day with a little more knowledge on what 'not to do'.

If you hav a really good glass day, do you celebrate?

Call smokeylady on the phone so she can have an applemartini with me!

The best part of working with glass?

Doing something you're not sure will work but opening the kiln and finding something you're very pleased with, which will in most cases lead you to wondering about something else that 'might'work. And so it goes on and on....

What is the worse part of working with glass?

It's just like anything else in life. There's good days and bad days. I try not to be discouraged when glass doesn't react the way I want it to. There is no end to how many times glass can be recycled, is there?

A few words of Wisdom!!!!!

Surround yourself with people who are encouraging and make you feel good. It'll make a huge difference in your own attitude.

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