It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.

-Shakespeare

Stars have always been part of my creative projects. To me they represent something both whimsical and individual.  I started creating in glass 17 years ago, starting with windows and then playing with smaller suncatchers.  Living in Charlottesville, Virginia at the time, I divided my days between teaching private music and creating glass art.  I started selling my creations on the beautiful downtown mall where sunlight showed off the colors.  This is where I would meet my future husband and start a path north to western Pennsylvania.   As we settled into our new small town, I became a parent of 2 wonderful sons, and continued to teach music and play with glass and stars.  
    Amongst my new artist friends was a ceramicist who had an old kiln for sale. I had always wanted to play with melting glass and fusing, so I snatched it up and started putting everything I could think of in there.  I tried baby food jars, bottles, and of course my stained glass.  The obvious creative step was to try some stars.  I created about 30 in preparation for an upcoming arts festival.  In a small town about 45 minutes from my home, I brought my 9 month old and a friend and we set up my tent with stars hanging from the ceiling.  That day, I sold many of my mosaic frames and mirrors, lots of jewelry and some stars.  At the very end, once we were thinking about packing up, a customer returned and asked to buy all of the stars I had left!  
    That 9 month old is now 13 and I have since fused many more stars in my old kiln.  I have made super-sized stars, star jewelry, and incorporated them into art windows.  I have now expanded with a better, more consistent kiln, and packaging.  
    Each star is unique. I imagine them as dancers.  Originally I thought of them as suncatchers for a window, but through conversations with customers, they have become mobiles, ornaments, tree-toppers, and frames. Every year, I am able to become more creative and incorporate my love of glass and, now copper, into my artwork.  I am thankful to the supportive community, both physically and digitally, who have kept me going all of these years.