My father bought me my first paperweight at the tender age of six. 

It left such an impression on me.  I remember holding the treasure up to the light and being in awe of the small suspended scene of flowers, vines, and large bubbles gracing the center of each blossom.  From that moment on I became enamored by art glass.  Little did I know then that my love for glass art would shape my future!
 
 
Fast forward...  I was a natural anatomy, botanical & wildlife illustrator by the age of 19, yet all artistic skills were shelved in pursuit of a more traditional business career.  So, my portfolio of accepted works and the partial art scholarships were foolishly abandoned for years.   Instead I followed a career path for 11 years.  The hectic 60 hour work week, combined with school was an endurance marathon I will never regret nor forget.  My mind was being fed a wealth of information with every new accepted assignment & college course session.   At this intense time in my life I fell back in love with painting & illustration studies.  It quieted my mind and ignited the artist within once more.  I found myself running to my sketchbook on rare moments of spare time.
 
 
Then it began to happen... the artist in me awoke from slumber... Database development began to reflect the artistic flair of graphic art and subtle color schemes.  Long conversations in board rooms were turning into a study of facial features,  human expressions to be captured on canvas.  Scenic views during daily commute routine were now studies of  landscape symmetry and light upon the city skyline.  This "pull" would eventually bring me to the artistic destiny I cast aside many years ago.
 
 
How flameworking found me...
In 2001 while searching the Internet ,  I stumbled upon a beautiful photo of a glass sphere packed full of flowers, but noticed that their seemed to be a hole going right through the center.  A closer examination revealed that it was a very large photo of a little BEAD !   Within a second, something in me just snapped.  I knew I could figure out how to do this.  On blind faith, I purchased basic start up tools, equipment, glass and had a little Amish pine cabin studio built.  I continued to purchased raw materials for the next three years, and longing for the day when I could begin to create in my new medium of choice, sand & fire.
 
 
 
The Studio...  
My studio interior was finished by the fall of 2004.  All raw materials & tools stored away for years finally saw sunlight.  The level of joy felt while setting up my little shop was immeasurable.  I went to work at the torch bench for years allowing the glass to be my only instructor.  Once my full attention was devoted to developing new techniques, my floral designs truly began to develop into some of my most beautiful works.  Each one takes me at least 2-6 hours minimum in the flame to create!
 
 
 
My Artistic Vision...

 
I see the whole world as a painting pending completion... and my flameworking career is a partially painted canvas.  Beads and marbles are wonderful little captured moments of time sealed within crystal clear bliss, never to fade nor decay... forever preserved for generations to behold.  But they are only one stroke of the brush onto my new glass canvas.  My restless soul is pulling me into other directions.  My minds eye visualizes very large ornate compotes, bowls, vessels, and goblets that capture and honor all the Venetian technique & charm of the old world, yet possess a slight contemporary edge that utilizes all my existing techniques married to all the skills I must acquire to birth the vision.  In time, the combination of techniques will be woven into my glass confection dreams.  I have sketched hundreds of illustrations.  Who knows how long it will take to turn my paper dreams into reality, but the joy of the journey is where true happiness can be found.   Hard work, passion, persistence, patience & the practice of excellence is essential.  Although it will take my entire life to fulfill only one aspect of my vision, I have found my destiny and enjoy every minute of running my business and helping others reach their goals.
 
 

I have learned from experience that God gives every person a unique gift.  To strive against the talent placed within you always leads to frustration.  Follow your passion fearlessly and push through adversity.  It will equate to success.  With that said, whatever beauty you may at those rare times glimpse in my work, I accredit it to Jesus Christ  & the talent God blessed me with.  Yes, yes... nothing falls on you out of the sky without a whole lot of hard work mixed into the equation as well!  I love and acknowledge Him because he first loved & proudly acknowledged me to the Father boldly unashamed.

 
~ Starleen
May 26th 2006  1:30 AM 
 
" Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and not lie.  Though it tarry, WAIT for it, because it will surely come".  ~ Habakkuk 2.2 KJV Bible