Team Spotlight! Interview with FrumsGlassMenagerie

MsAnomaly's interview with FrumsGlassMenagerie

1. When did you open your Etsy store and begin selling?

January 2006

2. How did you select your shop’s name?
Frums is a nickname, given to me by my husband about 20 + years ago. It is derived from my maiden name. Glass Menagerie is what I have tried to make available in my shop. It is a collection of glass animals.

3. What do you create and sell in your Etsy shop?
Primarily, fused glass pendants.

4. How did you become involved in your craft?
I had a pretty shaped olive oil bottle given to me. I used craft store etching crème to decorate it. I donated that first bottle to my favorite dog rescue group. I upgraded to sandblasting my designs, I took a stained glass course, I bought a kiln, and have been experimenting ever since. I like to point out that the first 35 years I dabbled in fiber arts. I have enjoyed weaving, sewing, quilting, silk painting, anything that allowed me to enjoy the porous, rich texture and color of fibers. The glossy, non porous medium of glass is probably going to keep me creating for the next 35 years. At least, that’s my plan.

5. Explain your favorite part of the creative process.
I love the moment I open the kiln and see how what happened inside there. Unexpected things can happen, both good and bad. I find that part of fusing the most exciting part. In painting on glass, I love the way the chalky looking, powdered glass I apply, once inside the kiln, melts to be a glossy part of the glass.

6. Do you sell in another Etsy store or anywhere outside of Etsy? If so, where?
I have sold in local brick and mortar shops, artisan consignment and pet supply and bakery type of shops. I have a studio on Artfire.com, plus, Frums Glass is my user name on Ebay. I try to maintain a blog that speaks to what’s new in the kiln, in my shops, my own pets, and my current animal rescue fundraising projects. http://frumsglassmenagerie.blogspot.com/

7. So far, what project are you most proud of?
I think one of my favorite pieces was a nightlight I painted for an Etsy team challenge. It was my first larger glass painting. I was proud that it sold very quickly after listing, with 100% donation to my dog’s rescue organization. The theme of the challenge was “imperfect dogs.” I painted my own dog, who had recently been adopted. She was in a neglected situation, with 9 other dogs. Her tongue hangs out as she has no teeth, her tongue is missing edges, her front leg joints are enlarged likely from an injury, her fur badly stained from her terrible living conditions. She is perfect to us.


8. What advice can you give to someone who would like to learn your craft?
Learn the basics of working with glass and the safety concerns. After that, jump in and experiment. Have fun!

9. What motivated you to join the Etsy Beagle Street Team? At that time, I would check the forums often. I was especially interested in posts about cats and dogs. I clicked on a post about beagles and found a very nice group of people. I’ve been hanging around the beagle team ever since. My first dog was a beagle. Today I own 4 Italian greyhounds. I adopted most of them as middle aged dogs through rescue. I financially support local pet rescue organizations, all Italian greyhound and greyhound rescue groups.

10. Any other places we might find you (Flickr, blog, MySpace, etc.)?

http://FrumsGlassMenagerie.artfire.com

http://frumsglassmenagerie.blogspot.com/