Tiffany Harrison

I have been fascinated by the beauty and clarity of glass since childhood. Somewhere in my late 20s, I became aware of lampworking – hand making glass beads one by one in a torch flame as originally done by the Europeans of old – as a revived art form and thought, “I would like to do that!” It was another ten years before I actually had opportunity to sit down at a torch and melt glass for the first time, but the enchantment of that moment is something I haven’t forgotten. Putting a piece of solidified silica, soda, and lime compound into the superheated flame of a torch and changing that solid material into a temporarily malleable substance is nothing short of alchemical. Molten glass can be shaped into nearly any large or small form, and with a nearly infinite color palette, the creative possibilities of hot glass are virtually limitless.

I am inspired by techniques that result in an “organic” look, making the bead appear as if it could have come from the Earth itself. I also enjoy creating symbolic pieces that speak to our ancient memories, with spirals holding a special appeal for me as a symbol of our journey through life. But I cannot ignore my childhood attraction to the sparkling and luminescent qualities of glass. As a result, I also like working with transparent glasses and incorporating super-sparkly dichroic glass into my work. In these pieces, I am often reminded of the shimmer of clear water reflecting the Sun.

I enjoy experimenting with different forms, techniques, and colors, reveling in the creative journey each session at the torch brings. I tend to work on a small scale, making beads, miniature blown vessels, and other wearable glass art. I feel that self-adornment is one of the pleasures of life, and I take particular delight in creating a beautiful art glass bead in which someone finds special meaning and is proud to wear.

Geary Johns

The jewelry I create is the result of my passion for nature and the ancient world.
To take a rough stone and uncover the beauty that resides within it, or to take a piece of ancient, broken pottery and transform it into wearable art, honors the elements and ancestors. Melding metals to embrace, accent, or reflect natural beauty also inspires me.

Rock collecting at an early age led to a study and practice in the lapidary arts. Then, a surplus of polished stones led to an adventure with silver and now other metals.

The incorporation of the sherds into jewelry melds the art of those long ago potters with mine in a fusion of contrasts and textures. I hope you enjoy my creations, and join me in honoring both the natural and ancient worlds.